The Google Analytics Help Forum was created to help people get answers to their questions about GA.
Reminds me of my WebMasterWorld days :) I had nearly forgotten my login ID.
Google should have a Help Forum for all of it's more complex products. Of course it takes time, effort and money but users of those products will be so much happier. But there are always Google Groups if needed.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Experiment - AdSense
I figure it is about time that I figure out how AdSense works. Therefore once the application gets reviewed, and everything is okay, I will have ads running on my movie blog.
I swore never to have adsense on my blogs but need to figure out how it works. And if it actually shows potential of generating income, then I will go ahead and think about AdSense more seriously.
I swore never to have adsense on my blogs but need to figure out how it works. And if it actually shows potential of generating income, then I will go ahead and think about AdSense more seriously.
The one thing I don't like about the Google Ad Serving System
Contextual advertising is great. It's actually a blessing because it gives the best sort of ROI.
But only contextual targeting is a bad thing (unless budgets are very small or objectives very minutely defined to acquisition). There should be a way to target demographically on search. For that matter even Psychographic and Behavioralistic targeting should be possible.
Firstly for all those people who will say 'but Google doesn't stop you', I am sorry about a 1st page bid of $10 is ridiculous and it IS Google's way of stopping you from being 'irrelevant', that is, non contextual.
While there is still some aspect of Behavioral targeting that gets covered because the system once in a while takes care of 'following the searcher', it is not enough. The system is still contextual in a sense because the context of the 1st few searches displays ads on the other non-related searches after.
So why is it important that we can target other than contextually? Firstly not all advertisers are looking for direct ROI. What about the branding aspect of advertising? Secondly, people have latent needs. Thirdly the responsibility of converting a prospect (even just a probable one) into a customer is the job of communication. But if my communication isn't visible at all because of the AdWords quality score system, then what chance do I have to convert those who don't want at this moment want what I have to offer, into people who will buy my product?
Now I do understand the need for relevancy. And it would be very annoying if I saw an airline ticket ad when I was searching for a mobile phone. And therefore I believe that such targeting shouldn't believe allowed to every sector/vertical but can actually leave out those sectors that are already very advertiser heavy. Adding non relevant ads to a saturated results page won't help anyone. But there are enough search queries that don't display even more than 5 ads. What about these?
And I am not even saying that the system should just keep everything running. Google has built a complex system and it wouldn't be difficult for them to change it a little. Where it doesn't find relevancy between the keyword and the ad or between the ad or the landing page or even keyword-ad-landing page combination, it should set a higher CTR goal for such a keyword-ad combination. But it should give the keywords and ads a decent number of impressions.
If people find the ad relevant even though it's not contextual what's the harm?
Yes there would be debates about what benchmark CTRs can be and how the system is unfair etc but it's a better option.
I have been in countless situations where I know a certain group of people (either split by age, interest, gender, etc) would like what I have to offer but because they don't search for it I can't show it to them.
I am glad the 'Inactive for Search' status disappeared but having such high minimum budgets to be on page 1 is as good as the keyword being inactive.
But only contextual targeting is a bad thing (unless budgets are very small or objectives very minutely defined to acquisition). There should be a way to target demographically on search. For that matter even Psychographic and Behavioralistic targeting should be possible.
Firstly for all those people who will say 'but Google doesn't stop you', I am sorry about a 1st page bid of $10 is ridiculous and it IS Google's way of stopping you from being 'irrelevant', that is, non contextual.
While there is still some aspect of Behavioral targeting that gets covered because the system once in a while takes care of 'following the searcher', it is not enough. The system is still contextual in a sense because the context of the 1st few searches displays ads on the other non-related searches after.
So why is it important that we can target other than contextually? Firstly not all advertisers are looking for direct ROI. What about the branding aspect of advertising? Secondly, people have latent needs. Thirdly the responsibility of converting a prospect (even just a probable one) into a customer is the job of communication. But if my communication isn't visible at all because of the AdWords quality score system, then what chance do I have to convert those who don't want at this moment want what I have to offer, into people who will buy my product?
Now I do understand the need for relevancy. And it would be very annoying if I saw an airline ticket ad when I was searching for a mobile phone. And therefore I believe that such targeting shouldn't believe allowed to every sector/vertical but can actually leave out those sectors that are already very advertiser heavy. Adding non relevant ads to a saturated results page won't help anyone. But there are enough search queries that don't display even more than 5 ads. What about these?
And I am not even saying that the system should just keep everything running. Google has built a complex system and it wouldn't be difficult for them to change it a little. Where it doesn't find relevancy between the keyword and the ad or between the ad or the landing page or even keyword-ad-landing page combination, it should set a higher CTR goal for such a keyword-ad combination. But it should give the keywords and ads a decent number of impressions.
If people find the ad relevant even though it's not contextual what's the harm?
Yes there would be debates about what benchmark CTRs can be and how the system is unfair etc but it's a better option.
I have been in countless situations where I know a certain group of people (either split by age, interest, gender, etc) would like what I have to offer but because they don't search for it I can't show it to them.
I am glad the 'Inactive for Search' status disappeared but having such high minimum budgets to be on page 1 is as good as the keyword being inactive.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Lively No More
Google had decided to shut down Lively.
This makes so much sense because Lively never really stuck with people. It created a buzz when it started but then everything just fizzed out. It was and would never have been a real competitor to SecondLife, or any other related social networking platform / MMORPG (as some people like to believe it is but I am not sure about the role-playing bit cause you're being yourself hehe).
The end of Lively will happen on 31st December.
Anyway for more information you can read details at Lively.com.
This makes so much sense because Lively never really stuck with people. It created a buzz when it started but then everything just fizzed out. It was and would never have been a real competitor to SecondLife, or any other related social networking platform / MMORPG (as some people like to believe it is but I am not sure about the role-playing bit cause you're being yourself hehe).
The end of Lively will happen on 31st December.
Anyway for more information you can read details at Lively.com.
New AdWords Interface?
There is some beta testing that is currently happening for changes to the AdWords interface. Let's hope it make things better like they say it is suppose to. Currently it is only a small group of advertisers who have the invite and see the changes (which aren't done yet but more of in the process so that changes happen faster with user feedback)
If you would like to be considered for the beta testing of the new interface you can sign up at the beta sign-up page.
If you would like to be considered for the beta testing of the new interface you can sign up at the beta sign-up page.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Customization comes to Gmail
Gmail is launching 30 themes for it's users to choose from (also a 'minor facelift' to the current Gmail default look).
More details at the Gmail Blog.
Some of the themes sound very interesting - 'nature themes that change scenery over time, weather driven themes that can rain on your mailbox, and fun characters to keep you in good company.'
Don't have the option for my mailbox yet but eagerly awaiting them (just to see what it's like - doubt I'll want more than the default look). Gmail team says it will be available to all users in a few days time.
More details at the Gmail Blog.
Some of the themes sound very interesting - 'nature themes that change scenery over time, weather driven themes that can rain on your mailbox, and fun characters to keep you in good company.'
Don't have the option for my mailbox yet but eagerly awaiting them (just to see what it's like - doubt I'll want more than the default look). Gmail team says it will be available to all users in a few days time.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
New Google Tool
Google has launched a Search-based keyword tool.
Haven't studied it in depth but from what I see already, I am not sure how this is better than the current keyword tool (except of course giving very nice filtering ability).
Haven't studied it in depth but from what I see already, I am not sure how this is better than the current keyword tool (except of course giving very nice filtering ability).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Relevancy....?
Now I do understand keyword-ad relevancy but I do not understand why advertisers / their agencies would make ads like the one below -
I searched of a movie and the ad reads -
Reading Dasvidaniya Movie
Review Online? Buy Health, Car &
Travel Insurance Online at 0% EMI.
Where is there any relevance to what I searched for? Yes this is a good way to bring in more impressions and even maybe more clicks than you would otherwise would, especially in a competitive sector like insurance but just think about how many people might click the ad by mistake or worse still think there is some offer related to the movie or something.
A better approach would be to have an ad that outright states what the product is and what the offer is. So an ad like -
Don't Have Insurance?
Buy Health, Car & Travel Insurance
Online at 0% EMI Today.
In this manner none of the clicks would be wasted an only those people who are interested in knowing about insurance after seeing the ad will click on it.
Yes chances are CTRs would be VERY low and the keyword will eventually not show the ad due to low quality but the clicks that did come in would have been of a better quality.
Of course the objective of the campaign would define what sort of strategy needs to be used but an ad like the one I got served, actually kills the brand value of ICICI in my mind because such an ad looks desperate and irrelevant.
I searched of a movie and the ad reads -
Reading Dasvidaniya Movie
Review Online? Buy Health, Car &
Travel Insurance Online at 0% EMI.
Where is there any relevance to what I searched for? Yes this is a good way to bring in more impressions and even maybe more clicks than you would otherwise would, especially in a competitive sector like insurance but just think about how many people might click the ad by mistake or worse still think there is some offer related to the movie or something.
A better approach would be to have an ad that outright states what the product is and what the offer is. So an ad like -
Don't Have Insurance?
Buy Health, Car & Travel Insurance
Online at 0% EMI Today.
In this manner none of the clicks would be wasted an only those people who are interested in knowing about insurance after seeing the ad will click on it.
Yes chances are CTRs would be VERY low and the keyword will eventually not show the ad due to low quality but the clicks that did come in would have been of a better quality.
Of course the objective of the campaign would define what sort of strategy needs to be used but an ad like the one I got served, actually kills the brand value of ICICI in my mind because such an ad looks desperate and irrelevant.
Sponsored Videos - The YouTube Advertising Program
Finally we get a little more clarity on what Google plans to do with YouTube for video advertising.
How this will work is basically your video ad might appear next to or above a regular video when someone searches for videos that contain your keywords.
Which makes sense because there is still a little aspect of relevancy and the 'advertising' content is not forced onto the user in either a pre-roll or post-roll manner or embedded into the video somewhere.
This is currently only available in the US but I am sure if the revenues come in fast, they won't wait too long to open the option up in other countries. It would be interesting to see how many users actually select and watch a 'sponsored video'.
Not sure if it is auction based but there is no minimum spending requirement.
More details at - https://ads.youtube.com
What advertisers must remember though is that this is not a passive medium. YouTube (and especially the way the ads will be served) cannot be equated to television. Therefore content for YouTube should be unique and not something that advertisers pick up from a television. I am not say it is necessary to build new videos for YouTube but it would definitely be better if they did.
How this will work is basically your video ad might appear next to or above a regular video when someone searches for videos that contain your keywords.
Which makes sense because there is still a little aspect of relevancy and the 'advertising' content is not forced onto the user in either a pre-roll or post-roll manner or embedded into the video somewhere.
This is currently only available in the US but I am sure if the revenues come in fast, they won't wait too long to open the option up in other countries. It would be interesting to see how many users actually select and watch a 'sponsored video'.
Not sure if it is auction based but there is no minimum spending requirement.
More details at - https://ads.youtube.com
What advertisers must remember though is that this is not a passive medium. YouTube (and especially the way the ads will be served) cannot be equated to television. Therefore content for YouTube should be unique and not something that advertisers pick up from a television. I am not say it is necessary to build new videos for YouTube but it would definitely be better if they did.
Jerry Yang to quit as Yahoo CEO
Full article at - MarketingVox
Yahoo has had a pretty rough year. The deal with Microsoft didn't happen. The deal with Google didn't happen. Share prices fell. Lot of people left the company.
Let's see if a new CEO will help steady the company and make it stronger in the coming years.
Yahoo has had a pretty rough year. The deal with Microsoft didn't happen. The deal with Google didn't happen. Share prices fell. Lot of people left the company.
Let's see if a new CEO will help steady the company and make it stronger in the coming years.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Google Business Channel
I thought I had made a post about this but apparently not.
If you don't know about the Google Business Channel on YouTube, it's good you came across this post. The Google Business Channel is a repository of not only Google webinars but also some additional educational videos (tutorials for instance).
It even covers topics like AdSense, Ad Planner, Google Analytics etc apart from the regular AdWords videos.
Do check out the Channel at the earliest - http://in.youtube.com/user/GoogleBusiness
If you don't know about the Google Business Channel on YouTube, it's good you came across this post. The Google Business Channel is a repository of not only Google webinars but also some additional educational videos (tutorials for instance).
It even covers topics like AdSense, Ad Planner, Google Analytics etc apart from the regular AdWords videos.
Do check out the Channel at the earliest - http://in.youtube.com/user/GoogleBusiness
VLOOKUP
I find that it is very important for anyone working with numbers to have some knowledge about Excel / Spreadsheets.
Below is a presentation on how to perform the Vlookup function in MS Excel (it's a little slow but worth waiting for the loading - there might be better slides/videos on the topic out there. I haven't looked).
I myself am lost with this one a lot of times even though it doesn't seem very complicated. Though I have only seen life demonstrations of how it is done and never this kind of step-by-step presentation (which is quick and easy to follow). It helps to get an understanding faster and also to easily go back to the example.
Also SlideShare is quite interesting. Another post on it sometime in the future.
Below is a presentation on how to perform the Vlookup function in MS Excel (it's a little slow but worth waiting for the loading - there might be better slides/videos on the topic out there. I haven't looked).
I myself am lost with this one a lot of times even though it doesn't seem very complicated. Though I have only seen life demonstrations of how it is done and never this kind of step-by-step presentation (which is quick and easy to follow). It helps to get an understanding faster and also to easily go back to the example.
Also SlideShare is quite interesting. Another post on it sometime in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
