Note: this series is about ideas. It is not a step-by-step tutorial on how to navigate the ever-changing PPC advertising interfaces. Screen shots are employed selectively to elucidate the subject matter, but figuring out the precise order of implementation steps…that’s up to you. What more important topic is there to discuss under the heading of “The Science of PPC” than the design...
Prerequisites for Effective Smart Bidding in PPC
The days of "bid gaps" and bid jamming are long gone. Today's PPC auction is much more complex, with native features like Google's Smart Bidding designed to automate busywork and eliminate the bid jockeying of the early 2000s. But Smart Bidding is no panacea—take a closer look at Smart Bidding and where human learning ultimately prevails.
A Misconception About PPC Automation
Using ad scheduling as an example, we explore the hypothesis that native Google Ads functionality -- and so-called "manual" optimization -- often do better than overdramatized third-party software. "To automate or not to automate" is not the question, and quite misses the point!
Why “The Science of PPC”? Why 50 Parts?
In the many friendly sales conversations I’ve had with prospects over the years, I’ve occasionally been asked to cite three things that make our agency stand out from others. In my mind, I’m thinking: “Three? How about fifty? How long do you have?” And now, I’ve just said that out loud. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time. So, how do real pros stand out from the...