Content Network Disasters

[al_u]

I'd like to hear about anything heard re: changes to the algorithm as of last Saturday (Apr 10, 2010).

My Content & Placement campaigns across 3 sites have had a 90% impression drop, while quality score (7-10) & position (~2) have remained solid.

Landing pages, load times are all good.

Has anyone else experienced this or have suggestions re: discovering a cause? (A support ticket resulted in the usual automated response.)

[netmeg]

Well you don't see real quality scores for the Content Network.

The advertiser(s) could have blocked you, or gone to a different ad format. Someone could be outbidding you. Did you visit the sites and placements where your ads used to run, to see what's there now?

I haven't seen any major changes across my accounts, some of which are only Content.

[al_u]

Well you don't see real quality scores for the Content Network.

Adwords Editor provides quality score data for content & placement campaigns.

The advertiser(s) could have blocked you, or gone to a different ad format. Someone could be outbidding you.

Too many sites (100s) are affected in 3 different markets for this to be the case.

Did you visit the sites and placements where your ads used to run, to see what's there now?

Good point. Very unfortunately, my geo-targeting settings won't let me see what's up directly.

I haven't seen any major changes across my accounts, some of which are only Content.

Thanks, that's interesting... anyone else notice anything unusual as of Saturday?

[netmeg]

I sure would not bet on the Quality Score you see in the AdWords Editor being all that accurate for the Content Network.

For one thing, Quality Score is figured differently for Content; it's not so much based on a single keyword but rather a theme.

[al_u]

I sure would not bet on the Quality Score you see in the AdWords Editor being all that accurate for the Content Network.

Is this a known fact?

Quality Score is figured differently for Content; it's not so much based on a single keyword but rather a theme.

True. I'm guessing individual keyword quality scores in a Content campaign would be some indicator of how well they're working within that theme? (I'm with you & would also not bet on it though Meg.)

Interesting side topic.

[Kobayashi]

Were these changes you speak of last Saturday published somewhere or are you just refering to changes you noticed in your account?

I ask as on March 31st I had a campaign containing zero keywords and over 200 placements drop from 1000s of clicks/impressions to 0. Since the ad and site status's are ok, I inquired and was told the bids were too low even though there is no indication of such in the interface. I have increased the bids 50 times what they were and still no impressions on a single placement. I think it is highly unlikely that all 200 sites opted out or I was outbid by another advertiser for the same domain overnight on all 200+ sites so it remains a mystery. I know before one did not need to add keywords which I have not but maybe one does now?

[al_u]

Were these changes you speak of last Saturday published somewhere or are you just refering to changes you noticed in your account?

These were changes noticed in my account.

I know before one did not need to add keywords which I have not but maybe one does now?

For placements? It might not hurt to try: [adwords.google.com ]