Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Google Adwords
« on: January 06, 2017, 12:26:19 pm »
Anyone use this and if so how have you found it on R.O.I. basis and who manages your account?
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

Forum Admin

  • Posts: 3310
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2017, 02:08:39 pm »
Results from Adwords can be great, I would suggest always starting off with just a few keywords to monitor performance and use the "exact match" at first by placing speech marks around your keywords. You really have to get in the mind of the customer and think if they have a problem you can help them with what would they search into Google.

Bad choices are:

"Company name" window cleaning and similar examples using company name - Customers will rarely know your business name and if they do they will be diurected to your site anyway organically.

Window cleaning in "county" or even "city" - These can be quite broad terms, for example Window Cleaning in London would be very expensive and covers such a large area. Listing all your local villages/towns is a great start.

Always start small with these things and build upon what works for you otherwise it can be very expensive and lead you to think "Google Adwords" doesn't work and it definitely does work when used correctly.

You don't pay for how may keywords you use just how many clicks you get so trying lots of different variations allows you to see what works and what terms potential customers use.

For example if you wanted to target "Town A" I would suggest the below "Exact Phrase Matches"

"Town A Window Cleaning"
"Town A Window Cleaner"
"Window Cleaner Town A"
"Window Cleaning Town A"

You must remember to use the speech marks for exact matches otherwise Google will search broadly for you and your budget may disappear with very little reward.

I hope this helps a little, i'm sure many more will reply with their experience to help you.

robbo333

  • Posts: 2407
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2017, 02:23:04 pm »
I've used it for the past couple of years and it's been ok.  My thoughts are:
It generally pays for itself every month but you do have to sift through the crap enquiries to find the good ones.
I do mine myself but it does take some setting up correctly. A few years back Google used to help you through it, I had my own advisor for a couple of weeks, for free, and that helped a lot. Not sure if they do that now.
Once it's set up properly, it is easy to use and you can turn it on or off whenever you want.
You need to get your budget right, your key words right and most importantly your location right or you'll be p11ssing money down the drain like no-ones business.
I'll probably start using it again in March, see how I feel.
"Thank you for calling: if you have a 1st floor flat, mid terraced house, lots of dogs, no parking, no side access, or no sense of humour, please press hold!
For all other enquiries, please press1"

Michael H Jones

  • Posts: 161
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2017, 02:30:53 pm »
I pay a guy who specialises in sole traders £15 a month to run my account as getting it refined and keeping on top of new updates etc can be a pain. I pay Google roughly £100 per month directly for the clicks and get a fantastic ROI. I truly believe it's the best form of marketing for getting quality leads from "normal" people, and have found it reduces time wasters etc compared to other forms of marketing.
As ever, doing a great job and getting referrals and repeat custom is the best way, but Adwords fills all the gaps in my schedule and for a great price.
No complaints here!

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2017, 02:55:36 pm »
I pay a guy who specialises in sole traders £15 a month to run my account as getting it refined and keeping on top of new updates etc can be a pain. I pay Google roughly £100 per month directly for the clicks and get a fantastic ROI. I truly believe it's the best form of marketing for getting quality leads from "normal" people, and have found it reduces time wasters etc compared to other forms of marketing.
As ever, doing a great job and getting referrals and repeat custom is the best way, but Adwords fills all the gaps in my schedule and for a great price.
No complaints here!

Can you email me details Michael of the chap you use please at info@oakleywindowcleaning.co.uk
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2017, 02:56:29 pm »
Results from Adwords can be great, I would suggest always starting off with just a few keywords to monitor performance and use the "exact match" at first by placing speech marks around your keywords. You really have to get in the mind of the customer and think if they have a problem you can help them with what would they search into Google.

Bad choices are:

"Company name" window cleaning and similar examples using company name - Customers will rarely know your business name and if they do they will be diurected to your site anyway organically.

Window cleaning in "county" or even "city" - These can be quite broad terms, for example Window Cleaning in London would be very expensive and covers such a large area. Listing all your local villages/towns is a great start.

Always start small with these things and build upon what works for you otherwise it can be very expensive and lead you to think "Google Adwords" doesn't work and it definitely does work when used correctly.

You don't pay for how may keywords you use just how many clicks you get so trying lots of different variations allows you to see what works and what terms potential customers use.

For example if you wanted to target "Town A" I would suggest the below "Exact Phrase Matches"

"Town A Window Cleaning"
"Town A Window Cleaner"
"Window Cleaner Town A"
"Window Cleaning Town A"

You must remember to use the speech marks for exact matches otherwise Google will search broadly for you and your budget may disappear with very little reward.

I hope this helps a little, i'm sure many more will reply with their experience to help you.

Thanks
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2017, 03:01:30 pm »
A few years back Google used to help you through it, I had my own advisor for a couple of weeks, for free, and that helped a lot. Not sure if they do that now.

This looks like it.

https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/8206?hl=en-GB
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

robbo333

  • Posts: 2407
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2017, 05:53:49 pm »
A few years back Google used to help you through it, I had my own advisor for a couple of weeks, for free, and that helped a lot. Not sure if they do that now.

This looks like it.


https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/8206?hl=en-GB


It looks ok but not what I had.
For two weeks I had a dedicated person on the end of the phone who would talk me through stuff. He was really helpful but I could only use him for two weeks. This was a few years ago. I am guessing they don't have the manpower to offer this service any more.
"Thank you for calling: if you have a 1st floor flat, mid terraced house, lots of dogs, no parking, no side access, or no sense of humour, please press hold!
For all other enquiries, please press1"

8weekly

Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2017, 06:25:20 pm »
Matt, I set my adwords up myself. I also used to run a more complex one for my previous online business. I'm sure I could help to a decent extent. First you need to identify your keywords. That's the trick bit, especially for London. For example, will you target boroughs or will you set a geographic range.

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2017, 06:42:58 pm »
I'll give you a ring over the weekend Steve if you're not too busy?
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

8weekly

Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2017, 08:10:55 pm »
I'll give you a ring over the weekend Steve if you're not too busy?
That's fine.

Og

Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2017, 01:47:33 pm »
Will the website appear listed organically also?

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2017, 05:44:16 pm »
Organically would be great but competition for websites appearing on page 1 of Google selling services in London is going to be a tough nut to crack IMO.
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

8weekly

Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2017, 06:28:46 pm »
Organically would be great but competition for websites appearing on page 1 of Google selling services in London is going to be a tough nut to crack IMO.
Not necessarily. Not if you can identify your keywords. A blog with targeted links will help.  Though I say so myself I'm pretty good at getting good keyword rich text and am for most of the keywords I can think of number 1. I was also number one or two when I sold audio books for searches of audio books across the UK. BUT, for window cleaning the web is a tiny proportion of what we pick up because we leaflet constantly. Obviously you can't do that for commercial gutter clearing.

Og

Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2017, 09:41:40 pm »
But will your website appear twice? As in the paid bit and as it would normally? I am ignorant.

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2017, 10:16:54 pm »
Potentially
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

Michael H Jones

  • Posts: 161
Re: Google Adwords
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2017, 11:28:28 pm »
Adwords is entirely separate from the organic listings. It's perfectly possible to appear at the top of the advertising, then the map and also the organic list. So 3 spots on the first page   :)