Adwords beginner - confused

Any useful resources?

[Anat]

I just started my first major adwords campaign, advertising a new directory submission service. I spent just over $100 these past two days, receiving a couple of hundreds of clicks and zero conversions. Obviously, I need some help improving my campaign.

First place I'd like to start with is my ad copy. CTR for me is relatively low, and what's more, I'm not sure I'm attracting the exact type of people (i.e. potential clients). The people I'm looking for are busy owners of online businesses who are looking to pay for directory submission services :) I tried going for all sorts of key phrases (about a couple of hundred of phrases - is this too little?). I'm getting clicks for terms like "seo" and "site promotion" - maybe they are too general for my needs? my more focused ads aren't getting as many impressions and not enough clicks...

Is there some useful guide for getting the best results out of adwords?

Also, I heard there was some service by adwords advisors that adwords provides for free for large accounts. Is that any good? where can I find it?

[mikelfc]

I'd imagine you'd have to be spending thousands per day to get help from Google, is that right anyone?

[edited by: eWhisper at 4:14 pm (utc) on July 7, 2005]
[edit reason] Please no promotional drops. [/edit]

[martinibuster]

Useful Resource: WebmasterWorld

I'd imagine you'd have to be spending thousands per day to get help from Google, is that right anyone?

Not true. Just call them up, I do it all the time. But you do not need to call them in order to have them hold your hand through an AdWords campaign set-up. I've only called them on specific issues where there was a bug or something.

What you really need is a tutorial, and Google AdWords offers a downloadable PDF file that explains everything you need to know about AdWords... FREE, as well as an excellent online tutorial. Be smart, don't waste your time paying for an e-book from someone you have never heard of.

Try clicking around here:
[adwords.google.com...]

You might have to cut and paste that url.

But overall, WebmasterWorld is your best resource. There is lots of information here, and likely many of your questions have already been answered, plus you'll pick up some tips on things you've never thought of.

[edited by: martinibuster at 9:01 pm (utc) on July 4, 2005]

[sem4u]

Spend your time here, on the Google FAQs and test, test, test things out.

[AdWordsAdvisor]

Useful Resource: WebmasterWorld

Agreed!

Try clicking around here:
[adwords.google.com...] Agreed!

Another of my favorites:

Learning Center
[google.com...]

AWA

[skibum]

Might be worth taking a look at JumpStart:

[services.google.com...]