google adwords - swatting up.

[Cloughie]

I intend to use google adwords pretty heavily in the next few weeks to promote the following websites:

www.atlargenutrition.com
www.empoweringsounds.com

I used it a while back with limiting success, so I want to learn about it properly this time and get the most out of it.

Does anyone know any full guides I can read or do you have any handy tips?

Thanks,

Daniel

[agua]

I bought the Perry Marshall book and don't have one regret with constantly high CTR and Conversions - well recommended.

If I was on the ball today - I would have put my aff link in this post :D

[Cloughie]

i may well purchase it, stick the link in.

Chris, you heard of this book or can you recommend any others?

[Cutter]

The best stuff will come from your own first hand experience... but, to be honest, Adwords is not nearly as complicated as its made out to be.

I took a quick look at your pages, here are a few points that will make a radical difference in your level of success:

#1 super-targeted ad copy combined with a perfectly matched landing page. You should have a single intended goal for visitors and nothing should get in the way (e.g., site navigation.)

#2 take a close look at your competition. What they are doing probably works. You don't want to copy them, but don't be fooled into thinking that by making a site that is 100x more elaborate or pretty it will work better.

#3 if you are selling products, focus on search to start with. Whatever you do, do not mix the campaign with the content network.

#4 you have to track everything. Referring keyword, time of day, ad copy. You should be able to do this with Google Analytics conversion tracking.

I have read a few Adwords books, but Google has free flash video tutorials in their help center which will help you out way more. The one thing I can recommend is MarketingSherpa's Landing Page Handbook (beware, it is $500.)

[cutiger95]

I think both books are great. The one item that I learned is to put your google money into the account and don't allow google to simply have a blank check.

Especially if you are experimenting. One guy lost over $2k in a single night because of an errant click and allowing google to optimize his ads.

[Chris]

i may well purchase it, stick the link in.

Chris, you heard of this book or can you recommend any others?
I've heard of it, I can offer no opinion on it though.

[agua]

Here you go Cloughie: The Definitive Guide to Google AdWords - Perry Marshall (http://m171.infusionsoft.com/go/default/aguawebs/), although you've probably bought it already :)

I agree with what Cutter says about your own experiences being your best source of information - but $49 dollars spent on this book can go a long way to saving you $1000's in learning how to manage campaigns.

I hardly ever look at my book anymore - but it was very helpful to begin with.