I'm trying to research what/how much our competitors are bidding on. I looked at a few tools that I found - but the services they offer seem eh, questionable. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I'll add a few comments just to see if I can get the conversation started.
Personally I think that time spent researching, tracking, (and perhaps even emulating) competitors is time that could be better spent by learning how AdWords system works, inside and out; learning how to create truly effective advertising for your product or service; by understanding your customers needs, and then understanding how to meet them; and how to track your results so you know exactly how much money your are making (or not making) for every dollar that you spend.
As a related aside, I am not sure there is a way to evaluate whether or not your competitors are advertising effectively and successfully - which would seem to be rather key. They might even be making one mistake after another and spending far more than they make.
Bottom line, I suggest spending time making your account the most effective it can possibly be, and leaving your competitor's advertising efforts to your competitors. ;)
Others will feel differently, I am sure - and perhaps we will hear some different viewpoints here in this thread.
AWA
Others will feel differently, I am sure - and perhaps we will hear some different viewpoints here in this thread.
Not really - at least here.
The only realistic thing I could think of would be finding keywords that certain "sites" are bidding on.
Other than that, nothing you can see. The only two entities that have an access to numbers in Google AdWords are Google and an advertiser.
Oh yeah, we do have bid (and more) management platforms that in no way would make any of the information public.
In short, there is no base for something to exist - no matter how much one would want it.
I agree you're better to focus onto your own (internal) thing.
...or hire a secret agent to get the data from your competitors. ;)
:)
