Google Adwords, URLs

[C.A.B.s]

Hi Guys

Sorry its my turn to have a rant bout something now.

:mad: i have tried twice to set up a google Adwords advert for the business, and they threw it out the first time because the URL name was too long (carolinesadminbookkeepingservices).

So after a long and hard couple of weeks asking questions and trying to think up a shorter name to use i can up with (bookkeeping-to-admin).

So i went out and purchased a new domain name for two years, thinking great i can now use my new URL to set up a adwords advert because the webserver is forwarding people from my new to old sight, but no...... Google adwords does not allow web forwarded address either, so now thats the second one been thrown back at me :mad:

So i think from now on, i will give google adwords a very very wide birth.

Anyone who has any other suggestions or help for me please do let me know

Caroline

[Rob]

Why not think about switching the forwarding around? Have the new one become the main site with your old on a redirect to the new.

It's a simple bit of code (must be simple as I did on a few of my pages!) to be inserted. Whenever someone clicks on the old site it automatically re-directs to the new. You will barely notice the redirect.

The code is:

<META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" content="0; url=http://www.xxx">

with xxx being the new site url. You can then strip your old site and transfer all content to the new one

This way you can safely go back to Google because it has now become your main site.

Just want to throw another thought - think carefully as to what you are wanting to achieve with Adwords - it can be a licence to lose money hand over fist. You have to be very, very targeted in the keywords you use, even perhaps down to quoting your geographical area. Your subject may attract clicks from anywhere and end up costing you a lot.

Not sure if you have researched this in depth yet but if not do some searches for guidance on writing an ad that works. It really is a science despite what Google may say!

Don't want you posting a rant about the size of the bill!

[C.A.B.s]

Hi rob

Thanks for your suggestions.

i would do a swap but i have just paid £30 for the website creator program for another year, so what i might do, is now wait until my old website and the website creator program runs out (should be about same time next yr), then i'll just have the one domian name running.

And to use then new domian name as main website would mean paying for the creator program again, as i dont think i can swap then over.

but again this will cause a few problems as i stated before all my staionery and such like are all in Caroline's Admin & Bookkeeping Services name.

so i think for now i'll just let it run the way it is and then maybe next yr will try again with Google Adwords

Thanks
Caroline

[CIDCouriers-dot-com]

Hi all,

I looked at using adwords, but on the advice of a friend (he creates websites for a living) I decided against it, the reason being (his words)

"You can setup your adwords and budget, but there's nothing to stop your competitors continually clicking on your ads and eating up your money so you get nothing in return"

Thinking about it, he's quite right.

On a similar note, I got an email from google today (I use adsense btw) stating that they are withdrawing the referrals scheme at the end of August...

[C.A.B.s]

Hi Rod

How right you are about your competitors continuosly clicking on your ad to eat into your budget.

i have also read that somewhere as well, about someone mentioning that (think it was on the forum).

This is another reason why i have decided to give it a wide birth.

How does Google Adsense work, and does it pay? would like to hear if it does

Caroline

[PaulSimister]

On the competitor clicking issue, Google allegedly monitors for signs of abuse but it is easy to see small budgets being consumed very quickly and falling below the Google radar.

The other problem with Adwords is that many people won't click on sponsored links because the best information (according to Google's algorithms) is in the nature search underneath so it is much better to be on the front page through SEO than pay per click.

But SEO takes time to work unless the keywords are poorly defended by creditors. Sometimes it is a case of "in the land if the blind, the one eyed man is king" and top places can be won relatively easily provided you concentrate on your local area.

Trying to be number for accountants in the UK will be demanding. Being number one for accountants in Bournemouth (or close) will be much easier.

[Rob]

See other thread on this subject:

http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/forum/showthread.php?t=15

I just see Adwords as a great big money pit. You are better building your site to gain organic traffic but this can take time.

However, as Paul says, if you can be specific in your targeted keywords then getting top ranking organically for keywords will be easier.

On Caroline's query re Adsense, yes it can pay. By Google's Terms and Conditions you are not allowed to disclose what you earn but I do get a tidy sum every month. However, I'm averaging 15,000 to 20,000 visits a month to the site and that has taken 5 years to build up!

Many site owners will get just pennies a month and as Google won't pay until you get to $100 many people give up.

It's all back to the basics - you have to build up good content which a) gives people the reason to keep coming back and b) a reason for the search engines to rank you.

So, sure put the Adsense code on the site but don't expect to retire on the earnings!

[PaulSimister]

I have a preference against Adsense since I find it intrusive and I prefer sites without it (sorry Rob). It does depend on just how far people go to commercialise the site since some are much worse than others.

Personally unless you have traffic volumes like Rob then I believe the bad aspects (including potentially tempting visitors away from your site) outweigh the small income opportunity.

[C.A.B.s]

Decided not to go with google adwords now.

but what i am / have been doing is slowly fading out carolinesadminbookkeepingservices in favour for bookkeeping-to-admin.

i have spoke to the people who i rent the website creator program off and they said there should not be in problems in transferring it over to the other account.

[Katys]

using small url's is always a good idea so always try to synthesize some short and simple name

[wikisusa]

if you have researched this in depth yet but if not do some searches for guidance on writing an ad that works. It really is a science despite what Google may say!

[dain45yl]

I have a preference against Adsense since I find it intrusive and I prefer sites without it (sorry Rob). It does depend on just how far people go to commercialise the site since some are much worse than others.