Just sent you a PM about the code
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Forum membership removes this block.I love the new expanded ads format.Hey Andy, great post. What do you think about the old ads format and new expanded text ads format? A bit vague question, but do you think now the newer expandable text ads might perform a little better, or worse?
No, you can use other people's websites if you want.Thank you for opening this up. I'm really interested in the program. Do I need a website?
Yep... INSIDERS get a $100 discount code, and I'll do the audit and phone call for $99 (or free if I can share the recording).Hey, @Andy Black Wondering if you're still offering some the package deals such as $100 off for Fastlane INSIDERS. As well as audits and phone calls for $99 dollars. I just found this MP thread. I'd love to buy this program and learn from you. Also, I will post results and reviews. Also been waiting for a good reason to buy INSIDERS deals this seems like the perfect time.
Why am I managing campaigns for clients and not just running them for myself in the first place?
I get paid, to learn a business vertical, from a business person in that vertical, with their ad spend.
One day (and it's getting nearer), I'll run campaigns to my own products, and ease out of providing a service.
Thanks for leaving some feedback @Kelsey123. Rep+I'm late as hell with this review...but since I've been getting my skin in the game with Adwords, it would only be right for me to say some cool things about this guy Andy Black. I greatly appreciate him and the info on this forum and in his course times a million.
The course, of course has been the missing piece to the puzzle (outside of the forum info) which I was blessed to have gotten my hands on.
If you have a local biz or looking to do some agency stuff..I highly suggest you get his course.
Save yourself the trouble.
Thanks Andy you are a true hero when it comes to this industry!!
Thanks for leaving some feedback @Kelsey123. Rep+
I'm curious... now that you've been through the course and have some campaigns running, how have all the posts I've dropped in here differed from the first time you read them?
What's your current biggest takeaway from what you've done and learned to date?
1. I noticed that you mentioned that you only create one keyword per adgroup. Is this a rule that you always follow?
For example, when I first inherited the PPC account at my company I noticed that the account manager was in the habit of adding 3-10 keywords per adgroup, consisting of similar keywords. I wasn't sure if this was just out of laziness or if he had a reason for it.
2. While watching you create keywords I noticed that you were only using modified broad. Do you only use modified broad?
In my current account, I have seen instances where the account manager used all three match types in the same adgroup. I have never understood the benefit of doing this.
For example, if the keyword is red socks then it will use:
[red socks]
"red socks"
+red +socks
So even if you did want to bid on all three match types of some reason, then would you create 3 adgroups with each match type. Or just put all three match types in the same adgroup? And would you even use all 3 match types?
Some questions from someone who bought the course:
If you find a particular search term is worth optimising, then take that search term out and put it into it's own ad group (by bidding in exact match and adding an exact match negative to the original ad group).
Yes, that's what I do.So is exact match used more for when you're ready to optimize and hone in on a particular search term? For example:
Let's say that I'm bidding on
+yellow +striped +socks
And in my search term report I noticed that the term striped yellow socks is leading to a lot of conversions, clicks, good ctr - etc...
Is that when it makes sense to break out that keyword into an exact match like [striped yellow socks]?
I don't know how Google matches it, but I do know the traffic can move around between all three keywords. Likely they match it based on which one they think can make the most money for them, so it'll be related to CTR and CPC, and how much they can make from other advertisers.1. I have been curious about this for awhile. Let's say that for some reason I have SKAG setup like this:
+yellow +socks --- bid $1.09
[yellow socks] ---- bid $2.01
"yellow socks" ---- bid $1.50
If someone searches for yellow socks, then technically all three match types cover that search term.
So how does Google know which match type to go with? Does Google just go with the exact match? Or, will it make a decision based on the bid amount at the keyword level?
We don't confuse AdWords, we confuse ourselves!2. (Kind of related to the above)
You said:
"If you find a particular search term is worth optimising, then take that search term out and put it into it's own ad group (by bidding in exact match and adding an exact match negative to the original ad group)."
I kind of understand why you would add the exact match as a negative to the original ad group. But, what would happen if you don't do this? Would this confuse Adwords or something?
I don't use DKI at all. I see it as a sign of someone who doesn't know how to create ads that are relevant. It indicates to me that they're just above newbie level and an engineer instead of a marketer. If they're an engineer type then use that engineering skill to create better ads.3. Dynamic Keyword Insertion into the ad
Personally, I hate DKI. It confuses me when trying to read my own ads that I'm managing and it almost seems pointless to use if the account is setup the way that you teach.
What are your thoughts on DKI? The account manager who I worked with before loved DKI. Most of my non DKI ads beat out his DKI controls. But, there are some instances where I have yet to beat a DKI ad. I've noticed that this typically happens with a SKAG adgroup or an adgroup with 10+ keywords.
Do you use DKI at all?
I don't use DKI at all. I see it as a sign of someone who doesn't know how to create ads that are relevant. It indicates to me that they're just above newbie level and an engineer instead of a marketer. If they're an engineer type then use that engineering skill to create better ads.
There's a lot of technical people doing AdWords - it's quite a technical platform, and built by an engineering company too.Funny that you mentioned that using DKI is a sign of someone who doesn't know how to create ads that are relevant. That's the exact problem that I had my account manager before we fired the company. He was pretty good with everything, but when it came down to writing good ads and general marketing skills -- not so good.
Great advice!Some advice I just gave someone:
Go more granular than everyone else. Dig under them.
Do what they don't think to do, don't know how to do, or don't want to do.
Yes.Hey there - is this knowledge transferrable to Bing as well?
@johnp ? I believe you're running Bing ads as well as AdWords ads. Has the course helped with both?
Thanks Tina (and everyone for their glowing reviews).@Andy Black I've read through most of your adwords posts and also been listening into the audios you've uploaded. Really excellent content so thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I've started my own adwords campaign, have a few landing pages running (each localised) and getting some click-throughs. I was a bit hesitant to get the course as I wanted to try to get more traction first, but the glowing reviews it's received have convinced me to just bite the bullet now. I can't wait to get stuck in and take things to the next level!
Good work Marc, and thanks for the writeup. Rep+Thought I would share this. I have a client who runs Adwords seasonally. They asked me to take over their account.
Below is a screenshot of his own paused campaign from last year that they set up themselves, and the live one which I have been running below that - I set up a new campaign for the client after I had taken Andy's course.
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Almost halved the spend, better CTR, Lower click costs. Client is happy as you can imagine.
Good work Marc, and thanks for the writeup. Rep+
How many days/weeks did each campaign run for? Is it comparable?
What about enquiries, signups, or sales? Has the conversion rate and conversion value stayed the same or changed?
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