20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

PPC Campaign Management. Help Please..

by Justin B
17 replies
I'm looking at offering PPC Campaign Management to my clients but would really like to know how others on the WF are managing this service, what's involved and how your structure your costs?
#campaign #management #ppc
  • Profile picture of the author Preeti
    Hi Justin,

    I offer PPC campaigns to my clients and handle them on my own. I actually like doing the setup, adcopy, keywords (I know..total nerd!). But there are many outsourcers out there who are experts at this stuff and you can get them to help.

    For the costs, initially I was allowing the client to determine their budget and then added on a management fee. However, for some reason this became more of an obstacle "so..it's going to be X dollars for the clicks and then your Y management fee too..".

    Now I just bundle the costs + management fee and give them that one monthly fee. Just make it simple for them to understand and with PPC it's great because they can track and see the results for themselves.

    Hope that helps!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520002].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
      Originally Posted by Preeti View Post

      Hi Justin,

      I offer PPC campaigns to my clients and handle them on my own. I actually like doing the setup, adcopy, keywords (I know..total nerd!). But there are many outsourcers out there who are experts at this stuff and you can get them to help.

      For the costs, initially I was allowing the client to determine their budget and then added on a management fee. However, for some reason this became more of an obstacle "so..it's going to be X dollars for the clicks and then your Y management fee too..".

      Now I just bundle the costs + management fee and give them that one monthly fee. Just make it simple for them to understand and with PPC it's great because they can track and see the results for themselves.

      Hope that helps!
      It would seem to me the costs + mgt fee for total billing amount makes the most sense for this type of service. Why confuse the client with miniscule details they really don't need to have rolling around in their head? Your bill reflects the total cost and that is what they will pay AND take to their acct come tax time.

      Just my 2¢...

      Tom
      Signature
      Get 30% or More Retirement Income If you are serious about your retirement, you'll love this product.

      The Money Ferret Finance Article Directory
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520092].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Clients pay a one time set up fee regardless of their budget. That number never changes, they can either afford it or not. Then they pay a monthly maintenance fee. I am not responsible for loading up their adwords balance, they do that.

    How to actually set up the campaign and get better results, is an entirely different topic. PPC is very difficult at times, but well worth it. In fact, in the end it may just be the most effective form of advertising.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520086].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Preeti
    @Tom--exactly right! Before I was breaking the costs down and it just added more confusion to the whole proposal..now it's just one fee and that covers everything. Now--I just made it more simple, $X/month and that covers everything.

    @IAMNameless--totally agree..PPC has gotten some great results for clients and super quick to launch. I actually do things a bit different. I charge them for the cost of clicks and then upload the balance myself. I find they are simply too busy/scatterbrained to remember to do that task and just found it easier to have that control on my end (but then again, I'm a bit of a control freak so yeah that could be it LOL). Although I am considering bringing on somebody to board to handle the whole PPC campaigns..I need more time to prospect
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520592].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by Preeti View Post

      @IAMNameless--totally agree..PPC has gotten some great results for clients and super quick to launch. I actually do things a bit different. I charge them for the cost of clicks and then upload the balance myself. I find they are simply too busy/scatterbrained to remember to do that task and just found it easier to have that control on my end (but then again, I'm a bit of a control freak so yeah that could be it LOL). Although I am considering bringing on somebody to board to handle the whole PPC campaigns..I need more time to prospect
      You don't have the battle wounds yet to learn from. That is the only difference. Once you get big enough, you're going to experience chargebacks, and it's pretty bad when you pay for their clicks and marketing, and are out that money on top of your own fees.

      It isn't really control.. you're doing it the riskier way. AND.... the way that will eventually get your adwords accounts shut down unfortunately. It's all a learning experience though, I've made more mistakes than almost everyone lol.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520948].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author link82
    Preeti & rest--don't they ask how much will be used for their ppc campaigns and how much you will be pocketing in management fees?
    Signature
    Quietly Selling Powerful Links. Just a handful on clean domains, PM me for inquiry :D
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6520697].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Preeti
    Totally understand it but since I'm on a smaller scale right now it works for me.

    Just to clarify, I use the "prepaid" option. This way I load up the funds at the beginning of the month (once the client has paid me) and their campaign is live and eventually zeros out at the end of the month.

    I've never paid for the clicks out of pocket and then tried to chase down a client for payment..that's just ASKING for battle wounds LOL

    If I don't get payment for my services by the beginning of the billing cycle for a month, then their Adwords campaign doesn't go live. It's working for me now..but let's see what happens as I get more clients on board. I make that clear to clients that I need to pay Google before their ads can be displayed. So far, clients get it and payments haven't been an issue (except for this one client who I am considering firing LOL).

    Thanks Iamnameless for the info though..definitely makes sense for anybody considering billing the client at the end of the period after you've covered the cost for clicks..that's just asking for trouble...

    And hey, we all make mistakes all the time..just means we're learning (hopefully) and growing to do things better and smarter Appreciate you taking the time to respond!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6521049].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by Preeti View Post

      Totally understand it but since I'm on a smaller scale right now it works for me.

      Just to clarify, I use the "prepaid" option. This way I load up the funds at the beginning of the month (once the client has paid me) and their campaign is live and eventually zeros out at the end of the month.

      I've never paid for the clicks out of pocket and then tried to chase down a client for payment..that's just ASKING for battle wounds LOL

      If I don't get payment for my services by the beginning of the billing cycle for a month, then their Adwords campaign doesn't go live. It's working for me now..but let's see what happens as I get more clients on board. I make that clear to clients that I need to pay Google before their ads can be displayed. So far, clients get it and payments haven't been an issue (except for this one client who I am considering firing LOL).

      Thanks Iamnameless for the info though..definitely makes sense for anybody considering billing the client at the end of the period after you've covered the cost for clicks..that's just asking for trouble...

      And hey, we all make mistakes all the time..just means we're learning (hopefully) and growing to do things better and smarter Appreciate you taking the time to respond!
      No, you don't understand what I'm saying. I'm not talking about getting paid at the end of the month, I get paid up front. I'm talking about client chargebacks which will eventually happen and when it does you'll remember this post. LOL.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6521125].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Justin B
        Really great replies peeps. Very helpful. Thanks.

        As I mentioned before this is something I am considering offering to my clients as an additional service. It's all a bit early yet as I have only just started selling mobile websites, but I 'm thinking ahead towards a recurring income revenue greater than the small monthly hosting and management for their mobile sites.

        How much do you actually charge management fee and one time set up?

        I am totally new to this so really have no idea where to start with costings, so is there a minimu spend you suggest to justify your management service fees?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6521442].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Preeti
    Okay, IAmNameless just clarified..he was talking about client chargebacks and how they can come back and request a "return" on fees that you've already gone ahead and paid out to Google.

    So in that case, just because I haven't had that personally happen to me, it does make sense to have the client worry about the using their credit card to pay for the clicks and they pay you for the mgmt fee.

    Justin, I figure out how long it's going to take me per month to optimize, send out reports, monitor their campaigns and then work out what I want to be paid hourly. Work backwards to determine how much you want to be charging for the setup vs. monthly.

    Hope that helps!

    And thanks IAmNameless for clarifying that!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6522077].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author homeparty
      Been a member for awhile but haven't posted. I am also looking to get into PPC management in addition to pricing what is the best way to sell/convince a company of this type of service....through cold calling?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6543840].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author AmyKay
      Preeti, you had a post similar to this a while back, and it's gotten me started doing PPC for clients.


      But I'm not using exactly the model you discuss here. For me, I think it will be more profitable to run the PPC campaign myself, and charge the client per lead. Upfront. With electronic funds transfer from the client's bank for payment as John Durham recommended. No chargebacks when doing that. (I'm still working out the details.)


      I've fallen back in love with PPC. It gets great results FAST, and for a client sitting on page 5 of Google, they love that. One of them is hinting at firing his SEO guy. Which could be one of you, so I'm trying to talk him out of that. I'm just explaining that SEO is a long term strategy. My strategy is pricier, but instant gratification!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6547462].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rolltide
    I would advise signing up for Google Engage. This will help you out greatly!
    Signature

    Make $150 everytime someone backs up their computer!
    http://goo.gl/07M6K

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6547491].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author shamima1261
      Originally Posted by rolltide View Post

      I would advise signing up for Google Engage. This will help you out greatly!
      Google Engage is not available outside USA and Canada:confused:
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6552147].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bigjonnyg
    I hired a company to manage my PPC.. u pay $1000/month in a Mgmt fee.. plus i pay my PPC costs.. im in the process of switching PPC to a new firm that have no MGMT fee.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6547516].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rolltide
    bigjohnny-study on Google Engage and keep those management fees.
    Signature

    Make $150 everytime someone backs up their computer!
    http://goo.gl/07M6K

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6548303].message }}

Trending Topics