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Is there a limit to the # of PPC ads per keyword?

by tierney211
4 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I am doing some keyword research for a market niche I've finally decided on, and I have one question that came up during my research...

For some keywords, there are 11 ppc ads (on the right side of the page), and others less.

Question 1: Does my common sense tell me that if there are only 7 ads for a similar keyword and 11 for another, that I can bid a very low price for the one with 7 and still get on the 1st page because there are still at least 4 spots available?

Question 2: what is the max # of ads on one page before a bidding war begins?

thanks for the knowledge!

tim

p.s. I was referring to google in this case.
#ads #google #keyword #limit #ppc
  • Profile picture of the author alxvallejo
    Yes you can probably bid very low but it doesn't sound like a competitive market!
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      The logic is off. People do not realize that when they start out
      they get a QS. Then they get that QS tweaked with every campaign.

      Google does not just give any places to the highest bidder. If there
      are not enough high QS to be in place, they do not go to the bottom
      of the barrel and put an ad, just to have an ad there.

      Many newbs have realized that they can bid the farm, and still not
      get an ad to show.

      There are also global advertises that get first crack at just about
      anything close.

      Bidding wars are always going on.

      The part that is startling to many new adwords users, is google
      will toss out all candidates and show no ads if these candidates
      are just not worthy. No matter how high they bid.

      The ads above the results are not part of the auction in a true
      sense of the word. You cannot bid high enough to make those
      slots. They are chosen from a select group that is beyond
      reproach for the given term. Yes, they are still adwords customers.
      How much they are charged is something I can't find. Sometimes
      even this is left blank.

      The other 8 (if there are that many) are chosen from the regular
      auction. But, again, they may show 1 to 8 ads, no matter how many
      have bid.

      Google does not want to display junk ads that will get no clicks or
      make the visitor mad that they clicked. That's why your QS for
      that keyword matters and they don't just put the highest sap
      that bids.

      This may sound counter productive for their bottom line. But it's
      not. It makes their searches valuable, and adwords ads meaningful.

      Also, if people search for certain things in a non commercial way,
      whatever that means, they probably will show no ads.

      Is it perfect? No. Never will be as 99.99% of the behind the scenes
      stuff is done by a non-human algo.

      But they just had record profits, and their stock went up by
      $100 (yes one hundred dollars) in one week.

      They must be doing something right, contrary to the belief
      that google is broken. If that's broken, don't ask to fix it.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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      • Profile picture of the author alxvallejo
        Paul, I think you misinterpreted the question.

        He's not questioning why his ad isn't showing if he bids higher. Nor is he questioning whether or not Google is "broken".

        Clearly this is a commercial item if there are 7 ads being displayed. Also, maybe it's because I lack experience, but I assume his campaigns are set up properly so as not to be penalized by Google.

        The question is simple. If only 7 people are bidding on a particular keyword and there are 3 open spots, can you technically bid 1 cent to have your ad shown on position 8? Position 7, to my understanding, is paying whatever Max CPC they set, regardless of QS since a QS of, say, 3 can still be shown on organic results.
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  • Profile picture of the author tierney211
    Thank you for that input; I did always wonder how those top slot were chosen.

    As a newbie, and anyone for that matter trying to get the largest return for every dollar, would it make sense to find another ppc search engine that isn't as strict (or expensive)?

    With my limited knowledge, I'd say as long as there are keyword tools equivalent to googles, and the traffic is relative to the cost of each click...it would be a smart decision.

    Start in a smaller pond, so to speak.
    Signature
    "Do not act as if you had a thousand years to live." -Marcus Aurelius
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