First in = Best Dressed?

getting the #1 position

[sniffer]

In the main country I advertise in, it seems that when competing for a top position against competitors in the same country -- that its easier to grab and hold the #1 position if you were the first to advertise a particular keyword

Anybody else seen this? Is it simply related to the clickthrough rate, or is there more to it?

[vvsarah]

I believe that there are several factors affecting position, one being your google page rank and another being your budget (maximum daily and maximum CPC). These are just assumptions, however. I would definitely be interested in knowing for sure.

-Sarah-

[Shak]

one being your google page rank

NO

Shak

[Steve6]

It's possible for your page rank to affect your position, but only indirectly.

The reason is this: If a searcher sees the same URL in both the SERP and the sponsored links (especially if the text is similar), then that site may appear to be more "desirable", and thus he may be more likely to click on the ad. This, in turn, raises your CTR, which helps your position.

[werty]

Sniffer, to me it would make sense that this would happen. Part of your position is based on click through rate, and if you are the only advertisor in a SERP you are going to have a higher click through rate then if then if you had to share the clicks with a competitor.

So all things equal two advertisors fighting for first place, both paying the same ammount google puts the ad with the higher click through rate in front, and actually the person with the high click through rate could be paying less that a person who has a lower CTR and still have a better position.

With time a better written ad can out perform the person who got their first and end up getting the better position in the long wrong.

[inbound]

Come on folks, the mechanics of adwords is well enough known. It's a combination of average CPC and CTR.

There are mathematical ways to show how positions and per click charges are derived but it comes down to a simple matter of average CPC * average CTR determining who gets to be top.

You can bid half your competitor and still be above them due to a much better CTR.

I'll not explain the full implications, if you make money through adwords then I'd expect a little time invested in finding this stuff out.

Don't be fooled by 'other factors', it is simple to grasp but not always simple in practice.

[RedWolf]

Come on folks, the mechanics of adwords is well enough known. It's a combination of average CPC and CTR.
There are mathematical ways to show how positions and per click charges are derived but it comes down to a simple matter of average CPC * average CTR determining who gets to be top.

It used to be that way in the past. Well actually Max CPC * CTR, but Google changed it this year to include other "ad quality" factors which they refuse to disclose.

[vvsarah]

"Your ad is ranked on the search results and content pages based on various performance factors including: maximum cost-per-click (CPC), clickthrough rate (CTR), and ad text. Having relevant ad text, a high CPC and a strong CTR will result in a higher position for your ad. Because this ranking system rewards well-targeted, relevant ads, you can't be locked out of the top position as you would be in a ranking system based solely on price." -Google AdWords Help-

So, ad text relevancy is in the mix! Thanks RedWolf.

[skibum]

The first one in with a good ad does have an advantage. If you can get in there early, get a CTR of say 20% in the premium position, it often becomes an expensive endeavor for someone else to start from scratch and knock you off without spending a lot of money.

[sniffer]

The first one in with a good ad does have an advantage.

I have found it a LOT easier to maintain number one spot as a particular field gains more advertisers, and conversely, i find it harder (more like 'annoying' actually) that its not JUST a case of outbid/CTR when i enter a more saturated niche

The idea that serp listings may a a favourable impression on your adwords is not something i have thought about fully- innteresting idea. I have hesitated to go advertise for a keyword if im in the top 3 results

Im fairly confident in my ability to write decent copy, therefore get decent click throughs, but its not that simple as far as i can see

any other ideas or experiences?

[RedWolf]

I have many Adwords targeted for terms that are in the first five slots in organic search. Clicks seem to be split about half and half between search and Adwords. One advantage of doing this is you are still protected in case Google decides to change something and you lose position in organic search.

As far as the first in advantage, I don't try to go out of my way for first place. If I get it, fine. IF not, second or third position isn't that bad especially of the first is a junk ad from ebay or one of the fake shopping sites that my customers knows does not offer the products they are looking for.