Is it not a good idea to use Overture Broad match?

Its not working out too well for me and I have no idea why.

[budbiss]

I have a few very popular keywords set as Broad match, yet none of them are getting many impressions at all. Anyone have any suggestions as to why?

[redlion]

Hi

No impressions at all is normally caused by:

- your keywords are not searched for (check the Overture keyword tool, via Overture.com > Your country > Advertiser Centre > Tools)

- your account is offline (no funds)

- the category they are in is offline

- technical problem

Can you see them via Yahoo?

If you meant they get no clicks, make sure you have good ad copy (search the forum for advice on that), are bidding up and have negative keywords in place.

Negative keywords are key for broad match to show your ad to only the right searchers.

Hope that helps

[budbiss]

Thanks for the reply redlion. If I type in just the keyword I see my ad, but if I type in the keyword with something else after it, I don't see it. I thought that was the whole point of broad match...to allow you to only have to use one keyword instead of countless variations.

Here is an example: Lets say the keyword I am using is "superproduct". Now when I do a search on superproduct, I see my ad right away. But, if I do a search on superproduct modelT, my ad is no where to be seen.

[redlion]

Hi

This could be quiet an academic discusion, as Overture are changing their matching system - see this on the UK site.

[overtureoffer.co.uk...]

Advanced Match will become the default matching option on all US accounts for new keywords, and US advertisers can opt it to it.

[eWhisper]

Up to this point in time, Yahoo is not showing Overture broadmatches. Only a few select partners of theirs (like AlltheWeb) have shown broad matches. Yahoo does use 'phrase matching', but there are many times when phrase matches don't show up (I've yet to hear a great explanation from Overture about this - just general advice which doesn't amount to tech knowledge).

As posted previousally, these types of problems will completely change when Yahoo and other partners switch to Overture's new system - then a new set of problems will arise.

[budbiss]

I had no idea that Yahoo (or anyone else for that matter) were not accepting broad search. Is there a resource somewhere that lists specifically what search engines are accepting what?

So I guess there is no easy way about it, you have to go through the painstaking trial and error process of testing out dozens and dozens of key phrases.

BTW, are there any affiliates of Adwords that do not aknoweldge broadmatch searches?

[redlion]

Ok, to round this off:

1) always test your keyword matching etc on Overture.com first, not Yahoo!

2) to see which partners use broad match, have Overture and the partner (e.g. Yahoo) side by side in two browsers and compare the PPC results.

I've never seen a list of who uses which keyword options from Overture.

3) I've noticed sometimes keywords still don't appear when you'd expect on broadmatch.

I think - never had this confirmed - that Overture use a system that "scores" the match. So if you are bidding on 2 keywords out of the 3 searched for, your ad is shown - but if you are bidding on 1 out of 3, it isn't. Anybody confirm?

4) Google doesn't provide a list of which partners use which options either, but I beleive they all use all three types of keyword match.

So - bid on all the variations is my advice...