Because it allows you to target prospects specifically by interest and location, pay per click advertising, or PPC, is one of the best options available. You can measure results precisely, and control ad spending, too. It's also more affordable for small business owners than many other options, including billboards, television and radio.
Of course, like any other form of advertising, PPC has its pitfalls. Launching your first ad campaign without a good plan could result in hundreds or thousands of dollars in wasted ads while you learn what to do and what not do to. There are whole books on the details of a good pay per click campaign out there.
However, getting things off the ground doesn't require a book worth of information. There are a few basic PPC mistakes that most business owners make when they start out. They're easy to fix, and repairing these problems can increase your PPC campaign's effectiveness dramatically. Here are the most common errors people make, and how to fix them.
Mistake 1. Using your home page as a landing page isn't an effective way to convert clicks to sales. No matter what search engine you're using, the landing page is the key to making the sale. Deciding where customers are directed, instead of just showing everyone your home page when they click on an ad, is the fastest and best route for the customer. Start sending them to other links and places and they will get lost and return back to the search page, probably to click on one of your competitors ads.
That's because people who click on your ad are looking for something very specific. Their keyword search brought them to your ad. Instead of bringing them to the home page of your site, create a landing page. That allows you to present customers with just what they're looking for. Focus each landing page tightly on the keywords you're using in your ad, and don't include other links or distractions.
Mistake 2. Landing pages that are confusing lose sales. Your PPC campaign will work by giving a customer an ad targeted to their keyword. The landing page they then arrive at should be related to that keyword, so don't give the customer an excuse to back out. Make it easy for them to find what they are looking for. You should have multiple landing pages if you are promoting multiple items with keywords or phrases.
3. Using generic copy for your ads. Statements that work in other media formats probably won't transfer to PPC. Catch phrases like "quality service" just aren't part of the vocabulary when people are using search engines. Use a main keyword in a headline that creates interest, then tell them the benefits. Line three is perfect for special features or a discount offer. Take a look at what other advertisers are doing online.
Mistake 4. Low bid placement usually means low placement on the search page. Search engines use different methods for placing your ad. Yahoo and Google use a system that consists of examining the relevancy of your ad, combined with your bid price. Tightly targeted keywords will get you top placement and this means really crunching statistics and putting lots of thought into your approach. Eighty-five percent of all PPC clicks happen on ads in the top three positions, so it's worth putting in the effort.
Of course, like any other form of advertising, PPC has its pitfalls. Launching your first ad campaign without a good plan could result in hundreds or thousands of dollars in wasted ads while you learn what to do and what not do to. There are whole books on the details of a good pay per click campaign out there.
However, getting things off the ground doesn't require a book worth of information. There are a few basic PPC mistakes that most business owners make when they start out. They're easy to fix, and repairing these problems can increase your PPC campaign's effectiveness dramatically. Here are the most common errors people make, and how to fix them.
Mistake 1. Using your home page as a landing page isn't an effective way to convert clicks to sales. No matter what search engine you're using, the landing page is the key to making the sale. Deciding where customers are directed, instead of just showing everyone your home page when they click on an ad, is the fastest and best route for the customer. Start sending them to other links and places and they will get lost and return back to the search page, probably to click on one of your competitors ads.
That's because people who click on your ad are looking for something very specific. Their keyword search brought them to your ad. Instead of bringing them to the home page of your site, create a landing page. That allows you to present customers with just what they're looking for. Focus each landing page tightly on the keywords you're using in your ad, and don't include other links or distractions.
Mistake 2. Landing pages that are confusing lose sales. Your PPC campaign will work by giving a customer an ad targeted to their keyword. The landing page they then arrive at should be related to that keyword, so don't give the customer an excuse to back out. Make it easy for them to find what they are looking for. You should have multiple landing pages if you are promoting multiple items with keywords or phrases.
3. Using generic copy for your ads. Statements that work in other media formats probably won't transfer to PPC. Catch phrases like "quality service" just aren't part of the vocabulary when people are using search engines. Use a main keyword in a headline that creates interest, then tell them the benefits. Line three is perfect for special features or a discount offer. Take a look at what other advertisers are doing online.
Mistake 4. Low bid placement usually means low placement on the search page. Search engines use different methods for placing your ad. Yahoo and Google use a system that consists of examining the relevancy of your ad, combined with your bid price. Tightly targeted keywords will get you top placement and this means really crunching statistics and putting lots of thought into your approach. Eighty-five percent of all PPC clicks happen on ads in the top three positions, so it's worth putting in the effort.
About the Author:
If you are ready to stop making costly mistakes when it comes to your ppc management, you should hire ProPayPerClickManagement.com to handle your ppc marketing. Offering years of experience and recognized as a adwords expert, Brian Basch guides your business to gain more from pay per click. Go there now and sign up for an analysis of your ppc strategy.
