Comments on: Why You’ve Given Up on AdWords

By: Moe Muise

Moe Muise — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:22:44 +0000

Howie, your reference to "chunking" things down reminds me of an excellent book that recently came out on how world-class athletes (and chess players, and artists…) get world-class. It's called "The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born, It's Grown". A good read for those who are interested in building their AdWords muscles!

Moe

By: Tom @ Scinti

Tom @ Scinti — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:01:22 +0000

The reason I gave up on Google Adwords is I never could figure out the formula for a good quality score. No matter what I did, it was always low. Every time I asked Google support about it, I would receive a long generic email that didn't help me. I finally went to Yahoo advertising and my quality scores are much better there. Yahoo is not the biggest game in town, but at least I feel like I'm in the game.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:23:47 +0000

Hey Howie,
Thanks for the info and the encouragement.
I stopped at AdWords Conversion Failure = Success. I had a 10/10 quality score for my ad (surely based on what I learned on one of your calls), great impressions and people were clicking like crazy. But, no sales. I changed the headline and tweaked the page based on feedback, but after spending $239 to test a $30 product, I got cold feet. I know it's not a lot of money but I felt I was throwing good money after bad.
With every new keyword, every new sales page I feel like I'm starting from scratch. It wouldn't be so bad if I could test for free! It's good to know that I was almost there. Maybe I'll dust off the page, tweak it again and pick up where I left off. Now, if I can just find that page…

By: Heike

Heike — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:49:38 +0000

Hi there, thanks for the advice. Your articles are all scratching the itch…but i am just starting and am not having anything online yet…the set-up of the campaign already costs plenty of time, but i am very couraged to see, what i wil get…now that i have read the book and some articles…and the adwords-day here in germany yet to come…

By: Biba Pearce

Biba Pearce — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:28:35 +0000

Thanks for a very informative article… and so timeous too. I was about to quit a campaign I've had going due to lack of coversions (not lack of impressions, mind you!), but now – following your logical steps, which I knew, but was so frustrated that I forgot, will persevere.
Where I live in South Africa, the failure is even more bitter, since we're paying Rands for Dollars per Click. It means failure is expensive here and it's very easy to quit rather than incur the possible expensive of continuing a doomed campaign. But as you so rightly say, perseverence pays off in the end.

By: Nigel Charig

Nigel Charig — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:20:51 +0000

Nothing terribly original to say I'm afraid but I simply had to write and thank you for this advice, because what you say reflects my situation and state of mind with such profound accuracy. I have been experimenting for literally years with Adwords, and have never, ever, EVER had one single enquiry! Not one! I've had plenty of clicks though, and given plenty of money to Google.
But like Jim Ob, I really want it to work, to free myself from cold calling. My first Adwords enquiry would be a life changing experience. So as you suggest, I'll keep trying. Maybe I'm like Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen – that scene where he's struggling to get his boat out of the swamp and the trees – but the camera shows us what he can't see – clear open water just a few feet away.

By: Ruth Marbaek

Ruth Marbaek — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:51:52 +0000

Let me repeat the mantra: "Thank you Howie" Every time I read your good advice I'm encouraged to continue working with AdWords. And let me stress, I love AdWords! Every day I'm meet people who have no confidence i AdWords, they think it's a google money machine, believe me in Denmark people are very suspicious of a media like AdWords, and if they try it and don't see results emidiately they quit! Now I would like to confront them with the argumentation you present here, Howie. Thanks again:-)
I apologize for spelling and grammar mistakes.

By: jim ob

jim ob — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:13:31 +0000

Great article. Very aptly describes my experience.I was able to get a click thru of just over 1% but very few leads. Those leads that did come in were not qualified. My challenge is also that I am selling in a B2B environment, and to large corporations (Fortune500). Is it also possiible to get "bad traffic" to the landing page?? That is what I thought that was maybe my problem.
Howie: Any ideas?
I willeventually start the campaign again. In the meantime,I am going back to my more tired and true marketing: cold calling. It has always worked for me. For now.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:52:03 +0000

Excellent article and your 100% correct Howie! My biggest fear is spending too much money without taking any in….The idea of attacking Ad Words in portions is probably the only way I'll ever get through it. Creating a landing page and fitting the right keywords is a monumental task for me….figuring out a budget to keep me afloat….. that just adds to the stress!! But when I read your articles I get the feeling that all is not lost….and if I peck away at it someday soon I'll be successful. Thanks Howie!

By: Philip Davis

Philip Davis — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:47:34 +0000

That's an interesting way of breaking down my apparent failures with Adwords.
I got so disgusted and discouraged that I did quit and I haven't been back just as you mentioned.
I now know it was my failure, poor keywords and an even worse landing page and yet I've had a hard time getting up the courage to go for it again.
So on your advice I will and I'm sure I'll do better and if not I'll e back here reading more of your posts!
Thanks