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Welcome to the ineedhits Search Engine Marketing blog, where we share the latest search engine and online marketing news, releases, industry trends and great DIY tips and advice.

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Monday, May 19

Ready, Fire, Aim - 8 Common Search Advertising Mistakes To Avoid

Getting excited about setting up your first Google or Yahoo! advertising campaign? Who wouldn't be with promises of top exposure, qualified website visitors and instant traffic?

Now before you get over zealous about launching your advertising campaigns, don't make the mistake of pressing the trigger before you set your sights on the target.

Below is a list of 8 common search advertising (or PPC advertising) mistakes that overly keen website owners make when launching their new advertising programs!

1. Broad Match To Blow Your Budget
Search advertising is not about getting the "most" traffic - it's about getting the "most effective" traffic. Using broad match for "all" your keywords might send your website into visitor overdrive, but it'll probably blow your budget before you get the click that generates a sale or lead.

2. Thinking Negative Keywords Are Bad
There's nothing "bad" about negative keywords other than not using them. If you're going to go broad with your keywords - use negatives to avoid the clicks you don't want. Most of the major search engines provide the ability to block search with certain keywords.

3. Being A Sheep And Trying To Look the Same
When you're drafting your search ads, the key is to stand out, not fit in. So don't make the mistake of trying to look like your competitors. Be bold and stand out from the pack (within reason)!

4. Search, Search Network and Content - Who Cares, its all Search Right?
There's a vast difference between the traffic you can generate from Search, the Search Networks and Content Networks. It's important to set-up your campaigns so you can see which option is generating the best traffic. You'll be surprised by the results!

5. Promoting Your Local Business To The World
Yes - Search Advertising is great for promoting your business to the world - but what's the point if you're a business in outback Idaho selling doodads from a local store. Trust me - doodad buyers in Africa are not likely to jump on a plane - no matter how good your doodads are. So geo-target your campaigns and save yourself precious advertising budget.

6. Guessing Your Success
There's no guessing when it comes to understanding your search advertising success. If you're not tracking your campaigns with a half decent website analytics service - then you're just wasting your time.

7. Sending Your Visitors Home - Homepage Madness
So you've spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on a flashy website with an impressive homepage. While a good homepage is an important part of your website, its generally not where active searchers want to be sent. If I click your ad - then show me the product or service that matches my search!

8. Don't Ask - They'll Just Click
Just because you're advertising in a search engine doesn't mean the rules of direct marketing don't apply. If you really want people to click your ads, then give them a compelling reason to and then ask them to. "Calls to Action" will dramatically improve your clickthrough and traffic!

That's just 8 of the many mistakes you can make with Search Advertising campaigns. If you're going to tackle Google and/or Yahoo! advertising yourself, make sure your campaigns are set up right before you press FIRE!

2 Comments

At 10:19 AM, Anonymous said...: Thanks for giving us such great advice! The advertising world is full of obstacles - and with tight marketing budgets, mistakes a many can be made! Thanks again for your helpful hints -
I personally love them and look forward to reading them each time I receive your emails.
Cathleen Campbell
Inspire International
www.inspireinternational.com.au
At 3:39 PM, HÃ©ctor Iglesias Barnech said...: What a great job you have done!. I really agree with your article, I think almost 100 %. Let me tell you that many of us have been (too) excited about our first advertising campaign ... and happenned almost nothing... But let me tell you what I agree with you the most: advertising have to be effective, not traffic, there's nothing "bad" about negative keywords other than not using them, not to loose time â€“ and money - promoting your local business through to world, not to guess about success (have to look for), sending visitors to THE right page and inviting people to click
-------------------------------HÃ©ctor Iglesias Barnech is the General Manager and Content Coordinator for www.posicionarsitio.es and www.efectivaweb.com and many others. Feel free to contact info@posicionarsitio.es---------------------------------

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Ready, Fire, Aim - 8 Common Search Advertising Mistakes To Avoid

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