Google adwords v Yahoo

[Rhyl Lightworks]

We have successfully been paying to advertise on Google Adwords for over a year. A few months ago, I started a similar Yahoo campaign, devoting about the same amount of money. I feel I have given it a fair trail, but most of our sales seem to come from Google, in the ratio of about 70% to 20% Yahoo and 10% others. Would it be better to
(a) spend all of the budget on Google
(b) spend most on Google and leave a bit on Yahoo
(c) leave it as it is?

Grateful for any advice.
Barrie

 

[RayB]

That is a very good question. We rank extremely well organically on Yahoo UK for well over 100 targetted and untargetted prhases (we are even 2nd for "printing" - 1st is Wikipedia!) - but we still only get 20 to 40 visits per day - whereas Google (where we rank for some good stuff on page 1 - but nowhere near as much as Yahoo) sends 300 -400 per day plus another 100 or so via Adwords.

So the problem is the search market share - which is particularly low for Yahoo in UK - I'd bet less than 10%.

SO - PPC on Yahoo? I have never tried it - but if the clicks are cheaper than Google and the conversion ratio good - why not.

But - the action all seems to be on Google and I cant see that changing anytime soon

 

[lewey]

Yahoo's share of search in the UK is very small, and Google is dominant. I have PPC campaigns on all 3 (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft), and Google would be at least 80%, maybe 85% of sales. However, Yahoo is actually more profitable, on a cost basis (i.e cost per click ends up lower). Am surprised that you have been spending the same amount of money on Yahoo as Google. It should be performance based, so relative to how many clicks you are receiving, and ideally based on conversions.
As long as your ads on Yahoo are profitable, then you should keep them, but naturally most of your budget will end up with Google, as thats where most people are searching. A good way can be to find what is your best performing ad on Google, and simply copy that across to Yahoo.

 

[c2webdesign]

Google is very dominant. We have a website that rates quite well for a generic term (around 250 million competition on Google).

Our website ranks second for the same keyword across Google, Yahoo and MSN (at least they are consistant!) but 83% of our traffic comes from Google.

I have tried Adwords in the past but wouldn't personally consider Yahoo - although I have seen a £60 voucher going around so I could be tempted - although I am a little put out that Yahoo insist on a £20 minimum monthly spend. Google is flexible.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

We have successfully been paying to advertise on Google Adwords for over a year. A few months ago, I started a similar Yahoo campaign, devoting about the same amount of money. I feel I have given it a fair trail, but most of our sales seem to come from Google, in the ratio of about 70% to 20% Yahoo and 10% others. Would it be better to
(a) spend all of the budget on Google
(b) spend most on Google and leave a bit on Yahoo
(c) leave it as it is?

You're spending money with Yahoo, is it making you a profit?

If it's bringing back more money than is going out, unless it's taking a long time for you to see the money from the sale (a long sales process or a long billing process), then the Yahoo marketing shouldn't be taking money out of your marketing budget, it should be putting money in.

And if you can profitably put in more, put in more.

The same with google.

In the case where you are taking a long time to get the money back, then put the money where you're seeing the greatest ROI.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

Thanks for the advice on this. The money invested in Yahoo is no more than breaking even, so I have decided to transfer most of it to Google, and just keep a small presence on Yahoo for my most successful keyword.
As you have no doubt gathered, I am by no means an expert on this. One further question - we rank on Google's first page for searches for one of our most successful products. Is it a waste of money to pay adwords to list this same keyword? Its clicks and CTR seem no better than other keywords which sell less well, so I suspect most of the sales are coming from generic searching.
Barrie

 

[Words of Magic]

Definately concentrate and persevere with google adwords to start off with, although its much more competitive and complex compared to yahoo,the results will be much more rewarding. Yahoo adwords - the size of your marketing budget is proportional to the position of your ad.Whereas with google adwords you win with high CTR's and not high bids, they will reward you, by allowing you to pay less for your traffic.Stay focused and use google adwords as your testing vehicle and depending on the results then try out yahoo. If your breaking even with yahoo, you just need to strengthen your copy which will kick start your profits.

Wishing you all the success in the world,

 

[lewey]

Yahoo has just switched to the same model as google in terms of taking into account ad performance as well. So CTR's now count with them too. This change was started in the USA a couple of months ago, and here in the UK a few days ago.
I still find Google easier to use and test on. So yes, use them to find a campaign thats is working, then can copy what works there across to Yahoo.