Google content network BEWARE

[wevet]

This weekend I did an experiment on Google.

Identical ads, identical destinations everything the same with one exception.

One ad was set up for Google search only the other was set up for Content.

The budget for the search only ad took just over 9 hours for the budget to be used up.

The content enabled ad budget was gobbled up in around 45 minutes.

The bounce rate (visitors who do not progress beyond the landing page) was 97% for the content ad and 24% for the search ad.

Also the clicks on the content ads wer 82% from outside the UK whereas the search was 100% in the UK.

So, if you are new to adwords make sure you do untick the content box unless you want your budget to disappear very quickly.

Before the pros pounce on me, I know you can refine the content places where your ads appear but even then, in my experience one suffers a bounce rate that is so disproportionately high that one must question the honesty of the clicks one is paying for.

Personally I think it is high time Google got rid of the content advertising altogether it clutters up the web with thousands of worthless directories and other junk and is a great moneybox for those committing click fraud.

[Lark]

I was wondering what anyone else thought about this?

[Matt1959]

having little real knowledge of adwords, if you trawl the net, you'll find almost unanimous advice that beginners to adwords should disable the content network option. Trouble is, Google enable if by default and its not that obvious how to get shot of it!

[simonr]

It might not be obvious HOW to get rid of it but the fact that it's enabled by default is a big hint that you *should* ! :)

[That Guy]

Thats very interesting I have only dabbled with adwords before but off to have another play :D

[matt.chatterley]

I was wondering what anyone else thought about this?

You should absolutely disable content network (and infact everything apart from search, really), when you are new to adwords.

Otherwise you might as well just withdraw your budget in cash and use it as firelighters.

CN can be powerful for some adverts (not all), but you need to be really careful and control it - otherwise you can waste a bunch of dosh.

[directmarketingadvice]

Also the clicks on the content ads wer 82% from outside the UK whereas the search was 100% in the UK.

Did you set up your content campaign to show internationally, but your search campaign to just show in the UK?

Personally I think it is high time Google got rid of the content advertising altogether it clutters up the web with thousands of worthless directories and other junk and is a great moneybox for those committing click fraud.

I love the content network. It's great for affiliate marketing.

However, it's something that requires a totally different approach to google search.

Steve

[garyk]

Yep I personally avoid content, not through bad experience but just from reading a ton of information on ppc and most of it saying focus on search only. The problem is you don't know the relevance of the pages it is on as I have an adsense enabled blog and some of the stuff that appears is unbelievable, not really related to the subject at all.

[Whistle Ink]

I always turn it off after reading about it.

Steve please can you explain why its good for affiliate marketing?

Cheers

[directmarketingadvice]

Steve please can you explain why its good for affiliate marketing?

There are a lot of reasons.

For example, there are fewer restrictions, tons of impressions, less competition, most people do it wrong, it's a good fit for information marketing, many affiliates provide banners which you can use to target site placements...

Steve