What Internet Marketing Topics do YOU need help with?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maulik Shah on April 4, 2011 at 11:24am

I am just learning and hope to develop a comprehensive Google AdWords campaing.  I think the need is for some step-by-step advice.

Permalink Reply by Herb Jones on April 4, 2011 at 1:53pm

Maulik - I am curious, what product or service are you promoting that leads you to jump into adwords first? 

 

I am not saying you are on the wrong path, I am trying to understand the reasoning that put you on the path. 

Permalink Reply by Maulik Shah on April 13, 2011 at 1:33pm

Hi Herb.  

Sorry, I don't check this too often.  The reason to jump into PPC is that I am selling a single service/product and online marketing is likley to represent my most cost-effective marketing strategy.  The product/service is a comprehensive DNA based Health Risk assessment.  The website is almost complete but you can check it out at www.theriskmd.com

Permalink Reply by Jim Burns Creative Communication on April 12, 2011 at 5:27pm

Pay per click - I've been experimenting with the bid bracketing strategy proposed by Ian Howie in his book Google Adwords PPC Advertising. Use your keywords in three configurations, exact, phrase and broad match, assigning different max CPC bid amounts to each, based on the probability of a conversion. Exact match being the most likely, phrase match the next most likely, and broad the least likely to convert (but broad match will pick up occasional very low cost long-tail keywords that no one else is competing for). After determining with Traffic Estimator (for new keywords) or using existing click costs, bid the highest amount for an [exact match] keyword, 75% of that amount for "phrase match" of the keyword, and 25% of the exact match bid for broad match. Then run with all three... I'll report back after I have enough clicks to draw conclusions. The campaign in question has a $100 daily budget.

Permalink Reply by Herb Jones on April 13, 2011 at 10:29am

Great detail James...I would love to hear your conclusions and I welcome you to post them (if you wish) to our blog at www.gainesville-marketing.com.  We push out lots of tips and advice and if your strategies can help local businesses combat some of the out of hand PPC costs that they are seeing that would be great.

 

Question - where are you driving the traffic?  No mention above of what is happening AFTER the click, are you testing landing pages? 

Permalink Reply by Jim Burns Creative Communication on April 14, 2011 at 12:43am

Hello Herb - I'll be glad to post my conclusions - I'm glad to find a resource like this to exchange ideas. Thanks for the reminder about split testing!

Permalink Reply by Maulik Shah on April 13, 2011 at 1:31pm

I'd love to hear the results of your experiment.  I am slowly working my way through Perry Marshall's Definitive Guide to Internet Marketing and hope to establish a reasonable strategy at some point.  I'd really like to learn from your experience so please keep the forum posted.

Permalink Reply by Jim Burns Creative Communication on April 14, 2011 at 12:36am

Will do Maulik - BTW I like your website - very clean and inviting. I have Marhsall's "Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords" which I see as a compendium of advice tid-bits, while Ian Howie's ebook Google Adwords PPC Advertising from Wordtracker.com press is more linear, with copiously illustrated step-by-step instructions.

Permalink Reply by Herb Jones on June 10, 2011 at 2:52pm

I would also recommend following Dave Szetela on Twitter, on his blog and perhaps even subscribing to his podcast...he is one of the top PPC experts in the country and a friend.  He is a high quality guy who's motivations extend beyond "how can I make a buck here"