Hi Guys, I am thinking of starting with Miva for my ppc campaigns because they are cheaper compared to G and Y! Any of you guys can share any experience with Miva or 7search? I have been reading a lot that a lot of clicks they generate (Specially 7search) is fraudulent Please tell me what you think about going with Miva or 7search -Vipul(Yet to add a signature )
vipulkrgupta, I have used both Miva & 7 Search, the traffic you will see is 99% paid surfers. Now I am not saying that a hot product might not get the attention of one of these surfers and possible result in a sale, but in my case it costs more to use either Miva & 7 search, than either Yahoo or Google. Let me explain; First of all I do not rely on server logs to determine click fraud, I use software called "Live Person", that allows me to uncloak floating IP's found for example at comcast & AOL and pin point a machine ID. Make no doubts about it, people have boiler rooms set up using AOL, Comcast and other floating IP internet providers. There goal is to surf their companies websites, clicking on big money keywords. First of all we must face reality, is possible to receive 400 clicks in 30 days on 7 Search, using the term "Used Car Financing", when the same top keyword with number 1 placement on Yahoo Marketing only receives 45 clicks in a 30 day period. Is this possible?? No it is not. Let's get back to "Cheaper", using the above scenario, out of 400 clicks most advertisers will be lucky if the make a sale or two. You spent $20 on the above keyword on 7 Search made say 2 sales that cost you $10 a piece. Assuming your bid was at 5 cents. Now on Yahoo/Marketing out of 45 clicks you make 4 sales, at 11 cents a click, you have spent $4.95. Making you cost per sale, $1.24. As I have posted before, the only way to achieve low bids with top placement on Yahoo Marketing is by using specific Keywords, Misspellings and Common keystroke errors. I am sure that will change in the future as Yahoo Marketing shapes it self more like Google. Just my Thoughts, Jack
Thanks Jack, thats a detailed explanation. I will try to stick with Yahoo but the high bids are the only thing I am concerned about. But as your experience makes it clear - some thing is better then nothing...
Hi, Maybe, you could try out the new internet marketing & advertising service called PPCa (Pay Per Call) the site which offers this service. Well, it works similar to PPC (Pay Per Click). I hope this helps...
Vipulkrgupta, If you could share with us a few your keyword phrases that have high bids on Yahoo Marketing. I will show you how to replace those big dollar keywords and get more traffic paying 10 - 12 cents a click. I think it would be good for everyone on the board to see. Jack
I have already have in previous posts, you might want to go back and look at what I have written. Jack
I have used 7search in the past. My results were extremely mixed. At some points I was doing very well and at other times it was just completely worthless. My use of 7Search was intermittent over about a year's time. I would use 7Search ONLY in the case where you can get your keywords for a LOT less than other PPC sources.
Jack, Lets suppose I have a keyword "Anti spyware" which is quite competetive and has a bid of $2.78 for the number 1 position. You may not consider this a high amount but its a good amount to lose for me if it doesn't converts Now, how do you suggest me proceed with this keyword? And guys, I am quite changing my mind for using MIVA. I requested a simple support from them 4 days back and have not heard back anything . I made a similar request with GoClick and received an immediate response. Thats a good sign for GoClick isn't it? -Vipul
Vipul, First stop wasting your money on the small PPC engines, they will produce zip. The professional surfers all have anti spyware. Natural placement is always best and I believe Yahoo/Overture is the next best thing. Your goal should be 200 clicks a day, paying no more than 11 cents a click. Next, think outside of the box, how would an actual consumer input his or her keywords for your product, "Anti Spyware". We need to realize that the consumer is not part of our particular industry. For many years I made this same mistake. I used my industries terms for keywords on my website and for PPC keywords. What I got, was not consumers needing my service, but my competition and paid surfers clicking me to death. $2.78 cents a click is outrageous and I would never again pay that and you have to realize that I am in the mortgage industry, you are selling a $20 or $30 dollar product. The first thing to realize is that the average household is not going to use the keyword "anti spy software", they are going to relate the effects of spy software, which as we all know is uncontrolled pop ups. That being said, did you know that in a 30 day period 18,185 people used the keyword phrase "How do I stop pop ups". I still find it amazing that the average consumer asks questions, as if their computer was a person. Now Download free software at, www.goodkeywords.com. Using this software, find the common misspelling & keystroke errors for your current big money keywords. This will add approximately 150 new keyword phrases to your database per original keyword. Now outside the box, using keyword phrases that consumers use; Need protection for my computer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 software that stops pop ups - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 want software to protect my computer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 stopping pop ups on my computer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 cheap spyware software - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 5 the best anti spy software - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 anti spy soft ware - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 get software to fix my computer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 stop pop ups on windows - 11 Cents Bid will get you # 2 stop pop ups on internet explorer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 help stopping pop ups - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 getting spyware off my computer - 10 Cents Bid will get you # 1 How to stop pop ups for free - 11 Cents Bid will get you # 3 These keywords alone will not get you what you want, but now add an army of 1,000,000 keywords and you can dominate your industry. Have a great day, Jack
Wow, thanks Jack. That's a brilliant insight. I have never actually researched it this way. I have signed up with Overture and am waiting for an approval. BTW, will they allow Page Redirection? I was unable to find any particular Policies for Overture as Google does. -Vipul
Jack, Thanks.. About MIVA, it is sometimes hit or miss. I am on my third campaign with them, and this looks like it will be the last. I had a decent response my second campaign, but this one has been horrible so far. Not a single lead or conversion!
hej guys, is it true they don't review you ad anymore like they did in the past, a friend of mine told me that yahoo/overture takes ages to get an ad aired. Or is this now also automated like google
Vipulkrgupta & Narcissus, To answer a couple of questions. Overture does allow redirected URL's, so this will not be a problem. As far as human editors, yes I do believe new advertisers may have more human scrutiny than old existing advertisers. I do know that they have lifted most of their keyword restrictions. 50% of all keywords are added instantly. Have a good day, Jack
WebmasterTalk.us, I really do not think it is that simple. Only Overture/Yahoo Marketing allows specific keywords, spelling errors and common keystroke errors to jump over generic keyword phrases. Google does not have that option, the generic high bid keyword always dominates and the specific keyword is ignored. I run a successful campaign on Overture/Yahoo on a budget of $750 per month, to duplicate my page views & clicks on Google I would need a budget of $10,000. But I must also add that most webmasters and SEO's do not take PPC advertising as seriously as I do. Most are content with a few hundred generic keywords that are the target of click fraud and crazy bids. For those webmasters and SEO's it really does not matter if you use Google or Yahoo, just be prepared to waste a whole bunch of money. Jack
Thank for some great advice jcfinc.I am just starting my first ever ppc campaign and you have been a great help
I applied for an account with Yahoo! and received a mail saying that they require me to call them in order to activate the account. Now, thats a real problem for me as I live in India and I cannot call them in their business hours as I have a time difference of 12 hrs. with them. Any other way of activating the account? -Vipul
When I called to activate the account it was an automated thing where I just use the phone keypad and enter my information.