PPC | Internet Marketing Blog

B2B Test: LinkedIn DirectAds

We thought we'd give the PPC ads in LinkedIn a go to promote our B2B Marketing Manifesto. Here are our experiences...

by Doug Kessler 08 December 2010 15:07pm 18 comments

15 of the lamest Google Ads ever

Following on from our previous post on horrifying display ad placements, I've been looking for examples of when Google Ads go wrong.

So here's a list of 15 Google Ads (PPC and AdSense) which are either badly written, completely irrelevant, poorly placed, or just plain funny...

by Graham Charlton 03 December 2010 11:34am 16 comments

Two channels. One search. Zero excuses.

Most brands now engage in organic and paid search to a greater or lesser degree, but most do so with little understanding of the interaction between the two mediums, and therefore fail to acknowledge that search is one medium and not two and should be managed as such for maximum return.

by Andreas Pouros 30 November 2010 11:35am 2 comments

Expert opinion: What’s ahead for paid search in 2011?

To coincide with the release of Econsultancy’s Paid Search Agencies Buyer’s Guide this week, I’ve been talking to some leading UK search agency experts about what 2011 holds for the sector.

I’ve no doubt that paid search is going to become sexy again – we’ve seen PPC products and technologies emerging such as Google’s location-based ads, Product Listings, Extensions and Sitelinks.

Additionally, Bing and Yahoo! continue to challenge Google, while new opportunities for paid search are becoming apparent, ranging from mobile through to social media.

It looks to be an exciting year ahead for what some marketers regard as a stale channel, despite its effectiveness and accountability. But what do those on the frontline think?

by Jake Hird 25 November 2010 15:46pm 11 comments

Mobile search offers opportunities for SMEs

Our recent research has unearthed some interesting trends within the mobile search marketplace. When reviewing data for Q2 we were confident that the PPC traffic through mobile on Google would surpass Bing PPC traffic and in Q3 we saw that materialise.

Google PPC traffic is now at around 4% of total PPC traffic, almost double that from Bing. Not the kind of stats that Microsoft will want to see ahead of the search alliance in the UK with Yahoo next year.

This makes mobile search something anybody involved in search engine marketing should be considering. And with much of the search volumes from mobile devices coming from localised queries SMEs should be looking to maximise this opportunity and lead the way in a world traditionally dominated by large budgets.

by Robert Weatherhead 20 October 2010 11:28am 1 comment

No analytics for Google Instant

It would have been easy for Google Analytics to reveal how much traffic Google Instant is driving, but Google seems to be keeping this information under wraps.

by Mike Teasdale 17 September 2010 08:45am 2 comments

Google Instant: the search experts' view

Google Instant is designed to make search faster and easier for users, but what effect will it have on search marketing?

I've been asking a number of search experts for their predictions on the impact of Google Instant and what marketers can do to adapt to the changes...

by Graham Charlton 09 September 2010 09:57am 29 comments

Demand side platforms bring display into the hands of search marketers

There is a lot of buzz in the digital world at present around the rise of demand side platforms and real time bidding being the future for display advertising and particularly network buying.

With all the data, technology, and bidding involved, paid search marketers could find themselves best placed to take advantage of the rising popularity.

by Robert Weatherhead 11 August 2010 09:08am 1 comment

Man vs. Machine: the automation of PPC campaigns

Econsultancy’s PPC Bid Management Technology Buyer’s Guide published last week highlights an increased reliance on automated campaign management tools.

But how necessary is it to use this kind of software?

by Jake Hird 09 August 2010 09:30am 9 comments

Google: the search party ain't over

Are Google's best days behind it? The company may be one of the most recognized brands on the internet, and one of the most important technology companies in the world, but Google isn't quite growing like a weed anymore.

That gives analysts and pundits plenty of ammunition to ask whether Google's future is less bright than its past. Fortune is the latest publication to promote the notion that "the search party is over" for the Mountain View search giant.

by Patricio Robles 30 July 2010 10:18am 3 comments