Features Wish List for PPC Engine

-- What would your dream PPC engine be like?

[buckworks]

I have a chance to give some ideas to some charming Canadian techie guys who want to develop the perfect PPC search engine.

I'd be interested in hearing from folks here: what would the perfect PPC search engine be like from the advertiser's point of view?

Here's some thoughts I've had so far, in no particular order:

-- ability to pause a campaign instantly and restart it without editorial hassle (That's one of Overture's larger failings).

-- a fast, easy way to remove multiple terms. My biggest grumble about some PPC SE's is that it is so *&^% awkward to take out terms that you don't want anymore. Result: I don't set up nearly as many bids with them as I do with others.

-- ability to group different URLs in one's account, not having all terms/URLs in one big list.

-- an affiliate program for using the search engine on our websites, also that paid a bit for referrals, for referring both advertisers and others who put the search on their site. An ongoing percentage would be nice.

-- a hassle-free way to have search or affiliate income applied to one's own advertising.

-- able to use PayPal to make or receive payments

-- reasonable relevancy guidelines, consistently and intelligently applied

More thoughts, anyone?

[hannamyluv]

-- ability to group different URLs in one's account, not having all terms/URLs in one big list.

This is a biggie with me. I put some listings up on sprinks and because I can't figure out how to group them (as far as I can see you can't. Please inform me if I am wrong) and it is such a pain.

[Jerry Sizzler]

my pet peeves for advertising on ppc:

PPC's have affiliate programs for webmasters
which can be subject to manipulation.

No time limits on a site visit. For example a competitor can click on your ad and immediately leave your site costing you a bid.

Unqualfied PPC traffic floating around your site with no
intention / ability to purchase anything ie. children.

Programs and techniques to trick the fraud detection
sytems of PPC's ie. manipulation of the IP address.

[haystack]

Nice list. I'd add automatic insertion of a custom tracking code to the list.

For example, it would be nice if I could tell the PPC company that I want all of my listings to include the tracking code source=____&kw=<specific_search_phrase> then let them automatically include this with each term.

[sammyp]

Click fraud is my main concern. Many advertisers have sufficient technical knowledge to attempt to combat this, but many also dont, myself included( I do intend to acquire the knowledge but as long as there is only 24hrs in a day and I have a business to run, its not easy). At the moment, it seems to be "Buyer beware". Not really good enough. I appreciate the problems, but think that if we can send men to the moon, there must be more that can be done in this regard. For starters, how about all advertisers signing to a contractual agreement that they will not partake in such activities. How about them having to declare there range of IP's before they are allowed to advertise? Anything that will make click fraud more difficult to get away with would be welcome.