adCenter Archives | The Web Authority

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023

The Value of a Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional

Nancy McCord is a Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional.

We have just certified as a Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional. Why should this special credential be important to you as a business owner as you look for an Internet Marketing firm and Microsoft Advertising account manager?

Here are some important considerations:

Microsoft Advertising Certified Professionals are experts in Microsoft Advertising solutions who have passed an online multiple-choice test with a score of 80% or more. They have proven their expertise across Microsoft Advertising solutions by passing all three certifications and receiving the highest-level status: The Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional (MACP).

Working with a Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional can provide you with many benefits such as:

• Cost-effectiveness: Microsoft Ads is typically cheaper than Google Ads and offers more opportunities to target specific audiences with relevant ads at a lower cost per click.

• Detailed analytics: Microsoft Ads provides detailed analytics that are easy to interpret, making it easier to track ROI and refine campaigns over time.

• Real-time data: One of the key advantages of using Microsoft Advertising is the ability to analyze your campaign’s performance metrics. The platform offers real-time data on clicks, impressions, and conversions, which can help you make more informed decisions.

• Professional Service Ads: Professional Service Ads typically apply to verticals with advisors, agents, and consultants. According to internal data from Microsoft, advertisers experienced more conversions at lower costs with Professional Service Ads than text ads.

• Access to beta features: Microsoft Advertising Certified Professionals have access to beta features that are not yet available to the general public. This means that they can help you stay ahead of the curve by testing new features before they are released.

In summary, working with a Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional can provide you with many benefits such as cost-effectiveness, detailed analytics, real-time data, access to beta features, and Professional Service Ads.

The Internet Marketing team at McCord Web Services is ready to help you get started advertising on the Microsoft Advertising network. Check with us today to see how we make it easy for you to get started.

November 25, 2019July 27, 2019

Optimizing Your Organic Adwords Placement

As a professional AdWords account manager and expert in Search Engine Optimization, I do recommend that the focus of keywords be different for your website optimization versus what you use for pay per click.

Personally, I like a very narrow set of very tightly targeted keywords for AdWords; as we are typically driving traffic for lead generation. Our top focus is cost per conversion and increasing leads.

For organic, I like to focus on keywords that have the most click activity and may be more general yet still industry specific. I find that the balance helps sites to drive more site visits and leads and is not redundant with the specificity we use for AdWords.

For example, for a client selling warehouse equipment, in AdWords I might target very tight product names and categories like Forklift model 45S, powered warehouse equipment, and other specific keywords.

In organic I might target material handling equipment and material handling equipment supplier as my focus for blog writing and social media; striving to cast the net farther and wider but for high click volume keywords.

When every click you pay for in AdWords must make a difference in growing your business, you have to be narrow and very results oriented. In organic where you do not pay by the click the effort should be to enhance website traffic that is free.

If you need help adjusting your strategies to make the most of your ad spend and drive traffic and build inbound links, visit www.McCordWeb.com to see how we can help you too.

October 28, 2019July 27, 2019

Leveraging Machine Learning For Google Ads- Part 2

McCord Web Services is a Google Partner and a Certified Google Ads Professional

Google AdWords is specifically using advanced machine learning via artificial intelligence in its automated bidding algorithms. Target CPA (Cost per Acquisition) bidding, Maximize Conversions, and Maximum Clicks are just samples of new bidding algorithms that can be used in AdWords accounts.

Each algorithm has a place and function based on a client’s need and metrics of success. However, I have found that in some cases using these machine learning driven algorithms that cost per click increases as does cost per conversion.

The value of an account manager in this automated environment is to provide the needed checks and balances to assure that your profitability goals are being met in AdWords.

As Google integrates more machine learning applications in Google AdWords for suggestions, bidding, and account management, it now becomes even more important to have a business-minded AdWords experienced expert overseeing your account to achieve the best results at the lowest cost for your budget.

October 21, 2019July 27, 2019

Leveraging Machine Learning For Google Ads- Part 1

Machine learning, it is the new buzz in our industry. Machine learning is using computers via artificial intelligence to predict actions. Machine learning can be used for Smart Bidding in Google AdWords and can even predict performance of activity based on your keywords and budget.

With products like Universal App Campaigns and Smart Bidding, it’s now possible to use this data to help deliver millions of ads customized for your customers, and set the right bid for each of those ads–in real time.

If you are using the new Beta AdWords interface, the Opportunities tab recommendations are personalized suggestions for your account based on machine learning.

Even if you’re not using these AdWords innovations [listed above], you’re still seeing the benefits of machine learning. Google uses information about search queries, historical ad performance and other contextual signals combined with machine learning, to predict whether or not someone will click on your ad. This predicted click-through rate helps determine the selection, ranking and pricing of your ads–meaning machine learning is already working to show the right ads to the right customers.

This means that even if you were not aware that you were embracing machine learning, Google AdWords has embraced it for you, to make account management easier and to provide more insights and analytics to assist you in better managing your ad account.

Here are some ways that Google is leveraging machine learning for your benefit in AdWords.

Smart bidding and bidding to increase conversions
Ad rotation, ad creation, and optimization
Opportunities and account suggestions

Google AdWords is embracing machine learning in many account management areas. Not only will they will making keyword, bid, and budget suggestions, but now AdWords will even be self-creating ad text for your programs to supplement your own created ads.

To leverage all that AdWords offers for your businesses benefit, I invite you to visit our website to find out more about how McCord Web Services can help you with your AdWords management needs.

August 5, 2019July 27, 2019

Not Advertising on Mobile in Google Ads? You Should Be.

I have been managing Google AdWords accounts for around thirteen years. This depth of experience has given me a unique point of view.

Here are a few nuggets to share with you on the topic of mobile.

1. Advertising in the mobile space has to be a part of your Google AdWords strategy. For some clients all leads will come in via mobile, for others just a part, and for some none.

2. If you are a lawyer, dentist, or a doctor where you have a mix of patient age groups, you will see strong activity in the mobile ad space and strong conversion activity there.

3. If your product or service deals with immediate decisions such as an animal emergency room your activity will be in the mobile ad space and nearly all of your lead conversions will be by phone.

4. Even if your business is tech software, know that although you may not get leads from mobile, early decision making and research is being done initially on mobile. It is better to control your ad spend on mobile in that case instead of totally moving out of mobile.

5. There is no single combination of what works best for businesses in mobile at this time and there does not seem to be one pattern of behavior that is repeated across diverse industries. What I have definitely seen is that mobile should be a very important part of every AdWords program.

If you need help with your Google AdWords campaigns I invite you to review our services and qualifications. We may just be the perfect match for your pay per click management needs.

July 29, 2019July 27, 2019

Just Started Advertising on Google Ads? Tips on Determining Your Ad Budget

When you start advertising on Google Ads, how do you determine your starting budget?

There is no mystery to deciding your budget for Google Ads. I use the Keyword Planner to determine the best budget for starting out. Here are my tips.

Create a list of 10 two to three word phrases that you feel will help drive qualified traffic.
Go to your Google Ads account or ask your Google Ads consultant to run the numbers for you, but putting each keyword in the Google Keyword Planner to check for traffic, competition, and typical bids.
Plan on these potential bids being about 20% lower than the real auction for clicks when your account is set up.
Take the average of these ten keyword’s click costs and then decide how many clicks you would like to have a day before your ads stop showing.
Look at the number generated in step 4 and determine if you can realistically live with this number. Never get over your head in regards to a budget that is way beyond your means. It is not typical to get leads in Google Ads the day ads serve. For some account it can take as long as three weeks for optimization to start to see the first lead conversion.
Remember a lead conversion or beneficial action you are recording as a conversion is not always a sale. Sometimes it is just the first step in the sales process.
Understand that it takes time for a Google Ads account to become profitable. Google Ads is a dynamic auction with bids changing for each query and many factors determining if your ads show or not.
Work with a professional Google Ads account manager or consultant like McCord Web Services to get the most out of Google Ads.

I invite you to visit our website to learn more about Google Ads and our Google Ads consulting and account management services.