The Web Authority

December 8, 2023

How to Win the Holiday Ecommerce Season in 2023

Holiday Search Trends and Google Ads Strategies

The holiday ecommerce season is off to a slow start, with Q4 sales growing just +1.4% YoY as of Nov 4, according to Mastercard. However, the holiday season is far from over with only 33% of holiday shopping complete so far. But that doesn’t mean that shoppers aren’t active. It is reported that 79% of shoppers say they’ll be researching their purchases before buying them.

Google Search Trends & Market Reports

So, what will the rest of Q4 look like? Well, it depends on who you ask. Forecasts in the CA market range from -11% according to Deloitte, all the way to +15% according to RCC/Leger.

This is a season of extremes: We see this in our own data, and Google reports searches for “food banks” surging by 52% YoY while at the same time luxury retail searches increase by +12% YoY.

Consumer intent is up: Google report an undeniable surge in real-time shopping intent – so far this Q4. Searches across all retail categories have increased YoY +14%, a signal that stronger pent-up sales may actually be around the corner.

Holiday Season Digital Marketing Strategies

Rather than C5 (Cyber 5 day shopping), consider the Cyber fortnight, as the intense buying period lasts 12 days now, not 5. In analyzing Mastercard spending behavior within key gifting categories over the last few years, it was uncovered that the average spend/day on the “shoulder days” – the ramp in and out of Cyber – are almost as high as the average during C5 itself.

Implications/Actions: Even in a world of decreased spend, there are more opportunities than ever to reach shoppers if you are showing up in the right places.

Deal days have never been more important. Early deal seekers are already on the hunt for bargains, and you don’t want to miss out on this lucrative segment. Here are some tips to make the most of your deal days strategy:

– Start early and end late: Extend your promotions beyond the traditional Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates. Shoppers are looking for deals throughout November and December, so don’t limit yourself to a few days.

– Be clear and consistent: Make sure your deals are easy to find and understand on your website, social media, email, and ads. Use clear and consistent messaging across all channels to avoid confusion and frustration.

– Optimize for mobile: More than half of online shoppers will use their smartphones to research and buy products this holiday season. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, fast, and secure. Use mobile-specific features like click-to-call, location extensions, and app downloads to drive conversions.

– Track and measure: Use analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Ads to track your performance and measure your return on investment. Identify what does and doesn’t work and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Finish Out The Holiday eCommerce Season with a Strong Marketing Strategy

The holiday ecommerce season is not over yet. There is still time for online retailers to turn things around and end the year on a high note. By adapting to the changing market conditions and customer needs, you can create a memorable and satisfying shopping experience for your customers and increase your sales and profits.

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023

Strike… Google Institutes Penalties for Not Following the Rules

It’s called three strikes you’re out – Google has instituted new penalties to get advertisers’ attention to policy violations.

Our concern is the number of false positives that we routinely see and the difficulty in resolving these issues due to the inability to just pick up the phone and chat to a Googler. Since Covid, Google now has an “ask for a call” option. It appears that support is now based in India. Many times the return calls we get are marked as No Mo Robo calls and are blocked by Verizon after one ring.

Management of this new program will be problematic. Here’s just one example – a client sells trailer hitches. Images are frequently marked as violations as Google thinks the image of the trailer hitch looks like a gun.

Here’s the full release that Google has sent to advertisers and account managers.

Dear Advertiser,

In September 2021, Google will introduce a new strike-based system to enforce against advertisers who repeatedly violate Google Ads policies. We will begin implementing the strike-based system on Sep 21, 2021, with a gradual ramp up over a period of 3 months, for the following policies: Enabling dishonest behavior, Unapproved substances, Guns, gun parts and related products, Explosives, Other Weapons, and Tobacco. The policy coverage of the strike-based system will be expanded to add additional policies in phases over time and advertisers will be notified each time new policies are brought within scope of the strike-based system.

Please note that this update does not impact the account suspension procedures for egregious Google Ads policy violations.

What’s changing:

To help ensure a safe and positive experience for users, Google requires advertisers to comply with Google Ads policies. As a part of the Google Ads enforcement system, Google will begin issuing strikes to advertisers, which will be accompanied by email notifications and in-account notifications to encourage compliance and deter repeat violations of our policies.

An advertiser’s first policy violation will only result in a warning. But advertisers will earn their first strike if we detect continued violation of our policies. Advertisers will be able to receive a maximum of three strikes, and the penalties applied with each strike will progressively increase. Temporary account holds will be applied for the first and second strikes (for 3 and 7 days respectively), while the third strike will result in an account suspension.

An advertiser placed on a temporary account hold will be required to remedy the violations in question and to submit an acknowledgement form to resume serving ads. Following this acknowledgement, their account will be released from the temporary account hold state either 3 days after the first strike was issued, or after 7 days for a second strike. Advertisers can also appeal a strike decision if they believe it was issued in error. Ads will resume serving immediately after successfully appealing the strike. Accounts will remain on temporary hold if no action is taken by the advertiser to either acknowledge or appeal a strike. Strikes will remain on the Google Ads account for 90 days unless they’re successfully appealed.

Accounts suspended following a third strike will not be able to run any ads or create new content unless the suspension is successfully appealed. Learn more about suspended accounts.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google Ads Team

To our blog readers, at McCord Web Services for visibility, we are just now starting to see the strike notices appear in the accounts. Remember three strikes means your account is suspended for 90 days and sometimes depending on the violations, forever.

September 25, 2023September 23, 2023

McCord Web Services and Google Ads Management

Our mascot Bandit McCord agrees you need McCord Web Services for Google Ads.

Are you struggling to manage your Google Ads account and campaigns? Getting your Google Ads strategy right is crucial for driving traffic and sales, but it can be complicated and time consuming to set up and optimize on your own. That’s where the managed services from McCord Web Services can help.

Even our company mascot Bandit agrees, that you need McCord Web Services for visibility with Google Ads.

McCord Web Services has over 15 years of experience successfully managing Google Ads accounts for businesses across many industries. Their team of Google Ads experts will handle all the heavy lifting for you – allowing you to focus on other important aspects of your business. Here are some of the key benefits of letting McCord Web Services manage your Google Ads campaigns:

1. Strategic Account Setup & Optimization: McCord Web’s team will thoroughly analyze your business, target audience, and goals to build an optimal Google Ads account structure. They’ll set up the right mix of ad groups, keywords, and ads to reach your ideal customers. The account will be closely monitored and optimized regularly to continually improve results.

2. Increased Exposure & Traffic: With the insight of an experienced digital marketing team making ongoing tweaks and updates, your ads and keywords will gain increased exposure and higher click-through rates. More qualified traffic will find your website and service offers.

3. Improved Conversion Rates: Beyond driving more traffic, McCord Web Services will optimize your accounts to convert visitors into leads and customers. From consulting on landing page experience to matching ad messages with intent, and conversions lift with expert management.

4. Saved Time & Improved Efficiency: Managing Google Ads well requires constant attention and effort. McCord Web’s services handle the workload for you, freeing up your schedule for higher value business activities. You gain all the benefits of Google Ads without the full-time commitment and extensive training requirement.

5. Access to Experience & Expertise: Google Ads platforms and best practices change frequently. McCord Web Services stays on top of all the developments. Their experience managing accounts across many industries means proven Google Ads expertise applied directly to growing your business.

Get Started Today with Help from McCord Web Services for Visibility

For businesses who want to maximize their return from Google Ads, McCord Web Services provides the solution. Their managed account services deliver the traffic, leads, and sales your Google Ads campaigns are capable of – without the headaches of tackling it alone. Contact us today to discuss how dedicated Google Ads management can benefit your business.

August 17, 2023August 18, 2023

New Features and Reporting Added to Goole Ads Before the Holiday Season

Google Ads has just announced a major update that will bring new features and capabilities to advertisers and marketers. These are some of the most exciting changes and how they can help you grow your business online.

- Google is expanding and promoting Performance Max. This is a fully automated campaign type that uses Google’s machine learning to optimize your ads across all Google inventory, including Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Discover. You can set your goals, budget, and audience, and with a close eye let Google do the rest. Performance Max campaigns are designed to help you reach more customers and drive more conversions, while saving you time and resources. Performance Max has been very successful for our eCommerce clients, but we are still testing the overall viability for lead gen.

- Google is also expanding its insights and reporting tools to help you understand your customers better and measure your performance more accurately. You can now access the new Insights page, which shows you the latest trends and opportunities in your market and industry. You can also use the new attribution reports, which show you how your ads influence customers across different channels and devices. These tools can help you make smarter decisions and optimize your campaigns based on real data.

- Additionally, Google is enhancing its creative solutions for Google Ads to help you deliver more engaging and relevant ads to your audience. You can use the new Video Builder tool, which lets you create professional-looking video ads in minutes, using templates and assets from your existing campaigns. You can also use the new dynamic remarketing feature, which automatically generates personalized ads for your past visitors based on their browsing behavior and preferences. These features can help you increase your brand awareness and loyalty and drive more sales if you have a large enough audience segment generally of 1000 plus visitors or converters.

These are just some of the new features and capabilities that Google Ads has announced in its major update. There are many more improvements and innovations that you can explore and try out for yourself. If you want to learn more about how Google ads and working with a Google Partner can benefit your business, contact McCord Web Services for a free consultation. Google Ads is constantly evolving and innovating to help you grow your business online. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your advertising to the next level with a Google Partner.