SEM | Convince and Convert Blog: Social Media Strategy and Social Media Consulting

Why PPC is about to skyrocket – and then CRASH

October 14th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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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 14% year [...]

Tagged as: cost per click, digital marketing, google, Internet Advertising, pay-per-click, ppc, ppc programs, PPC tips, ROI, SEM

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Customized Internet Marketing Training for Agencies

September 11th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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Convince & Convert launches new training program series to help agencies improve their digital capabilities
Addressing the needs of ad agencies and PR firms to improve their digital marketing competency, Convince & Convert is now providing a series of customizable, in-person training programs.
We are offering 5 intensive, all-day sessions to train ad agencies and PR firms [...]

Tagged as: ad agencies, advertising agencies, digital capabilities, digital marketing, email marketing, Internet Advertising, internet media buying, jason baer, marketing audit, online media planning, ppc programs, pr agencies, PR firms, search engine optimization, SEM, SEO, social media, traditional agencies

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The Truth About Publicis Buying Performics

August 6th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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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 collective [...]

Tagged as: ad agencies, advertising agencies, agency self-promotion, digital marketing agency, google, pay-per-click, performics, ppc, publicis groupe, search engine optimization, search marketing, SEM, SEO, traditional agencies

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Agencies Need to be Testing Landing Pages

July 21st, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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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 [...]

Tagged as: ad agencies, advertising agencies, conversion rate, cost per click, landing pages, marketing tactics, pay-per-click, ppc, ppc programs, PPC tips, quality score, ROI, search marketing, SEM, web analytics and testing, Web site Analytics and Metrics, web site analytics and testing, Web site testing and optimization

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Google to Show Search Volume – Another Blow to Agencies

July 15th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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In a LOOOOONG overdue move that provides some much-needed transparency to the PPC business, Google has added search volume data to their keyword research tool.
This means that when you use Google to research potential search terms for your clients’ pay-per-click campaign, Google will actually give you an idea of how many people actually search for [...]

Tagged as: ad agencies, advertising agencies, google, Google ad planner, google analytics, Internet Advertising, internet media buying, keyword research tool, keyword selection, online media planning, pay-per-click, ppc, ppc programs, PPC tips, search management, search marketing, search volume, SEM, traditional agencies, Web site Analytics and Metrics, web site analytics and testing, web site metrics, web site statistics, Web site testing and optimization

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91% of Top Digital Agencies Not Buying Their Own Brands on PPC

July 1st, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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In a shocking (and embarassing) revelation today, AdWeek uncovered that of the 56 world-class digital marketing agencies featured in their Annual Report Card, just 5 are purchasing their own brand names in PPC.
In fairness to the firms, most of them appear at or near the top of organic search results for their own [...]

Tagged as: agency self-promotion, cost per click, digital marketing, Internet Advertising, internet media buying, keyword selection, local internet advertising, new business, pay-per-click, ppc, ppc programs, PPC tips, search marketing, SEM, traditional agencies, Web site promotion

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Google’s Popularity is Costing You Money

June 30th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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Paid search management vendor Covario said today that PPC spending was up 52% in Q1 2008 versus 2007.
52% is a big leap for an already red-hot digital marketing tactic.
But perhaps more interesting was the finding that Google took in 85% of the paid search spend in the first quarter. (No wonder Yahoo! rushed [...]

Tagged as: ad sense, conversion rate, cost per click, keyword selection, online media planning, pay-per-click, ppc, ppc programs, PPC tips, recession proof marketing, ROI, search management, search marketing, SEM

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How to calculate your PPC budget and success

February 18th, 2008 | Written By: Jay Baer
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Q.
I’m interested in pay per click search engine advertising, but I don’t know how much it will cost. Help!
A.
Projecting costs for pay per click can be as mysterious as Britney Spears’ career plan.
Like success in Iraq, multiple factors determine your PPC budget and success level, and they are inter-related.
The single most critical decision in a [...]

Tagged as: keyword selection, ppc, PPC tips, search engine copywriting, search marketing, SEM

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Search Results Go Boom: Does the Google Bomb Work?

August 15th, 2007 | Written By: Jay Baer
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Q.
A disgruntled employee built a Web page that’s very negative about my company. Now when you search for my company’s name, his page comes up before mine. I think this is hurting my business. Is there a way I can push his page down so fewer people see it?
A.
Dealing with publicity from unhappy [...]

Tagged as: google bomb, search marketing, SEM, SEO

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Top 5 Pay Per Click Mistakes

October 1st, 2004 | Written By: Jay Baer
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Internet ads are not equal.
On the low end of the effectiveness scale you have banner ads. The original champion of interactive marketing, standard banners are now the “ER” of the Internet – a washed up parody scratching and clawing to remain relevant.
In the opposite corner you have pay-per-click advertising (PPC), the American Idol of the [...]

Tagged as: pay-per-click, ppc, PPC tips, search marketing, SEM, SEO

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