Now that AdWordsAdvisor hangs out in this forum, I haven't been prowling here as much--but I'll be reading the "what would you like to see" thread and the other threads on this forum before tomorrow. So if you have something different to mention, lemme know. It's only a half-hour meeting, but I'd prefer to go into it with feedback from folks here. :)
I was reading andrewg and nodding, and nodding and nodding.
Many features get thrown into the euqation without actually thinking of the benefits and the audience that will benefit from it.
We often get the client in the early stage trying to give us the benefit of their knowledge, with giving us the jargon searches that they can't find their ads for. What we try to do is make the campaigns so successful that they haven't got the time to look.
It's also important to put the delivery time into the mix here.
The solution sometimes to your problem is to use lateral thinking. If you only have a diners card, then why not get another card? Why not use an agency who will send you an invoice, so then you don't need a credit card at all?
Pre-pay might be good, but surely it's better to get interest on your money in a bank over a 56 day period prior to paying your shiny new credit card bill? Often you can get your income in, before you have to pay for the traffic.
Just to further expand on the accreditation side of things. Why not have the sort of meeting that GG went to, where the accredited SEM's could be invited in for a Round Table event, to discuss what things they would like from an agency perspective. I don't mean those that have the big budgets, where spending the money fast is the most important thing, but the true specialist agencies like Andrew's that add a lot of value to campaigns by helping with the education process, can give you an overall view on what is happening in the market as a whole, and not just in the world of Google.
Any industry I've worked in before, the "resellers" get advised of changes in advance of the general public, usually with standard FAQ's, so they can answer questions correctly that may get thrown at them, but apart from coming here and getting news feeds we don't hear about changes until everyone else knows and then you end up with spin doctoring in a big way. I'd happily sign an NDA to get a briefing on important developments that will have an impact on all clients accounts.
Examples of new "features" are the new interface, the campaign negative keywords and more. It's only when a staff member notices the change that you can react.
One last feature, how about registering two "excluded" IP addresses, so that an agency and client can click ads of their own in context and to check links work, without it harming the budget or the CTR, not just on Google but on all partner sites. Sometimes when publishers use their own tracking mechanisms to track their activity it can interfere with the ultimate redirection, and to Google all the traffic looks fine, and often clients unwittingly drive their own costs up by clicks, or by imrpessions. (Clearly will only work with static IP addresses).
I know that Brett is right that the meeting was some time ago, but I can't help but comment.
Some excellent thinking going on in this thread!
In spite of the fact that GG's meeting is long past, please rest assured that what your thinking here will be passed on. As GG mentioned, a bunch of Google folks have the URL - and I'll mention this thread again on Friday evening (as I do each week) in a communication that I send to literally dozens of Googlers.
By the way, it is worth saying that everyone who gets this 'report' has actively requested to get it, because they truly care about advertiser's feedback. And a great many of the folks who receive it are in a postion to affect the product.
l leave out ideas 6 through 200 for now....
I for one hope that we do hear 6 through 200, over time. Please keep the feedback coming.
Note to eWhisper: I received your email, have digested it, and will pass it on. Thanks for your considerable time and effort. Will send any follow up offline.
AWA
Any industry I've worked in before, the "resellers" get advised of changes in advance of the general public, usually with standard FAQ's, so they can answer questions correctly that may get thrown at them, but apart from coming here and getting news feeds we don't hear about changes until everyone else knows and then you end up with spin doctoring in a big way.
I hear what you are saying, but AdWords have thousands of advertisers and I guess that the majority are not using an agency. Surely there should continue to be a level playing field so everyone can make changes to their campaigns at the same time.
*Improvement of Geo-Targeting ¦ This seems to be my crusade. We are a very large US organization in the East coast and our proxy servers' address is assigned OUTSIDE the US (UK). So my entire view of AdWords is skewed. This is true for everyone in my location (>5,000 people in our buidlings). I would have never known that our IP range was limiting what we see online until I couldn't see my own ad appearing. It seems to me many improvements need to be made before Geo-targeting can be effective based on IP address alone. If I've missed something, PLEASE let me know. I learned to add "&gl=US" from this board to see my ads - thank you!
*Billing ¦ Because we are a large organization, it would be helpful to have other billing options - P.O.'s, regular invoicing etc. (I'll be SO embarassed if this has changed since I last set up billing!)
Thanks!
One last feature, how about registering two "excluded" IP addresses, so that an agency and client can click ads of their own in context and to check links work, without it harming the budget or the CTR, not just on Google but on all partner sites. Sometimes when publishers use their own tracking mechanisms to track their activity it can interfere with the ultimate redirection, and to Google all the traffic looks fine, and often clients unwittingly drive their own costs up by clicks, or by imrpessions.
Yes! This would be a very excellent feature indeed!
(Clearly will only work with static IP addresses).
Perhaps an IP grouping could be set in one's account to allow for dynamic IPs, e.g. "XX.XXX.XXX." leaving off the last digits to mean the entire block, as that is often the range in which someone's ISP dynamically assigns new IPs anyway.
Or, perhaps one could log in to their account and use a click to re-install their current IP to be blocked from the impression count. That way, when they then search G to test their ads, the latest entered IP is blocked from the impressions count.
I think this is an idea which has great value for both G and the advertiser.
[edit]Corrected "IP" to "ISP" where applicable.[/edit]
Please create a WebServices API so that third parties can create an interface and leave the Google people alone.
If you follow the ebay-api model and certify applications you will be absolutely amazed at the channel that will grow up overnight.
- you will have 3rd parties advocating Google (they are selling supporting software)
- you will have an extremely feature rich offering for all potential customers, pushing you far and away past Overture.
Please create a WebServices API so that third parties can create an interface and leave the Google people alone.
AGREED! Exposing a web service API would let third-party interfaces take a lot of the complexity pressure off the normal Adwords interface. As it is now, their one interface is being pulled in incompatible directions (new users want simple, SEM firms want power, etc etc). Multiple adwords frontends could make everybody happy!
