Multiple ads on adwords

Did somebody push the wrong button today?

[hannamyluv]

I have noticed an unusual thing today on google. 3 times I have come across two ads on the same keyword for the same company going to the same page and with no affiliate tags. In each case, it was different companies that were doing this.

In all cases the ads vary slightly, almost as though each company was testing the CTR on an ad.

Once in a day, I could believe that it was a crooked company abusing the system, but three? Maybe someone at adwords messed with the wrong piece of code and instead of rotating ads, it is showing all ads.

I could be wrong but I was wondering if anyone else had seen it. We aren't testing any ads right now, otherwise I would check that.

[hannamyluv]

Okay, I'm adding to this, 'cause now I am sure adwords is acting funny. I was posting an ad on a single word keyword that I know had 3 people advertising on it and adwords told me that the CPC would be .05 and that I would be in the #1 spot. You can't bid below .05 can you? There is nothing grandfathered in, right?

[mrose]

I dont have a clue about the things you are seeing but am getting confused about adwords myself.

Even though I have checked the boxes for all languages and all countries and allowing maximum bets, it seems my ads are not showing all the time (like 1 out of 4 searches are returned without my ad).

I just started with adwords two weeks ago, but I do get the impression the adwords system is not a very reliable one.

[Shak]

mrose,

what is your max daily budget set to, sometimes this can make a difference if there is more inventory than you can afford based on Googles calculations.

Shak

[mrose]

Shak,

during the last two weeks, there wasn't a single day my maximum daily limit was reached (not even close).

I was thinking of that but according to the reports this shouldn't be the reason.

Thanks

[Shak]

is this only happening when "YOU" do a search, or have you tried getting friends at other locations etc to perform the searches.

also is this purely on Google or also partner sites?

Shak

[hannamyluv]

Well, just because you aren't hitting their suggested max budget doesn't mean that you shouldn't set it above it.

Unfortunatly, they run on their standards so even if you aren't coming near the max budget, if you have your budget set below their idea of what you are spending, they will not show your ads all the time.

Setting the budget is great if you want to limit how much you spend but if you want to appear all the time, you need to set your max at higher than they suggest.

[skibum]

If ya want multiple ads on the same keywords I think ya just open multiple accounts.

The budget thing is screwy. I've found you ahve to set it substantially higher than they suggest to get the ads to show more often.

[mrose]

Well, I have doubled the daily max and now my ad is always shown on Google (not that it is reached, highest so far was 35% of daily maximum).

Now, the funny thing is, my ad does not show up on any partner sites... I am going to double the daily max again and see if it makes a difference.

Is this something like: Yes I am willing to spend X$ and we all know it is ging to cost only Y$ but we like the big numbers? Strange! Like going into the bakery and say "Yes I have 2 dollars, can I by a bread for 1 dollar please?"

Shak, yes I have had friends looking and there is no difference.