Google Adsense and Google Adwords v Enhance Interactive PPC

Esam · Contributor Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 36 Location: UK

I am pretty much a newbie compared to most of you out there - but here goes!

I might be missing something obvious - but is there any reason why switching from Google Adwords to another type of PPC (Enhance Interactive) would cause my Google Adsense clickthroughs to fall dramatically?

The traffic to my site seemed a 'bit' higher with the Enhance Interactive PPC, so I naturally assumed the figures for my Google Adsense to be more or less what they were when I was using Google Adwords.

It could be that the traffic from Enhance Interactive - is not as targeted. Hence visitors to my site are not interested in what I am selling (toys) and therefore have no desire to check out the Google Adsense ads.

Has anyone else experienced this?

- Esam
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http://www.1st-computer-parts.com
1st Computer Parts - your online computer store

Alice Seba · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Esam (thanks for your email today! Smile

),

If you've seen a decrease...that conclusion might actually make sense. Does Enhance place your ads on websites in "Adsense" style? I think they do, right? I'd say that traffic is less targeted.

But if you'd like to know the best way I've tested to get the best clickthroughs on Adsense -- this is it. I've tried every color, layout, etc. The main thing is to make the ads look as much like text as possible -- and not like ads. People ignore ads! Sad

- Scrap the skyscraper. Sure, if you're talking banners -- skyscrapers can be effective, but these are text ads and should be shown as text.
- Scrap the borders. If you have a white background, make the borders white.
- Make the link text the same as your web page's link text.
- Make the main text the same color as your web page's text.
- Put the ads within your content, not off to the side.

This has made a huge difference to my clickthroughs. You can always set up a channel in Adsense to test if it works for you too.

Alice

Esam · Contributor Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 36 Location: UK

Hi Alice,

Thanks for your reply - and your email earlier!

My Google Adsense ads pretty much blend in with the rest of my site - though I must admit I do stick them on one side (on the LHS) and have not yet interspersed them throughout the rest of the content.

But the problem appears to be with my ad campaign using Enhance PPC.
I have stopped my PPC campaign for the time being - now that I've recharged my batteries over the holiday period, I'll be raring to go again.

Thanks
Esam
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1st Toys Online - your online toy shop

Gary Gresham · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:33 am Post subject:

Hi Esam,

I had a similar experience with Enhance PPC. Although you pay less per click, the conversion rate was terrible for my sites.

I tweaked my ads and ran them again and again but never had any luck with Enhance.

So I changed to Overture and what a difference. I know a lot of people who like Google Adwords and I guess it's just whatever works for you. My conversion rate is the best with Overture, and thanks to John's videos, I'm very happy with the results.

I do have Google Adsense on every page of all of my sites and I think I'll test some of Alice's ideas. It does seem to make sense and I'm always looking to increase my Adsense revenues.

Gary
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Esam · Contributor Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 36 Location: UK

Hi Gary,

Yup - the reason I tried Enhance Interactive is because you could go lower on the PPC. I have never tried Overture - but I will most definitely give that a go now.

Thanks for the advice.

- Esam
_________________
http://www.1st-computer-parts.com
1st Computer Parts - your online computer store

Paul Steinberg · Active Member Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

I have had pretty unhappy experiences with Enhance, huge amounts of clicks with in some cases no conversion at all.

They have 2 kinds of accounts, self service and some sort of managed arrangement. I have the self service version, so when I call in to talk about something like this and they look up my account, all interest is rapidly lost on their part.

I had a long talk with someone from Enhance at a trade show (AdTech NY) and they took some info from me and said they would contact me, but it didn't happen.

Making jack-crap on a pile of 3 cent clicks is a bargain when you compare it to making the same jack-crap on a 10 cent click, but not by much.

I don't use them anymore, but might test them again someday if I heard positive change had taken place there.

Esam · Contributor Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 36 Location: UK

And out of using Google Adwords and Overture which one do most people prefer (I'm sure there are different factors in play for different people)?

- Esam
_________________
http://www.1st-computer-parts.com
1st Computer Parts - your online computer store

Paul Steinberg · Active Member Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

When you are driving a nail, do you prefer a big hammer, or a small hammer, or a powered hammer?

Kind of depends on what you are hammering in, and into what material, etc.

If you are serious about getting a handle on what the differences are, I would have to suggest reading the history of posts on this forum, and other discussion forums. If there are aspects of how these two environments work that you would like to explore, you could look for a thread where the question fits, or start your own new thread about that specific question.

This a big question, and probably not best dealt with on the tail end of a forum thread about another subject entirely.