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Recently Google launched (out of BETA) a new service for it’s AdWords product - site targeting ads with a CPM (cost per 1000 ad impressions) bidding method. With site targeting if you see a content site that is displaying Google AdWords and you believe the target market of the site is the same target you want to reach, you can place your ads specifically on the site via Google AdWords. The difference with site targeting is that you bid using a cost per 1000 impressions price which competes with other bidders wanting to place site targeted ads and also the standard keyword driven AdWords bidding. Yes that is a little confusing and I’m sure you will want to read Google’s explanation of the new system.

I haven’t heard anything from the publisher’s point of view, those running AdSense on their sites, on how the new site targeting has been integrated. It could be a case that publishers have no say beyond the existing filters they can utlise now and the site targeted ads will simply show up on their sites along with the usual AdSense ads. I’ve seen content publishers already asking for the “off switch” so they can nominate not to display site targeted ads at all.

I for one welcome site targeting. I like the idea of more control to pick and choose where my ads are displayed. Whether I will ever use it effectively depends whether someone tests enough to learn techniques to leverage this method well and then educates us all. In one way this makes things simpler - I see a what looks to be a good site to advertise on and I give it a go and see if it works. Shoot first, ask questions later. In another way though, it ads yet another variable when conducting AdWords campaigns and if you have ever spent time AdWords campaigning you will know that it’s like science meets art. You can’t simply start using AdWords and succeed. Well you can but likely you will waste money and watch your keywords get turned off by Google as you scratch your head asking why and what exactly is going on. I did this the first time I used AdWords and left wondering if maybe AdWords just wasn’t for my business.

I tend to rely on the experts advice when it comes to the more complex programs like AdWords. It’s an area like with business in general where skills definitely give you an advantage and those with education will perform better. The beautiful thing about a system like AdWords is that it rewards those with patience, those that test over time and tweak their campaigns. What’s even better is that other people have spent the time testing for you and have decided to become specialists and teach others the secrets they learnt. Well the secrets aren’t really that secret and anyone can buy the education if they want to, but most don’t and instead waste away the cash misusing the system. Most experts became experts because they spent the time testing and seeing what works and I’m glad they did because I don’t have the motivation or time to do that myself. When you can spend a bit of cash, read an eBook or listen to an audio and have all the skills they accumulated in that time I think it’s money well spent.

In AdWords case I noticed that Perry Marshall was a name often showing up in search results and talked about in forums regarding learning the “secrets” to successful AdWords campaigns. I recently signed up and read his free e-course called “5 days to success with Google AdWords” which actually was pretty darn good for a free course and will give you the basics about how to “win” with AdWords. Of course there is an up-sell for his eBook which is $49. I’ve read that too and it had the really practical, “meaty”, step-by-step guides and examples that I use now for every AdWords campaign I run.

I suggest you at least check out the free e-course because it’s worth the 5 minutes of your day for some quick education over the next 5 days. The links I’ve given you include my affiliate ID so if you do decide to buy the full eBook I get a good chunk of the money so you know you are helping me to keep this blog going too!

Yaro Starak