Adwords positioning

Is the positioning of Google Adwords prominent enough?

[davey]

Does anyone else here have reservations about the positioning of Adwords sponsored links to the right of the search results? When I search on Google I always look at the top 10 results only, my eye is neither drawn to the right of the screen to the adwords sponsored links or to the top of the screen where the real bigshots pay 1000s of pounds to have their listing highlighted and above everyone elses. I would welcome feedback on this. Is there any way apart from hard work to get in the top couple of results in the normal results (not Adwords)?

Thanks for reading

[Shak]

davey,

Interesting comments, however I would like to say that TOP listings achiever 15>20% CTRs on a regular basis with very good conversion rates.

Adwords customers seem very happy.

and page 1 listing is awesome for traffic.

however the trick is too NOT rely on any of them, and look at a bit of each if possible.

probvably dont make sense, but the people paying the 1000s are very happy most of the time.

Shak

[vibgyor79]

The current positioning of AdWords ads on the right hand side DOES affect the CTR of the ads negatively. I have noticed many cases wherein well written ads pulling certain CTR at Google more than doubles when it is shwon to AOL (which lists the ads one below the other just like Yahoo).

That is because AdWords ads in Google have to compete with both premium sponsorship ads and the normal search results. However, the search volumes in Google is so huge that advertisers still get good traffic inspite of the positioning of AdWords ads.

Basically, there is room for everybody! ;)

[davey]

Yeah thanks for those comments. By paying for things like espotting and inktomi PPC do you think this would get me top in the normal search results? I do believe this is the best place to be rather than adwords at the side, and may be much cheaper/cost effective than adwords.

[Shak]

aha, the killer question, and the answer is :

NO
NADA
NAHIN
NEJ

Shak

(and my friend Vibgyor shall continue with translations of the word NO in other languages)

[vibgyor79]

Davey: If you want to improve your Google ranking, you need to read and implement the steps mentioned in this top secret document [webmasterworld.com].

[hannamyluv]

Really, you should be doing a combo of everything. A little trusted feed, a little organic and a little CPC. That way, your bases are covered on all fronts.

Don't write off adwords just 'cause you don't look there. Many people do. Not as many as look at the better placed organic listings or the really great premium listings but they do look and they do click, and buy. That's the important part.

[rincey]

As long as my top keywords have an all-time conversion of 27.2% and 10.2% I just don't really believe that nobody is looking at the ads.

Good targeting and copy writing seems to be the key. I try a kind of stepwise refinement to raise CTR within several weeks - but always keep close look on ROI.

Ad

[mumbles]

I never look at the ads on the right except when doing research for my own paid ads. Then again the only thing I am looking for is free information. When I want to buy something I usually know where to go get it without using a search engine. Hopefully the majority is not like me.