Maps embedded in AdWords

How long have Google been doing this?

Google Updates Sponsored Links Search

The eagle-eyed search experts here in Efficient Frontier's London nerve centre alerted me to an update on Google's Search Sponsored Links feature. 
A link from the main SERPs underneath the right hand column allows you to browse just the ads for a particular search term. 
Previously, that link just sent you to a page like this [...]

Trademarks: the Calm After the Storm

My ugly mug featured in this week's NMA in a follow-up article by Will Cooper about trademark bidding on Google.  It would seem that the hysteria is finally dying down as common-sense returns to the situation.
There has been quite a few, how shall I say, ill-thought-out statements about this whole thing.

Google Trademark Change: First Thoughts

So the unthinkable is finally upon us and Uncle Google has stopped protecting our trademarks.  I have a few thoughts to share on this, based on what I've observed so far.

Google Removes Restrictions on Trademarked Keywords

On Friday Google announced (via email) that it is going to remove advertising restrictions on trademarked keywords as of May 5th in the UK and Ireland.  Many advertisers are concerned that the consequences of this will hurt their AdWords campaigns, so I've put together some thoughts on what the likely result of this will be.

Nasty example of Google Extended Broad Match

Here's a really horrid example of Google's Extended Broad Match that I caught last month.  Check out the first ad on the right-hand side for the new Apple laptop on a search for 'flights'.  Eurgh. 

AdWords Editor 5 released

I got upgraded to AdWords Editor 5.0.0 today.  The main change seems to be that you can now edit Local Business Ads.  The 'Sites' tab has also been renamed to 'Placements'.

Google Content Exclusion Beta

Over the last couple of days I've spent a fair amount of time reviewing, building out, reining in and generally musing over Google content network campaigns. Content can work very well for all sorts of advertisers, albeit at smaller volumes than search. It just needs a lot of tweaking to get it right.
One [...]

Google’s Ad Diagnostics Tool still broken

Earlier this month, I was trying to work out why a client's AdWord's campaign was being a bit sluggish. I hovered over the little magnifying glass next to an important keyword and got the message that the ad wasn't showing. Panic started to set in as keyword after keyword was reported as [...]

Niche location targeting on AdWords

Location targeting on Google AdWords is a great tool, but be careful how you use it. For example, you could if you wished target the inhabitants of Bouvet Island:  Unfortunately, according to the Wikipedia, the inhabitants of Bouvet Island comprise of, "seals, seabirds and penguins". In fact, this human-less sub-antarctic volcanic island [...]

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