Google ads ..........HUGE COSTS for my biz. How to reduce "Content Network" fees???

[Craig 930 RS]

The Google costs are just killing me.

Google + search network [?] Enabled Default $0.55 [edit] 5 97 5.15% $0.22 $1.10

Content network [?] Enabled 93 53,150 0.17% $0.38 $35.57
Total $36.67

Almost $18 bucks a day.
---------

How? The semi-mysterious "Content network" .
My stuff shows up on various crap whci I don't give a rip about.
All I care about is SEARCH RESULTS.

How the he!! can I reduce or eliminate the "Content Network"??

[on-ramp]

Google is a scam! about 25% of your costs are probably due to click fraud.

I use them with 0 ROI, could be the field I'm in but I only get people to sign up for a newsletter.
I cut back on Google CPC ads, and am down to about $50 a month with, like i said, 0 ROI.

I doubt Pelican Parts uses Google Ads. I'd like to hear more on this subject.

[Jamie79SC]

I fired them a couple months back when they arbirtarily added dozens of 'related' words to my list and suddenly my bill more than quadrupled for clicks that neted NOTHING for my company. I was appaled, but just ate the $800 - $900 and chalked it up to experience.

[Craig 930 RS]

I can control the Cost Per Click - and my max budget per day - but the
"Content network" is just KILLING ME. And it appears there is NO way to contril it...there has to be!

How?

[imcarthur]

Is this for a link on the right hand side of the page? The ones nobody ever clicks on unless they do it by mistake?

Ian

[Craig 930 RS]

Clicks for the past year: $254.63
"Content network" for the past year: $1,653.37

WTF??????

[Craig 930 RS]

For ad positioning on the right AND listing on the left

[on-ramp]

they dont tell you the exact search phrase that caused your ad to show up and someone to click on it, do they?

if you knew, you might be surprised.

[Rodeo]

I wish I knew what you guys were talking about, cuz it sounds interesting.

[motion]

I'm no expert, but I am using Google AdWords and have run into some of the same issues. First off, you can email Google within your AdWords space and the WILL answer your question within a day or so.

Second, you need to enable the "Advanced" managment feature. Sounds like you're still using the Starter controls, which basically give you no control over where your ads appear.

Once you're in the Advanced mode, create a campaign and specify a monthly budget. Google will only display your ad enough times to spend your budget - they will not go over your budget.

To get rid of the content network, do the following:

1. Sign in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com.
2. Select the box next to the campaign you wish to edit.
3. Click 'Edit Settings.'
4. Locate 'Networks.'
5. Click the checkbox next to 'Content network' to deselect this option
and click 'Save changes.'

Hope that helps!

[Craig 930 RS]

Good, there is hope..!

I had already established a montly budget - of which about 95% goes to the 'content' stuff. Went ot the cryptically labeled "Advanced Search" to turn off the content.

Did you turn off the content pages? Have you seen *any* benefit to the 'content'?

[Craig 930 RS]

OK. I turned off the content pages....

Motion/Ramp:
What is your take on what YOU noticed traffic-wise or anything else when you turned off the 'content' stuff?

[deathpunk dan]

Adwords is not a scam. We spend $7,000/week with Adwords alone and measure ROI on every single one of the 10,000 kw phrases we bid on.

Just shut off the content network serving. Sometimes, the content network makes sense...but the hordes of adsense scraper sites have diluted their effectiveness/credibility.

On-Ramp, I do web biz consulting on the side. I am a web marketing mgr for my day job. I can help you make AW work for you if you want advice. Send a PM if you have any questions.

[Craig 930 RS]

I started this thread.

Perhaps you have an idea as to the effectiveness of the "Content Pages" I initially inquired about?

[deathpunk dan]

Craig

It depends on your budget, your kw's, your ad's quality, the destination URLs (ie where people are ending up on your site upon clicking your ad) etc.

I am going to say that for Rennstore, turn off content network. Build out more keywords. I can help you with keyword generation...chase the long tail. Go for highly relevant, better converting keyword phrases that don't get impressed as often.

Make sure you experiment with all 3 match types. Write good ads. Make sure you are driving people the best possible landing page for each kw phrase.

What level of website traffic analysis do you use? At the very least, you probably have access to some free tools, how about Google Stats? Have you configured Adwords conversion tracking by plugging in their code into your post-checkout order confirmation page?

Turning content network on, as you probably know, means that google runs your ads across hundreds of thousands of websites that run google adsense. Those sites tend to be plagued by click fraud.

[Craig 930 RS]

I have a seriously thought out list of key words - 96 of them
Budget of $10 a day

Since turning off 'content', the total $ over the weekend and today is $3.72

Are you speaking of the "Destination URL"?
I had nothing in that slot until now.....

[competentone]

Originally posted by deathpunk dan
Turning content network on, as you probably know, means that google runs your ads across hundreds of thousands of websites that run google adsense. Those sites tend to be plagued by click fraud.

Yep. And to understand why Google will never be able to eliminate all the click fraud with the AdSense pages consider the description here on how the scams work:
(I have no connection with the company)
http://www.sofizar.com/adsense-fraud.php

You may want to be reading some of the SEO forums for ideas too, if you're not already doing so. For example:

http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/

People do use Google successfully. I just follow them from an investment angle (I keep a constant put play in action on them waiting for their demise), but am convinced that they are VERY EVIL. (Perhaps you've heard their informal company slogan is "Don't be evil.")

Most recently, there was a class action case in Alabama over click fraud. I read some of the briefs Google's lawyers filed. There were some fairly complex issues which I won't get into here, but Google's lawyers' willingness to use outright deception, intentionally misquoting previous case law in an attempt to argue their point, demonstrated they operate with virtually NO regard for truth. (I am really surprise the Judge didn't censure them for their behavior -- I'm guess he had some pretty poor clerks who didn't research the cases Google cited.)

I've heard some people suggest that Google is using click fraud on their own network; at first I thought this was improbable; after seeing the deception they used in their legal briefs, I am convinced it is entirely possible.

I expect Google to eventually unravel as one of the biggest stock market scandals of the century.

[PcarPhil]

Spend some money and/or time on search engine optimization and you can lower your costs for Google Adwords.

What's the website that you're promoting?

[Craig 930 RS]

My own simple biz - the one in my sig

[motion]

Deathpunk Dan,

(Craig - I hope you don't mind me stepping in and asking a question).

What are your thoughts on the bid amount for each Cost per Click? I'm not sure I understand this one... I set mine to a max of $1.00. What does that really mean? Looking at my reports, I'm paying anywere between $.61 and $.88 for each click. What is the ramification of raising or lowering your bid amount?