Why PPC is about to skyrocket – and then CRASH

Times are tough. But one area that is ready to soar is pay-per-click search marketing (PPC). That most measurable and controllable of digital marketing opportunities, PPC looks like a no-brainer in this economy. Have you called a newspaper lately and asked them if they’ll charge you per phone call generated? Even with ad sales down [...]

5 Memorable Lessons from my Sarah Palin PPC Campaign

Thanks to everyone for participating in my “Are you man enough to write a PPC ad about a woman VP” contest. Many excellent entries (see original post). Here are the results: McCain is 72 years old  Avg US life expectancy is 78 years  Is Palin qualified? Read This  DailyKos.com   1.31% Click-through rate         Sarah Palin’s Secrets  What [...]

And They’re Off…Palin PPC Finalists Selected…Ads Live on Google

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Palin PPC contest (see post below). It was difficult to select 4 ads to test live on Google, but ultimately I choose these: Sarah Palin’s Secrets What the GOP doesn’t want you to know about McCain’s running mate from James Archer (@jamesarcher) I like this one because it’s [...]

The Truth About Publicis Buying Performics

In a sign that major advertising agencies are continuing to recognize the long-term profitability of search marketing, Publicis Groupe bought Performics from Google today. One of the largest search marketing agencies, Performics will join Digitas and other Publicis entities as part of VivaKi Nerve Center (no, I am not making this up) the new strategic [...]

Agencies Need to be Testing Landing Pages

Average length of stay on a Web site is approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds overall. Approximate length of stay by visitors coming from search is about 10 seconds. Why the difference? Search users are less likely to know your company and its attributes in advance, and they know there are several other options available [...]