Impression share is the percentage of the impressions you’re getting, verses the total available.

And they even have an “Impression Share Report” to show it to you.

That ends the guessing, when getting low impressions, as to if Google is holding back

You can see the Inside Adwords post, for more details …

The first thing that came to mind was: Ad Copywriting

Anyone can throw together an ad.

In fact that’s a main thing that’s caused AdWords (and PPC in general) to explode. The way that anyone can just jump in and get ads going.

But to get your ads working effectively is a completely different thing.

Here’s the good news:
You can do split-testing to improve your ads, and arrive at more effective ads over time.
Even if you just start with a couple “random” ads. You keep trying different ideas and “tweaks”.

But here is a specific tip to help your ads:

Work on putting in a strong action-oriented word in your ad.
Even better if you lead with it in your description.

For example, instead of “Low-priced car insurance …”, try “Discover low-priced car insurance”

It gets them thinking in terms of taking action. And the implication is that they click to take that action.

Here’s another good lead-in where applicable:
“Top-selling”

For example, I have an adgroup for a silverware line. The ad is for the most popular line that the company has.
I tried an ad that leads in with “Top-selling pattern:” and that gave a nice boost is CTR.

I challenge you to go into your top adgroup and do some copywriting!

Come up with 2 more ads, to run in parallel with your current top ad.
Using stonger lead-ins, in your description line 1.

To your improved AdWords results!

Not a new idea. But he’s talking about AdWords as a key piece is rolling out a new business, and seeing if it’s viable.

Though one laughable thing was where he was giving an example of a person who had an expectation of 60% conversions from email subscriber to customer. So out of every 10 people signing up for the free newsletter, 6 people buy! And using that to guestimate was the return would be.

I like talking about how email marketing can increase your conversions, and is a vital tool to be profitable. But even I wouldn’t go so far as to say you can convert 60% of subscribers!

And he was writing this as if that was a normal expectation. Maybe there was a typo there.

Anyway, other than that everything else was “grounded in reality”

Here’s the quick review:

Overall I like his philosophy. Not just about “systemizing” your business, it’s about how to put your business on autopilot (or nearly-autopilot) and then having the freedom to do what you want.

Beyond that he gives some specific tips - which really made the book for me. Beyond just general things, he gives nitty-gritty details and examples. Even if you don’t agree with the specifics, it’s good to read how people (including Timothy) created their “muses” (businesses to fund the lifestyle).

And some of his guidelines. Such as going for products that are $50 to $200. Not a hard and fast rule. But something that applies to many niches. Don’t beat yourself trying to sell just low-price (like $20) items. And with $200 or less, they’re still relatively spontaneous purchases (i.e. convert well).

And he goes into a mini “manifesto” about setting up your business to reduce customer service headaches and time you have to spend yourself.

For example, not doing overnight shipping, if doing physical products.
Which is counter to what most eCommerce experts would say. That you’re supposed to give as many options and allow customers to get things as quickly as they want.

The problem with overnight is that if there’s any delay at any step, then your customer will freak and need immediate attention. So you’re asking for customer service issues and higher % of cancellations.

But just like with Tony Robbins (that’s another story) I had to put aside my bias against what’s popular, and get some good knowledge and techniques
But back to the 4-Hour Workweek:

One thing that’s really interesting is the ways he uses
AdWords for quick testing, to determine if a niche or
product will work. Good stuff.

A couple things could be
misleading (unintentionally), and one bit is a little outdated already. I’ll
give my review and tips later.

If you’ve read it, feel free to comment below (like how you’ve applied it to your own business).
Any questions I’ll try to address in my next post.

Including combinations that most people would otherwise
miss.

I have a complex version that I use in-house. But have been
wanting to do a simpler version that anyone can use.
So I finally did it!

Note:
I did put in a text box that shows a rotating set of
promos for different products (including mine).

Kind of fun, after working with Adwords so much, to create
my OWN system for showing “ads”.
Though mine’s a lot simpler than Google’s!

Feel free to give some feedback on how it works for you,
and any changes or enhancements that would be useful.
I’d love for this to become a regular part of people’s
“AdWords toolbox”.

Tip:
Even if you already have a lot of the same keywords,
it doesn’t hurt to just generate new lists and insert them
into your adgroups. Google will ignore any duplicates. And
any existing bids will remain.

I should mention that even though they emphasize affiliate marketing, the tool applies for ALL advertising. Whether your own products, or a site where you’re making money from advertising, or whatever. The only think specific to affiliates in their tool, is that it looks at affiliate links on your landing page, and how that affects your quality score.

Anyway, here is their message 1 about Google Goggles:

Remember the days before Google Slap,
when grass was green and making money
with Google Adwords was easy?

Ever needed some cash to come into your
affiliate account THE SAME DAY?

All you’d need to do BACK THEN was stick
a bunch of keywords into Adwords and
send them to an affiliate landing page.

—————————————-
Well, my friends Larry and Amish claim
they have brought those days back…
—————————————-

(using just a handful of easy techniques,
at that…)

Techniques, they claim, that you and I
can replicate over and over.

It almost feels like it’s 2006 again –
*BEFORE* the dreaded Google Slap!

A bold claim. Here’s how Larry and Amish
are going to prove it to you:
Google Goggles

—————————————-
If you’ve ever experimented with Google
advertising, you’ve probably heard of
Larry and Amish long before me
—————————————-

Their Adwords advice sites HexaTrack and
TheNewPPC have attracted somewhat of a
cult following over the last 12 months.

Because these guys just seem to GIVE,
GIVE, GIVE freely, even at the risk of
getting ripped off.

I’m not saying they’re Mother Theresa –
they *DO* sell some Pay-Per-Click
software, including their new tool,
Google Goggles.

See, software is essential to avoid the
INTERNET MARKETER’S TIME TRAP:

There are only so many hours in
a day.

So the name of the Google Cash
game is to put up as many sites into
rotation as you can — per day, per
week, per month.

Software helps to automate that
process. And multiply your income.

—————————————-
However, Larry & Amish’s advice itself
has always been gratis.
—————————————-

As is the case with their new video
today.

It’s a complete reverse-engineering of
*WHY* the Google Cash method no longer
works UNLESS you use Larry & Amish’s
techniques.

It’s a complete ANATOMY of the Google
Slap phenomenon that ruined the party
for many of us.

Their motto is, “Put On Your Google
Goggles!” and make money like it’s
2006 again:

With Google Goggles, you can determine
INSTANTLY if your traffic funnel will
make you money, and test new sites
faster — BEFORE you spend a dime on
Adwords clicks.

I use Google Goggles every day already.

—————————————-
Now, let me come right out with it and
confess that that’s an affiliate link
—————————————-

I make no bones about that.

I’m hoping that you’ll like Larry &
Amish’s advice *SO* much that you’ll get
their software tool when it’s released
on August 25.

Or don’t… and run with the free
techniquees they give in the video and
PDF.

It’s up to you — just allow me to
make my case as to WHY buying Google
Googles on August 25 is the only
sensible choice.

With your permission, I’ll be sending
you a few more training videos from
Larry & Amish between now and August 25.

For now, enjoy this video and the
related PDF that explains it all.

P.S. To reiterate. This is not a lame
“teaser” video that gives you reasons
why you need to buy the Google Goggles
software, while keeping the actual
secrets cloaked.

This video is laying the cards out
on the table as to what *EXACTLY* you
need to do to make money selling
affiliate products with Adwords, today
in 2008.

(Also known as the Google Cash method
…brought back from the past.)

If you choose to apply these techniques
manually, fine.

If you choose to buy Google Goggles
later, in order to automate the process
and build more profitable traffic
funnels faster, that’s fine too.

It’s all there for you, nothing held
back. Check it out.

Bottom line:
It is a good tool. It’s not yet the be-all end-all for defeating the Google Slap.
But it does have great value. Especially to get past whatever is slapping your keywords.

You do have to manually enter the information. But that’s worth it for important adgroups. I could imagine a “power” version that ties in with your account, pulls in the information, and gives you the breakdown. Maybe that will come later, for people that want to go through a lot of adgroups.

I don’t feel they have THE formula for how the pieces (keyword, ad, landing page, etc.) together go into the quality score. But it seems like a decent approximation.

Which is better than a lot of the overly-simplistic stuff out there, that would have you believe there’s only one main factor.
(I’ve seen tools that are just about having keywords match the landing page, like that’s ALL that’s needed to defeat the Google Slap.)

But back to Google Goggles:
Even going through the process made me think through some or factors. And a couple new things to try. The big value is that it breaks things down (as the formula sees it) into the different pieces.

For example, if it thinks your domain name is bad, it will show as a short brown bar. You click that and they give some tips. Though the tips are going to be the same each time, they’re still useful.

The user interface is a bit more cute than I need. But then it makes it more fun. So I guess I can’t hold that against it!

Anyway, I do recommend Google Goggles as a good tool to have in your toolbox. Even if not getting heavily “slapped”, it’s still a good way to increase quality, and get lower bids.

And after get it, they throw in some great bonuses.

Get full details

Here’s a sample screen shot:

Google Goggles Example

Level 1

“The keys to level 1 are earning quick
money, and doing it in a market that
is recession-proof.

Yes, there are markets completely immune
to shifts in the economy…
Markets where people actually spend
MORE when times are bad!

We’ll show you these recession-proof
markets, and how to profit like mad
from them.

Entering Level 1 is like strapping
on a bullet-proof vest…

Suddenly you can take a fiscal shot
square in the chest and not even bleed.

More info at Recession Rescue System

Level 2

Now that you’ve got some fast
cash in your pocket, it’s time
to multiply the strength of
your financial foundation.

Your profit margins get even wider
in Level 2… and the money flows
strong and steady.

Imagine having the financial freedom
to call all your own shots.

================================
You now live life on your terms.
================================

No more slaving away your precious
hours making someone else rich…
your time is spent multiplying
your OWN money.

Now you’re not only wearing a bullet
proof vest…
you’re rolling in an ARMORED TANK.
That scary mountain of bills now
crumbles beneath your wheels like
a clump of dirt.

More info at Recession Rescue System

Level 3

The secrets you learn at Level 3
put your financial life inside an
impenetrable, bomb-proof shelter.

There is no economic storm…
no fiscal terrorists…
no surprise attack that can
shake your foundation.

It’s the natural next step to
the ultimate lifestyle.

Whether you’re sitting at mission
control, or on a beach in Hawaii
sipping umbrella drinks - your
money streams flow automatically.

Level 3 is what every entrepreneur
dreams about, but it’s reality for
you, because you know the secret

Find how to be Recession-Proof:
Recession Rescue System

It’s a “Mastermind Group” for Adwords.  An exclusive
community for AdWords advertisers to share underground
secret knowledge.

I’ve already been hosting such a group informally, between
different clients (diving deep into AdWords) and fellow
Adwords experts. And found that there is a lot of good
stuff to be shared, in a wide range of Adwords-related
knowledge.

The online community will allow you to post things you’ve
found. And to ask whatever questions for the community
(including myself) to get some quick help with whatever
you’re wrestling with.

If interested in being a part of the mastermind group, and
exchanging knowledge with myself and other hard-core
adwords scientists, then send me an email (or comment below)
to get advance information …