Google Adwords Lays down the Law on URLs

4 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on March 21, 2008 in Google Adwords  

I was checking my stats as usual today and noticed an alert for Google in Adwords.

Important Change to URL Policy Enforcement
Starting in April, display URLs for new ads will be required to match their destination / landing page URLs, without exception. Please adjust your URLs accordingly when creating new ads.

What does this mean… Well it means no more url faking… Some Example Ads that won’t fly anymore…

DVD Rental at BLOCKBUSTER
DVD Rental Movies with BLOCKBUSTER.
Over 80,000 Titles. Learn More Now!
BlockbusterDeal.com

When they are sent to www.blockbuster.com.  Ultimately it means is the Url shown has to be the page the user ultimately lands on. People would show various urls like www-.blocbuster.com  or www_blockbuster.com  or even some would show blockbusterdeal.com as their url but send them to the www.blockbuster.com signup page. Google says no more to this.  Good news is they still are allowing you to use tracking urls. Below info is taken from their Learn more page on the issue:

Tracking URLs

Your ads will be approved if the URL of your landing page domain matches that of your display URL domain.

For example, the following would be acceptable:

  • Display URL: www.google.com/adwords
  • Destination URL: www.trackingurl.com/google123
  • Landing page URL: www.google.com

However, this example would be unacceptable:

  • Display URL: www.google.com/adwords
  • Destination URL: www.trackingurl.com/google123
  • Landing page URL: www.trackingurl.com

Sub-Domains

The use of sub-domains and additional text within the display will continue to be acceptable, provided the top-level domain matches the URL of your landing page.

For example, the display URLs below would be acceptable for the landing page URL of http://sub.google.com/miscellaneous, as the top-level domains match:

So there you have it. No more shooting from the hip with Google Adwords, no more throwing up a quick url to fake Google out. You will have to build a landing page or site or send them directly to the deal page and show it.  In the past this change would have effected me but i moved away from this method a long time ago so bring it on G!

Digg it! Del.icio.us  Fark it! Add to Furl Add to Newsvine Add it to Netscape for voting Reddit! Add to Technorati Add it to Google Bookmarks Add to Yahoo! MyWeb


Affiliate Spring Cleaning

1 Person Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on March 19, 2008 in Affiliate Tips  

Everyone knows as spring approaches it is time for some spring cleaning. Same goes for the affiliate side of things. In spring I look back see what has worked what hasn’t and what needs to change. Some tips for spring cleaning.

  1. Check Existing Campaigns (Are they still making good ROI? How is the ad copy (try something fresh and new), Is your page outdated? (Check out the competition & Compare)
  2. Check on your payouts on offers. (Is the same offer available for higher on another network or direct?)
  3. Check for other similar offers. (if your credit offer is doing well look for other credit offers to promote or split test with)
  4. Check you current Setup. Is it time for a new PC, new monitor, New servers to handle the massive traffic?
  5. Check Yourself. Are you being the most efficient you can be. Can you hire others to due the same tasks for cheaper? Have you rewarded your self for you hard work? (Vacation, New Car etc..)

Those are a few of my thoughts on affiliate Spring cleaning any suggestions of your own?

Digg it! Del.icio.us  Fark it! Add to Furl Add to Newsvine Add it to Netscape for voting Reddit! Add to Technorati Add it to Google Bookmarks Add to Yahoo! MyWeb


Affiliate Marketers can Learn From Hillary and Obama

4 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on March 3, 2008 in Affiliate Tips  

Yes you read that title correct Affiliate Marketers can Learn From Hillary and Obama. While i am not turning this blog into a political sounding board there are many things Affiliates can learn from Hillary and Obama some good some bad. So here goes.

What Affiliates can learn from Hillary:

1. Sometimes Your Associations can hurt you or help. For instance… no one will forget her husband and what happened with him in the presidency. Same applies for affiliates, if you spamed or provided bad leads… your networks and managers will take this into account when new offers come out. Just like if you rocked offers with quality leads they will come running back to you.

2. Show your sensitive side… Hillary did this by crying… But as an Affiliate Marketer you can do this by giving something back or giving an incentive… Incentives are GREAT when done properly. I have ran offers where 50% or even 90% of proceeds went to charity… what do you know they performed well.

3. Don’t Flip Easily… Hillary has flipped on a few subjects… Should you flip in Affiliate Marketing… it depends… I always test… even when the payout seems lower you should test the same offer on another network sometimes they will convert better… or maybe the one company is skimming and the other isn’t or its the system is better at tracking, who knows either way this flip could put more money in your pocket.

What Affiliates can learn from Obama:

1. Your Message doesn’t have to be different… Just promoted in a different manner… Obama has promised change… Many have done this in the past but why does he get more promotion due to this (think about the Yes we Can Video). What we can learn as affiliate marketers is … so what there is 1000’s others with the same message or offer… take that message or offer and put a spin on it… promote it with more gusto and it just might work.

2. While there are supporters of all the candidates Obama’s seem to work a little harder and push a little more… As affiliates you can learn that some of the best publicity isn’t your own but from your supporters (buyers and users) find ways to get them to help you promote your product.

3.Cross Gaps…. Obama has done this by appealing to all races… As affiliates you can do this by cross promotion just because an offer is geared towards dieting… why not cross promote it to just women or to stay at home moms, or maybe to the working women… Don’t just target the main audience, reach out across the gaps and you wil be surprised of the result.

So there you have it a few things Affiliate Marketers can Learn from Hillary and Obama… While i don’t feel this is all inclusive, it should give you some ideas… You have some ways affilaites can learn from any of the candidates (repub or Dem)? Leave a comment.

Digg it! Del.icio.us  Fark it! Add to Furl Add to Newsvine Add it to Netscape for voting Reddit! Add to Technorati Add it to Google Bookmarks Add to Yahoo! MyWeb


The Cons of Working Online

8 People Speaking Their Mind - Put In Your Two Cents!

Posted on February 27, 2008 in Working Online  

So last week I blogged about The Benefits of Working Online. so i figured I better give a real picture that it isn’t all roses and glory… but there are cons to working online. (but I Wouldn’t trade it for a normal 9 to 5)

1. Work from anywhere there is an internet connection. (this is also a con cause you just can’t seem to get away from your work… Even the cellphone I got it so i can do work and access my stats etc..)

2. Set your own hours. Yes this is a con… because you can so easily be LAZY…. I mean common yesterday I made $$,$$$ i should sleep in,  ok sometimes i do… but if i got in that habit my earnings would tank over time.

3. You are Your own Boss. This is a con also because some people really need people breathing down their neck to be productive so you must be self motivating…

4. You work online so it’s is easy to get lost on Youtube searching for funny videos, myspace, facebook or reading stories that have nothing to do with your business growth.

5. Work in your Pajamas, shorts, or no clothes at all. This is a con only because it can drag on into RL (real life). I know many people that have made it online but if you were to meet them in person, they look like the slob down the street. Not saying you have to dress to the 9’s but you run a business somewhat dress like it.

6. Complaints or issues aren’t 8 to 5 they are 24/7. Your sites go down at 2am you lose money. Your ads stop running due to QS you are lossing money. Those PM’s about people spamming etc.. come 24/7.

7. Good, Dedicated, hard working designers and coders are hard to find. This is a major con online with sooo many freelancers… hence once i found good ones i held onto them.

8. No Google, MSN, YSM love can mean no or little money in your pocket.. The online business is very dependant on search engines… so when they don’t show you love your bottom line is effected.

9. A CPA offer gets pulled that was making you Big Money… Many cases there is nothing you can do but try to get another offer making money. Sometimes you get lucky and can work out a deal directly.

So there you have it some Cons to working online. As I stated before I would much rather do what i do online than go back to a normal 8 to 5.  Any additional Cons I forgot?

Digg it! Del.icio.us  Fark it! Add to Furl Add to Newsvine Add it to Netscape for voting Reddit! Add to Technorati Add it to Google Bookmarks Add to Yahoo! MyWeb




« Go Back — More Affiliate Information »