With Paid Traffic (PPC & PPV), How Can We Be *More* Organized and "Systematic"?

Hey guys, a big FRUSTRATION of mine's that I have been dealing with for seemingly "too long" now is that I just feel like I need to be a little bit more "scientific" in my approach to what WE do as marketers of PAID traffic/PPC traffic (and CPA Offers)! I feel as if I'm just "spinning my wheels" (or so it seems)...

Do you guys get what I mean when I say *scientific*? I feel like the hustle is an ART so therefore I have to/need to be more "artistic" so to speak...

I just get frustrated because right now it feels like I'm just doing a little "here and there"; I want to treat this more SYSTEMATIC ("artistic") like a BUSINESS because I have learned that all of the "real" affiliates (SMART ones) are very *systematic* in their approach!

They have almost "everything" down to a science and right now I do NOT feel like that at all...It doesn't even feel like a business to me right now with the "here and thereness" of it all but more like a "hobby"; if you get what I am trying to convey to you...

MOST of the so-called "tips" is stuff like putting 1,000-2,000+ KEYWORDS in *one* adgroup, and when I read (and do/try) stuff like that; it's as if I never really "get anywhere" because it's in the same philosophy of throwing CRAP on the wall to see which stuff "sticks"! I'd rather have things much "niched down" or whatever in a more SCIENTIFIC manner so that I can easily *see* what needs to be paused, deleted, revised, and optimized...

Hell, if we tried that in the "offline" world (brick-and-mortar) we'd FAIL miserably which means that there has to be a "method" of going about this that is much more STREAMLINED and/or "smooth" if you guys get what I am trying to convey...

How do the rest of you guys feel, and did many/do many of you feel this way; especially when you started out with PPC or PPV traffic (or paid traffic in general)?

One thing that I notice about MOST affiliates is that they do *not* TREAT this like a business and I no longer want to be "one" of those guys...

I technically wasn't "that" guy last year (in 2011) but since I had no real direction or guidance on HOW to turn what we do into an "Art and Science"."

I just want to know, that's all, and if there's any GUIDANCE that can be spared, I'd *greatly* APPRECIATE it! I know there's NO "one size FITS all" solution, but if you guys can give me some direction I'll be able to put together my OWN system that much easier...

I'd greatly appreciate it if some of y'all can outline your own ways that y'all used to "organize" and "systematize" your PPC (or PPV) campaign's so that I can get a general FEEL for how I may want/need to go about it!

THANKS!