This feature allows one to see the actual page within a website on the Content Network that generated traffic for their website.

Say you are using Automatic or Managed Placements on the Content Network, first go to the NETWORKS tab to ’show’ the list of domains that your ads appear on.

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Here is a sample of the domain detail that I received when I ’show’ my automatic placements.

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Now, that is excellent, I can evaluate each domains traffic volume, ctr, conversions, etc.   However, what  is really nice is I can easily look even deeper with the ’see URL list’ feature by selecting a domain on the list and clicking the ’see URL list’ button.

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What you will receive is a greater level of detail on the chosen domain – in this example: about.com.  In the screenshot below you can see the actual domains and pages that generated the traffic off about.com.  As you see from this screenshot I have a few pages that convert well, one with a 80% conversion rate.  I will be adding this specific page to my Managed Placements list by using the button shown in the screenshot below.

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Here is another example for the domain: destination360.com.  As you can see the advertisers ads appeared on multiple pages within the domain, some were not relevant pages so I excluded them.  Others were great pages therefore I will add them to my managed placements list and adjust bids or ad text as necessary to get the best performance from this domain.

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The URL list makes optimizing the Content Network just that much easier.  I suggest all advertisers on the Content Network take a look at this extra level of transparency to see where they could be improving their Content Network return on investment.

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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UPDATE: 7/5/10 TOOL REPAIRED!

If you have used the diagnostics tool recently to see if your ads are running and the tool said NO don’t panic yet.  The tool is experiencing some issues that is causing it to incorrectly report the diagnostic test.

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Ad Diagnostic Tool Showing Incorrect Message

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Report this issue here

If you think the Ad Diagnostic tool is providing inaccurate info try the Ad Preview Tool at http://www.google.com/adpreview to search for your ads.  This is not the most optimal method to test your ads but if you see your ads running it will at least give you peace of mind.  The preview tool will also allow you to see your ads without causing impressions to your account.

Note: if your budget is not lasting the day or your ads are set to standard delivery vs. accelerated you may not always see your ads displayed in the preview tool.  If you do not see your ads displayed try several keyword variations….again, not the best alternative but at least you can do this searching for yourself freely without effecting your CTR.

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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The DIMENSIONS tab.  Cool name huh?  Cool name for a cool little section of the AdWords Interface where you can quickly run reports, segment data, schedule and email reports straight to you or any designated person.

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New Tab?

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I don’t see it replacing the Reports Center or anything but a helpful addition for running quick reports!
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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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ANSWER: NO

Thanks to Barry Schwartz for sending me this link to Inside AdWords.  The article explains that what I am seeing in the screenshots below is not ‘Product Extension’ ads but “Product Listing Ads” (limited US only Beta). Makes more sense to see competitors tagging along when I learned more about these ads.

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Last week when researching for a client I found a strange ‘tag along’ link on an AdWords ad that is running Product Extension and pulling data from the Google Merchant Center.  The ad displayed had a extra link and price from Kmart.

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How is Kmart Tagging Along on the Primo AdWords Ad? (note: the Kmart link sent me to a product page that had been removed or moved but you get the jist)

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Originally I wanted to call this a ‘related product’ beta, similar to the  ’Related search results’ displayed on the Google Search Network as described in the two Search Engine Roundtable articles posted on June 18, 2010 and June 28, 2010.  However, I thought that out and this is not a ‘related product’ it is a direct competitor, for the same exact product and the price is listed along with the ad.hots below outline the search query and results returned by Google.

Another sample:

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This Ad Has Two Extra Links & Price Info - Both links lead to the same exact product at their respective websites.

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And yet another when searching for ‘ipods’.

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Competitors ads Tagging Along? - Why Does Walmart have 3 ads on one page?

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This extra ‘related’ product link is for eCOST (dot) com.  Not exactly sure how Walmart wound up with 3 ads on one search results page and in turn eCOST ended up with two ‘tag alongs’.  While that has me curious and about to climb up on my soap box to rant about this going against Googles “user experience” principal, I am more interested in why the other links are tagging along with AdWords Product Extension ads.  Is that something we have control over?  I would prefer not to see my customers who use Product Extensions have their ads include competitor pricing info and links.

As  readers may or may not know the products shown in the screenshots above are from the Google Merchant Center which is “linked” through product extensions in the AdWords interface to pull Merchant Center data into the Sponsored Links section.  That is, when the advertiser has enabled product extensions and linked with their Merchant Center Account.  When visiting the Google Merchant Center and viewing products there are usually competitors products also shown below the main product results.  It *seems* like that is where the additional links and prices are being pulled from, however, it is only a guess.

Note: This is not something I am seeing on all Product Extensions ads just some, which has me thinking ‘beta’.

Looking for a comment from Google and will post when/if it is supplied.

Have you seen this?  Do you have info to share? Comments from our readers are always welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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The option to quickly compare metrics has been available on the campaign snapshot for awhile now but only on the campaign level, not down the the keywords level as shown below.

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Compare Metrics by Date - Nice!

Nice little time saver.

As usual, comments welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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If you cannot get your Flash Ads that were built in Flash 9 or 10 to upload into AdWords you can stop beating your head against your desk.

There is a new ‘Known Issue’ –  a technical problem in uploading Ads built in Flash versions 9 or 10.

Google’s suggested workaround is to create ads using Flash 8 or 7.

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I have not worked in flash for awhile but I would hope that you could save in an older format vs. having to actually use the older format of Flash.   If that is the only option that is a big pain for advertisers.

** Anyone use Flash 9/10 and care to comment if you can save to an older version?

If you are experiencing this issue it can be reported on the Known Issues page at Google.

As always, comments are welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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Is that a Google AdWords toll free phone number?… [rubbing eyes] …yes, it is!  I wonder if someone will answer…..

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Is that a Google AdWords phone number?...wonder if someone will answer.....

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Someone answered! A real live person!

I just learned that Google is offering account setups with 30 days support to new advertisers.  Advertisers will be placed with an AdWords representative who will setup the AdWords account and support the advertiser for 30 days.  The AdWords Reps are available during the 30 day period to answer questions.  Once the 30 period ends the AdWords Rep will review the account with the advertiser to explain the account performance.  The purpose of this offer is to help advertisers get off to a good start and educate them at the same time.

I have heard about Google initiatives like this in the UK but did not know they were trying it here in the US.

I asked the AdWords representative if there was a minimum budget that needed to be met to quality for the setup and 30 days support and I was told “no” all advertisers qualify.

I also asked if Google plans to offer a paid support option if advertisers wanted further help and was told no.

Interesting.

As always, comments are welcome!
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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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This is not the ‘norm’ as far a search query reports are concerned.   Until recently the only data that has ever been shared on a search query report is data that resulted in a click.  Sadly advertisers who use broad or phrase match keywords were left guessing as to what actual keywords caused the impressions that did not result in a click-through to their website.  This lack of information hinders account optimizations because we are left guessing at what negative keywords need to be included or what new keywords we could be adding to improve CTR.

In reviewing a new account today I see strong evidence that Google is making some changes or perhaps testing something in a limited number of accounts.

As you can see below, there are a good number of keywords that did not result in clicks but Google has provided the keyword data anyway.  This report was a quick search query report from within the User Interface vs. the Reporting Section.  However the formal search query report includes tons of data on keywords with Zero (yes, I said Zero) clicks!

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Search Query Data Provided for Keywords that did not result in a click

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What is extra interesting is the additional bit of data highlighted in yellow above {more:}.  I am not sure if this is additional data from expanded or session based search queries.

What does this mean to people who manage adwords accounts?  This much needed transparency allows us better control over the account which ultimately increases quality score and reduces costs.

I hope this is something we can expect to see in all AdWords accounts soon.

I have requested a comment from Google and will report back when/if I get a reply.

Perhaps you have seen this in an account already?

Comments Welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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Apparently some advertisers are not able to get to access billing pages in their AdWords Account.  Google has offered up a suggested work around that may resolve the issue.

If you are experiencing this issue Report it to Google here

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New AdWords 'Known Issue'

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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I have been re-working an account recently brought to me and encountered an issue which has me deeply concerned.

I have come to notice that many keywords, really great, relevant, exact match keywords are not being served with the following message.

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“This particular search term is already associated with an ad from one of your other campaigns or ad groups.  Only one ad per advertiser may appear on a given page per search term.  When two or more of your ads are eligible for a single search term, we show the one with the highest ranking at the moment.”

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As you can see the keywords shown in the screenshot above are “phrase” and [exact match].  The keywords DO NOT appear anywhere else in this account – no other campaigns or ad groups.

I started the troubleshooting process by adding negative keywords to ad groups.  For example in the DUI defense Attorney ad group I added negatives for -lawyer – dwi, etc.  It had no effect.   I then added many exact match negative keywords i.e. -[dui defense lawyer], etc. still no effect.  I next went with only [exact match] keywords in the two adgroups that gave me the most trouble, the problem persisted.

I contacted Google and bounced it off a couple of people and received a reply referencing this page in the help center.http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66292

This page explains how keywords will be treated when they fall into three different types of criteria:

1. the same keywords in multiple adgroups

2. Similar keywords to the search query within the same adgroup

3. Similar keywords to the search query within multiple adgroups.

I am fine with the details on #1.  I am concerned about details on #2 and #3.

Here is a screenshot of details on #2

Within the same ad group, multiple keywords are similar to the search query.

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So now an [exact match] keyword can be trumped by another ’similar, better performing or cheaper’ keyword? According to Google, Yes.

Then it keeps gets better…..

Here is a screenshot of details on #2

Keywords within multiple ad groups are similar to the search query

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I am concerned about what I am reading.  If Google feels that the keyword is close enough, cheaper, or has a higher ad rank they will trump an exact match keyword to serve a different keyword from a different adgrop they deem better?   That takes my control away.

How can I accrue CTR data to improve the account performance if Google will not serve keywords that exactly match a query because they like a price or adrank of another keyword?  This also allows for the potential of the  wrong ad text being served.  What if I have specific landing pages set per keyword? How does that effect CTR?  Ultimately, what if Iwas OK with spending more on the keyword because it converted better?  Quality Score and CTR are not everything when it comes to PPC advertising.  Sometimes keywords that are not your best ‘quality score’ performers are your best converting keywords what provide the best ROI.

Even with adding negatives and going with exact match only in specific groups I ultimately was never able to identify the ‘other keyword’ that was trumping my exact match keyword.    I had to pause the campaign and slowly add back adgroups and keywords, watching all the time for the dreaded message.  The account is a smaller version of its previous self which is fine because I am in the process of recovering the account CTR but I do get a little nervous anytime I add a new keyword.

Is there a ‘fix’ for this?  Not that I am aware of…

Is this something that is being tested on limited accounts or is there the potential for this to happen on any account?  I am currently seeking a comment from Google and will post here if/when I get a reply.

For the record I have only seen this happen in one client account.  However I am starting to hear some talk in other places such as the AdWords Help Forum on the topic so I feel the blog post is warranted.

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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