Do you like Google adwords?

[Christopher11]

I have a site which features my music, which is for sale for various contexts. I registered my URL with Google.


Is Google adwords the way to get your website noticed in search results? Is there a better way?

How do you like Google adwords?


Thank you!

 

[Cult Follower]

I personaly have never clicked on one in my life.

 

[heehee]

I personaly have never clicked on one in my life.

What he said. But it works. One of our companies spend about $500 a day on Google Adwords.

 

[Osarkon]

I see so much of them I've almost subconsciously blocked them to an extent that I don't see them.

I as well have never once clicked on one.

 

[Flowbee]

Google Adwords allows you to advertise your website on Google's search pages and on other websites that display Google ads. Using Adwords correctly is one way to increase traffic to your website, however, it's not something to jump into blind. Do a some research before you start your first campaign, or you could wind up spending a lot of money without making any sales.

A good place to start would be WebmasterWorld or another Adwords-specific forum.

 

[Christopher11]

Yeah, thank you, that's a good point. I should have said: what I really want is for my website to come up in Google search results. I would like it to come up as one of the first... like if you're looking for a beekeeper and that's what I do... you would find me without much trouble.

How do I accomplish that? I guess it's not really adwords I'm looking for. Thanks so much for all the replies.

 

[3nm]

never liked them and never clicked one. most of the time adwords are blocked by my browser. also, one of the reasons i'm using dot mac is because i don't like how gmail scan the emails and display relevant adwords.

 

[Flowbee]

I should have said: what I really want is for my website to come up in Google search results. I would like it to come up as one of the first...

What you're looking for is information about 'search engine optimization' (or SEO). There are a ton of sites dedicated to this mystical art. Just Google 'SEO' and start reading. Again, WebmasterWorld has a forum dedicated to this topic.

 

[Christopher11]

Okay, thank you. I have gone to this site, and I will begin research right away. It looks like you have to pay to join.

But let me just ask: my website is not showing up in search results, not at the first page anyway. Is that because I only entered it with Google yesterday?
\
Is there something I did not do? All I did was "Add your URL to Google"

Even when I type in my actual URL to google, it doesn't show up.


Thanks so much!

 

[Flowbee]

Okay, thank you. I have gone to this site, and I will begin research right away. It looks like you have to pay to join.

There's only one private section of that website that you have to pay to join. All the rest of the forums are free to read and join (including the ones I've linked to).

But let me just ask: my website is not showing up in search results, not at the first page anyway. Is that because I only entered it with Google yesterday?

Is there something I did not do? All I did was "Add your URL to Google"

Even when I type in my actual URL to google, it doesn't show up.

It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for a new website to appear in the Google search index. There are many factors involved, including how many websites link to yours and how easy it is for the Google 'bot' to read your site. Most of these issues can be addressed by clever marketing and good SEO practices.

Google also offers additional webmaster tools that are meant to improve the indexing of your site. You should sign up and use those as well.

Even if you do everything right, expect the process to take several weeks (minimum) before your site shows up in the search listings.

 

[Christopher11]

Oh... okay. Thanks so much for the information, Flowbee, and the competent help. I appreciate it.

So any links I can get on other websites to my site will improve my chances in search results, I take it you are saying.

Also, since I am composing my site in iWeb, can I still optimize SEO as you suggested? I can go in with an editor and edit the HTML, if that's what I need to do.


Thanks again!

 

[RojoLeo]

I use Google constantly, but sometimes, their business model really confuses me.

They took an existing business model (placing advertising on their search pages) and made it horrible, deceitful, and annoying, and they become one of the fastest growing companies ever because of it.

Now, before the flames begin, I know I am simplifying it greatly. I know there are many other benefits to Google, and that advertising seemingly only makes up a small portion of Google, but the truth is that's their primary source of revenue.

We've used them for clients, and I absolutely hate Adwords. They're ineffective at best. Costly and ineffective at worst. And, they were charging the highest rate we had allowed to place the ad on a page where no other ads showed...erm, it's only supposed to charge the highest amount if that's what it takes to outplace the other ads, it should charge the lowest rate if there's no other ads.

 

[Knox]

AdWords seems to be a bit of a black art. They can be effective for certain sites and if you spend time setting them up and maintaining them (or pay someone to do it for you) but they can also be very costly and not give results as DigitalAx said.

One of the sites I'm involved with uses them quite extensively - we've spent in excess of $250,000 on AdWords - and we now make a good profit on it but it requires constant attention making sure all the keywords and adverts are giving a reasonable return, with a bit of trial & error thrown in. It's relatively easy to see conversion rates, but there is also 'brand recognition' for being on the search page that is much harder to quantify.