Content network?

Discussion in 'Google AdWords' started by Bendy bully, Feb 25, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hi all,

    I've seen a few posts that say to turn content network off to improve your clicks, what is the content network and is it better having it turned off? I've currently been running an ad for about a week on a comic book site and have the following

    Clicks Impr. CTR
    28 37,665 0.07%
     
    Bendy bully, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  2. robertpriolo

    robertpriolo Peon

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    #2
    content network will drive massive impressions with very low CTR, sometimes less than 0.001% CTR. Low CTR does not harm your normal search since CTR is excluded in QS.

    However, a word of advice is that content does not work like search so, yes it should be turned off until you understand it more deeply.
     
    robertpriolo, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  3. vstar

    vstar Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Keep in mind that this is only my opinion... Others may disagree

    1. Always start with it turned off. You need to be careful because the default when you start a campaign is on. So go into your "edit campaign settings" and un-tick content network. This is really important because if you start a campaign today and are bidding $1 per click on the search network...you are automatically bidding $1 per click on the content network. Many Adwords advertisers, myself included have lost hundreds by mistake on the content network. So again, turn it off!

    2. After you have a campaign running profitably on the search network, meaning that you have the right keywords and a landing page that is converting to your satisfaction, then and only then will you test the content network.

    3. So, go back into your "edit campaign settings" put the check mark in the content network...but also put a check mark in "content bids" which allows you to set separate prices for content network. Once you save your settings you can put in a separate bid, I usually start with two cents.

    4. Then let it run for a day and see what if you are receiving any clicks. In many markets two cents will be enough in other markets it will not, You'll need to test, test, test.

    5. Then monitor your conversions. If you are profitable, you can increase your cost per click for better positioning and more clicks. Repeat this process until you hit your target traffic and return on investment. If you are not profitable, just turn off content network all together.

    My 2 cents
     
    vstar, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  4. PPC-Coach

    PPC-Coach Active Member

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    #4
    Here's my advice.

    Set up two campaigns, one for the content network and one for the search network. Make them separate just for tracking reasons. You content network bids can be a fraction of your search network bids. Track the results for a week and come back and tell use which one produced best... :)

    I put my money on the content network campaign.
     
    PPC-Coach, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  5. SCM Media

    SCM Media Banned

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    #5
    Thats what i do, set up a campaign for search and content. Everything is usually very different bid and conversion wise and its easier to keep track if there seperate.
     
    SCM Media, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  6. Bendy bully

    Bendy bully Peon

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    #6
    Thanks for this, so i take it i just turn off the "content network" one for now?

    Search network
    Content network
    Content bids
     
    Bendy bully, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  7. webgenesis

    webgenesis Peon

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    #7
    That is the best advice to do dealing with SEARCH and CONTENT
     
    webgenesis, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  8. cjashu

    cjashu Peon

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    #8
    Content network with google is very expensive compared to using media sites like adbrite, adsona or etology.
    With adbrite you can pay as low as .05 per click or buy one week, or month space on a high traffic website. With etology you can buy a network placement for .10 per click....USA network, UK etc. Its the same content network like google......
    So i will say go with search and turn off the content network....its not worth it.
     
    cjashu, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  9. Bendy bully

    Bendy bully Peon

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    #9
    Cheers all, this is really helpful to me :)

    In response to this do you mean set up 2 identical campaigns with the same keywords etc...to compare the difference

    " Originally Posted by PPC-Coach View Post
    Here's my advice.

    Set up two campaigns, one for the content network and one for the search network. Make them separate just for tracking reasons. You content network bids can be a fraction of your search network bids. Track the results for a week and come back and tell use which one produced best...

    I put my money on the content network campaign."
     
    Bendy bully, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  10. robertpriolo

    robertpriolo Peon

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    #10
    NO.... content does not work identical to search, this is the problem and failure that most people have, they think its a mirror of search campaigns

    For the content network you are not bidding on keywords, you are bidding on themes. A theme is painting a picture with keywords. Content marketing is not trying to target just one keyword in an article or webpage, its trying to link the theme of the article to the theme of your text ad.

    Lets assume in search marketing you bid on the word "JAVA". This could be a highly successful keyword that sends you 10 sales a day.

    Now if we tried just bidding on java for content your campaign will fail. Why? because java means to many things

    Now lets say we construct an adgroup and theme it around java, and the keywords I include are

    java
    hot java
    cheap hava
    local java
    java house

    Now you have a theme, these keywords painted a picture, and google will attempt to only show you on article and webpages with this idea in mind...

    What did you think when I said JAVA in search? Did you think I meant java script? Probably... This is why content fails, improper setup of content campaigns will lead to massive impressions and clicks because your adgroups are improperly constructed.

    Content is NOT a mirror of search
     
    robertpriolo, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  11. Bendy bully

    Bendy bully Peon

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    #11
    Thanks for this, seems a bit too complex for me for now so i've turned off the content search like you mentioned earlier so hopefully i'll get some results from this.

    Thanks for all your help
     
    Bendy bully, Feb 26, 2008 IP
  12. StrawberryPaul

    StrawberryPaul Active Member

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    #12
    The content network looks very interesting and somthing I will be looking into quite soon I think.

    My take is that Search is a great method of driving quality traffic and ideal for ecommerce sites. Highly targeted campaigns with convinsing ad text and landing page can provide great results.

    Initially I view the Content Network as a method of building brand awareness more in line with traditional advertising thi i supported by the ability to use graphical and video adverts in place of standard text.

    If you pay the CPC model you are only charged for a click though to your site therefore allowing you a mass of exposure for free (very low crt)

    These are my initial thoughts with no solid data to back up the claims, i'm planning to look into this in more detail therefore any views would be most appreciated
     
    StrawberryPaul, Feb 27, 2008 IP