Google Keywords and Twitter
Discussion
I'm relatively new to all this myself so hopefully i can explain it in simple terms.
Let's say you search for "watches" on Google the results come up in three parts. At the very top is a section with a yellow background which is the "Sponsored Links" (this is what you pay for, more on this in a sec), under it in a plain white background is the "natural search results" (also called "organic") and finally, down the right are further Sponsored links (paid for as before).
Inthe sponsored links section are all the people who have paid for the word "watches". The more you pay to Google for the "word" the higher you are on this list (it's actually not quite this simple but that will do for now). What do I mean by "pay for a word". You say to Google, when someone searches for "watches" then serve my ad in the results. If they click on it - AND ONLY IF THEY CLICK ON IT MIND - Google then charge you whatever you have agreed to pay (words normally go for 20-50p but something popular like "watches" may be £1-2). So, back to our search, if now click on one of the sponsored links the you will cost that company 30p (or whatever they have agreed to pay).
obviously being top of the list in the section with the yellow background is best so those who pay mist come here. 2nd highest below etc etc. The list continues down the right hand side so these guys paid less but as I think you'll agree, their adverts are less obvious to the eye.
But what about the natural search below? These are NOT paid for. This is Google's own decision about which websites best match your search terms. Can a company pay to be on top of the list here. No. Not directly to Google but there are several things they can do to their website to optimise it for search engines. We now enter the black arts of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and this is a whole industry in itself. You can pay several companies to optimise your website such that it comes higher in the natural search listings for given words or terms.
Are Gogle AdWords (that's what they call the product that allows you buy words and terms for the sponsored links) effective? In my opinion, YES. Very. Henry Ford said "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, trouble is I don't know which half". Google helps here because if someone searches Google for your product then you know they are very likely a potential buyer. Your 30p (or whatever if costs) to be top of the Sponsored links and have your advert in front of them is a very efficient use of your money compared ot £500 for a magazine advert or £20,000 for a TV spot. It;s very focussed right at your customers. plus, you only pay if they click on it and view your website. Otherwise, no charge. Also, with the software Google supply you can track stats like: How many times was my advert served, what percentage of people who saw it clicked on it and what percentage of them bought my product online. You can monitor in real-time how much your Adwords are costing you AND MAKING YOU! e.g. £200 spent on Adwords this month, Adverts served 4,000 times, 50 people clicked through and 10 of these bought products worth £12,800. You just spent £200 to gain £12,800 worth of sales. Is it worth it? You decide. But at least you know the specific cost.
This is a slightly simplified version of what happens so I ask forgiveness from more experienced users who can certainly correct me on a few pints but I hope it gives you the gist.
Twitter is completely different. It's a "micro blogging" site. What's that? You can broadcast short messages for your friends to read if they log on and chose to. It's becoming very big though but yet to be monetised effectively. For a business it's a good way of keeping your customers up-to-date with short, crisp messages e.g "Just got the new RX2000 model in today and it look great. Details here: www.yourproduct.com". It;s free to set up an account and I'm looking at doing this with a few of the businesses I am involved with. I'll write more on this as soon as I figure out how best to utilise it! If anyone knows, please post!
Hope this helps.
Let's say you search for "watches" on Google the results come up in three parts. At the very top is a section with a yellow background which is the "Sponsored Links" (this is what you pay for, more on this in a sec), under it in a plain white background is the "natural search results" (also called "organic") and finally, down the right are further Sponsored links (paid for as before).
Inthe sponsored links section are all the people who have paid for the word "watches". The more you pay to Google for the "word" the higher you are on this list (it's actually not quite this simple but that will do for now). What do I mean by "pay for a word". You say to Google, when someone searches for "watches" then serve my ad in the results. If they click on it - AND ONLY IF THEY CLICK ON IT MIND - Google then charge you whatever you have agreed to pay (words normally go for 20-50p but something popular like "watches" may be £1-2). So, back to our search, if now click on one of the sponsored links the you will cost that company 30p (or whatever they have agreed to pay).
obviously being top of the list in the section with the yellow background is best so those who pay mist come here. 2nd highest below etc etc. The list continues down the right hand side so these guys paid less but as I think you'll agree, their adverts are less obvious to the eye.
But what about the natural search below? These are NOT paid for. This is Google's own decision about which websites best match your search terms. Can a company pay to be on top of the list here. No. Not directly to Google but there are several things they can do to their website to optimise it for search engines. We now enter the black arts of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and this is a whole industry in itself. You can pay several companies to optimise your website such that it comes higher in the natural search listings for given words or terms.
Are Gogle AdWords (that's what they call the product that allows you buy words and terms for the sponsored links) effective? In my opinion, YES. Very. Henry Ford said "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, trouble is I don't know which half". Google helps here because if someone searches Google for your product then you know they are very likely a potential buyer. Your 30p (or whatever if costs) to be top of the Sponsored links and have your advert in front of them is a very efficient use of your money compared ot £500 for a magazine advert or £20,000 for a TV spot. It;s very focussed right at your customers. plus, you only pay if they click on it and view your website. Otherwise, no charge. Also, with the software Google supply you can track stats like: How many times was my advert served, what percentage of people who saw it clicked on it and what percentage of them bought my product online. You can monitor in real-time how much your Adwords are costing you AND MAKING YOU! e.g. £200 spent on Adwords this month, Adverts served 4,000 times, 50 people clicked through and 10 of these bought products worth £12,800. You just spent £200 to gain £12,800 worth of sales. Is it worth it? You decide. But at least you know the specific cost.
This is a slightly simplified version of what happens so I ask forgiveness from more experienced users who can certainly correct me on a few pints but I hope it gives you the gist.
Twitter is completely different. It's a "micro blogging" site. What's that? You can broadcast short messages for your friends to read if they log on and chose to. It's becoming very big though but yet to be monetised effectively. For a business it's a good way of keeping your customers up-to-date with short, crisp messages e.g "Just got the new RX2000 model in today and it look great. Details here: www.yourproduct.com". It;s free to set up an account and I'm looking at doing this with a few of the businesses I am involved with. I'll write more on this as soon as I figure out how best to utilise it! If anyone knows, please post!
Hope this helps.
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