Anyone have the real scoop on Adwords?

[chrishonda]

So I have no idea what's going on anymore!

I am new to Adwords. I wanted to try it with an easy affiliate campaign...prewritten copy and suggested keywords. I figured it was a good way to get my feet wet.

So I set everything up and then they suspended my account. I have no idea why. I read all the rules and regulations and have no idea what I did wrong. I figured that was the end for me, because it seemed like once banned always banned.

But I thought maybe someone on the forum might have an idea on how to begin again. So I logged in to get the exact wording of the suspension notice.

EVERYTHING'S WORKING AGAIN! I have no idea why or how, but everything seems fully functional like there was never a problem. I'd like to keep it that way, since it seems like a pretty good way to generate revenue, if done correctly.

So I need the real scoop. I know things with Google change a lot, but most of what I've been reading lately is old or PLR stuff that I'm scared to trust. Any thoughts? Anyone?

[dburk]

Hi chrishonda,

When using AdWords to promote an affiliate marketing offer you need to be very careful. The most common problem affiliate marketers run into within the AdWords program are as follows:

• Bridge Page Violation - If you landing page serves little purpose other than to channel traffic to another website you have a bridge page.
• Promoting an offer from a dodgey, slimey or otherwise dubious vendor.
• Landing Page Violations - Direct linking to an affiliate's page that violates AdWords landing page policies, now or at some point in the future. You will be held responsible even though you have no control over the merchants page.
• Phoney Review Pages - Failing to disclose that your opinion is paid for in the form of commissions by the merchant.

[chrishonda]

Hmm. I didn't think I breached any of those points, but maybe my affiliate offer just wasn't the best choice. I'm surprised that there may be these types of problems, since I've read so many times that PPC and affiliate marketing go hand in hand to really get a cash flow going (if done correctly, of course).

So is it better to stay away from affiliate offers all together? I've also read a lot about using these in-between bridge pages. If it actually offers good content and value, is it still too risky?

[dburk]

Hi chrishonda,

If you landing page has content that is relevant to your ad and valuable to Google's users, it doesn't have sales copy that links to more sales copy on another website (unless labeled as an advertisement), and it doesn't violate any other landing page guidelines, then you will probably be okay.

A good way to achieve the above is to create your own sales copy and link to the merchants shopping cart checkout page. Sadly, many merchants do not allow you to link to anything but their sales copy.

[chrishonda]

Thanks, D! You are so helpful! Do you know of any ebook or something out there that was actually written in 2011? Or any other amazing resource that I can use for AdWords (besides you of course )?

[wolfmmiii]

Check this thread out....

Google Hates You and Your Affiliate Review Site and This is Why...

[dburk]

Hi chrishonda,

First learn the basics, Google has a lot of very informative resources:

AdWords Demos and Guides
AdWords Certification Program Learning Center
AdWords Editorial Guidelines
AdWords Help - Tips for Success
The official Google Adwords Blog - Inside AdWords

Once you have a good foundation in the basics, you can begin to learn intermediate and more advanced knowledge. See me when you are ready for that!

[chrishonda]

That is great, wolfmmmiii! I think sometimes people forget that humor has a place, even in IM! Plus, there were some really helpful tips there. Thanks!

[chrishonda]

I definitely will! Thanks so much! I really appreciate your help, D!

[RentItNow]

chrishonda, checkout Perry Marshall's definative guide to adwords. I had an affiliate link but of course it got cut.

One thing you have to realize is unless you are REALLY good at adwords, most affiliate offers are not going to make you enough to pay for the ads themselves. Google adwords has sort of become a zero-sum marketing method....unless you are making ALOT from the offer. The problem is in their terms of service as others have said you cannot directly link to affiliate offers which reduced the response rate to LOW LOW LOW CTR. For example, my best offer is getting a 12% CTR and I am paying .50 to .70 a click and only 20% of those 12% are clicking the affiliate ad. I can probably get a better return at the bank.

The value of Adwords is in its ability to test a market...which perry goes into detail about in his ebook. Once you know WHERE the market is and how many people are searching for it and how much its worth to you, then you know where to point the big guns so to speak. You can test markets for as little as $10 that marketing geniuses do not even know exist.

[chrishonda]

That's good stuff, RentIt. This is why I love the forum...I can learn so much from you pros!

If you want, PM me your aff link. I am all for giving people their rightful commissions. I never would have heard of this book if you hadn't mentioned it, so I'm glad to purchase through your link.

Do you know when it was published? I just don't want anything to be out of date. I feel like I can't trust anything about AdWords anymore...

[RentItNow]

No prob. PMed u. Perry is sort of the king of PPC the way John Carlton is the king of copywriting.

[chrishonda]

Seriously, thanks. I can't wait to delve in.