Exact Same Ad Copy, Same AdGroup, Different Destination URL

Is it going to work?

[tclcorp]

Hi....newbie here needing help (don't we all)? I want to keep my current, somewhat successful campaigns, the way they are. BUT, I was thinking of adding new ads that were EXACTLY the same creative copy, only the destination URL would be different (Same domain though). For example, I have all Ads leading to homepage now and since I sell Red Widgets, as well as all the other primary colors, I want the Red widget ads to go to the Red Widget page IN ADDITION TO the current Ad going to the homepage. I assume that way I wouldn't lose CTR or positioning on current Ads, but I gain the more targeted clicks like I was suppose to do from the start. Or, if I were to go ahead and change the destination URL on current Ads, would they infact "start over" on CTR or stay the same? Any help on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks, Mark

[justshelley]

If it were me, I would add a second ad with the new destination URL. You can run two identical ads side by side using the different URL's. Theoretically, the new ad should have comparable CTR's and you can delete the old ads in a day or two. If not, you will still have the old ad running with the higher CTR.

I realize that higher CTR's mean paying less money for better positioning and ultimately getting more clicks...which is important...but your landing page can make or break your advertising campaign. If you have a problem with getting the same or similar CTR's on the new ads, you may have to weigh the importance of the CTR's over the importance of the landing page and I would choose the landing page if that's what it came down to.
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[geobals]

I was thinking of adding new ads that were EXACTLY the same creative copy, only the destination URL would be different

You can do like this.Changing the landing page may increase your CTR.I have experienced with that.
Thanks

[tclcorp]

Thanks guys.....I'll go ahead and create the identical ads using the more "targeted" destination URL and run them side-by-side next to my current Ads and see what happens. Thanks for your input, it's starting to make sense now! :)

[Steve6]

... lose CTR ...

I see this a lot. It seems the assumption is that the CTR "builds up" (gets bigger) over time. This doesn't make sense to me. I assumed that CTR was simply clicks divided by impressions. So if you create a new ad, its impressions will start at 0 and after a few hundred its CTR will be established and not go up or down dramatically.

Or am I missing something?

[tclcorp]

I think you're right Steve6. The CTR doesn't change much on an overall basis once it's been established for awhile. But, I've noticed my position for a particular day can be AWESOME (1.0-2.0) when I have a high CTR (8%-20%) for THAT day (and definitely is 1.0 when I have upwards of 50%)....I think ADW uses that day's CTR for positioning rather than overall CTR since start of campaign. If the former is the case, then my adding new Ads shouldn't affect the identical old Ads CTR whatsoever. If you, Steve6, or anyone else can confirm WHEN the timeframe of CTR is calculated for, then I'd have enough confidence to go ahead and make the new identical Ads (with exception of changing the destination URL) and run them side-by-side with the old ones. Thanks everyone, Mark