Need your thoughts on my adwords campaign

abev · 06-28-2009, 09:16 AM

I created a site in January (not sure if the forums like me to say the name). It's a 'fake' sports betting site. No money is involved - it's purely fun betting on real sporting events. To bet, users must create an account. I created it because it was something I wanted to play around with personally and I think it's something new and different in the fantasy sports niche.

I just started with adwords a few days ago. Initially I had a hard time getting ads approved because there are some words google does not like (like 'fake', 'gambling', etc..) So my first problem was that it's been a little tricky targeting my ads. I am basically going after the fantasy sports market with 'fantasy sports' as my top keyword.

Once a I had few days under my belt of showing ads the impressions started to add up. It seems like a big number to me but I am sure it's not much. I've been getting around 5k impressions the past 2 days and already up to 3k today (10a Sunday).

Up to now google shows a total of about 12k impressions with 8 clicks for a .07 CTR. Is that really bad? None of those 8 clicks have joined. I set individual bids on each of my keywords monitoring their avg position (5.9 overall). I also started yesterday targeting the ads to managed placements thinking my site will not have a mass appeal.

My max daily budget is $2 mostly b/c I had no idea what was going to happen. Does the daily budget have any affect on impressions? Or the ads will just stop running when I get to $2 (haven't got there yet).

My goal is to get more users and let the market decide if it's a worth while site. I am looking for some overall thoughts or suggestions on how to improve response. TIA.

crystyignat · 06-29-2009, 02:07 AM

Hi pal,

I think you have so many impressions because you are targetting content network too. That is set by default in Adwords from what I remember. I would suggest to try separate the content from search network, you can just duplicate the campaign and rename it with "- Content".
See what Quality Scores does your keywords have. If the QS is low, increase your bids as suggestions and make changes to the ad texts and the landing page too. Considering you have .07% CTR your QS should be very low and your keywords shouldn't even show in the search network. To improve your CTR your ad text must be relevant with the keywords you bid for, also your landing page should have the information for the keywords and what you say in the ad text.

Hope it helps a bit!

Cristian

abev · 06-29-2009, 08:37 AM

thanks crysty,

I had 36k impressions yesterday (34k content and 2k search) and 5 clicks (0 signups). Not good... I think my targeting is too wide. My lowest QS is 7/10.

I think I just need to keep tweaking?

crystyignat · 06-29-2009, 08:40 AM

your QS is good, but to improve the ctr separate the content from search. content is normal to have a lower CTR. but on search you can tweak it a lot because you know people are searching what you offer so they actually need it!

06-28-2009, 09:16 AM	#1
abev Warrior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need your thoughts on my adwords campaign I created a site in January (not sure if the forums like me to say the name). It's a 'fake' sports betting site. No money is involved - it's purely fun betting on real sporting events. To bet, users must create an account. I created it because it was something I wanted to play around with personally and I think it's something new and different in the fantasy sports niche. I just started with adwords a few days ago. Initially I had a hard time getting ads approved because there are some words google does not like (like 'fake', 'gambling', etc..) So my first problem was that it's been a little tricky targeting my ads. I am basically going after the fantasy sports market with 'fantasy sports' as my top keyword. Once a I had few days under my belt of showing ads the impressions started to add up. It seems like a big number to me but I am sure it's not much. I've been getting around 5k impressions the past 2 days and already up to 3k today (10a Sunday). Up to now google shows a total of about 12k impressions with 8 clicks for a .07 CTR. Is that really bad? None of those 8 clicks have joined. I set individual bids on each of my keywords monitoring their avg position (5.9 overall). I also started yesterday targeting the ads to managed placements thinking my site will not have a mass appeal. My max daily budget is $2 mostly b/c I had no idea what was going to happen. Does the daily budget have any affect on impressions? Or the ads will just stop running when I get to $2 (haven't got there yet). My goal is to get more users and let the market decide if it's a worth while site. I am looking for some overall thoughts or suggestions on how to improve response. TIA.

06-29-2009, 02:07 AM	#2
crystyignat Active Warrior Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iasi, Romania. Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Need your thoughts on my adwords campaign Hi pal, I think you have so many impressions because you are targetting content network too. That is set by default in Adwords from what I remember. I would suggest to try separate the content from search network, you can just duplicate the campaign and rename it with "- Content". See what Quality Scores does your keywords have. If the QS is low, increase your bids as suggestions and make changes to the ad texts and the landing page too. Considering you have .07% CTR your QS should be very low and your keywords shouldn't even show in the search network. To improve your CTR your ad text must be relevant with the keywords you bid for, also your landing page should have the information for the keywords and what you say in the ad text. Hope it helps a bit! Cristian

06-29-2009, 08:37 AM	#3
abev Warrior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Need your thoughts on my adwords campaign thanks crysty, I had 36k impressions yesterday (34k content and 2k search) and 5 clicks (0 signups). Not good... I think my targeting is too wide. My lowest QS is 7/10. I think I just need to keep tweaking?

06-29-2009, 08:40 AM	#4
crystyignat Active Warrior Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iasi, Romania. Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Need your thoughts on my adwords campaign your QS is good, but to improve the ctr separate the content from search. content is normal to have a lower CTR. but on search you can tweak it a lot because you know people are searching what you offer so they actually need it!