Google Adwords, CTRs and Conversion rates.

[everten]

Hi, being new at this game I was wondering if anybody had any information on what is considered "good" CTRs and "good" conversion rates? I have been open for exactly one week, using google adwords, have had 217 impressions, 3.2% CTR, and 14.59% conversion rate costing a massive 69cents. Is there statistics out there that suggest what we should be aiming for?

Any help gratefully appreciated.

Hal Pritchard

[ink cartridges]

We spend $1000 a week on google - be happy.

[dferguson]

Your CTR is good! Your conversion rate is even better! - Cost is next to nothing.. Great stuff. This equates to one purchase @ a cost of 69c. Not bad. You probably want to get more impressions - either by upping daily limits or expanding keywords. You want more than 7 people to your site a week :-)

[everten]

Expanding along the same line of thinking, is there any research as to how important position is? Is it worth spending the money to move your average position from the 4-5 mark to the 1-2 mark? I am not sure if it is even possible to do this using money alone. Is there a site that analyses the impact of Adwords.

[christof]

Hey Hal,

Great CTR and Conversion rates there. A trick I learn't at a google adwords conference recently is the following command... {KeyWord: default text} it places a keyword or phrase that a user has typed in at google and places their keyword in your ad. The idea being that your ad will match exactly what the user typed in, increasing your chances of a click (because there's an exact match).

OK real example.

Google user types in "kitchen knives"

Here's your ad now...

Chef & Processing Knives
Unbelievably low prices!
Extensive range of major brands
www.everten.com.au

In the Google adwords console, change/edit your ad to read this:

Chef & {KeyWord: Processing Knives}
Unbelievably low prices!
Extensive range of major brands
www.everten.com.au

NOW when the user types in "kitchen knives" they'll see this

Chef & Kitchen Knives
Unbelievably low prices!
Extensive range of major brands
www.everten.com.au

Google says there's a better chance of clicks because of the match, therefore your CTR goes up, and so might your position...

The reason why the command reads {KeyWord: Processing Knives} is so that if the keyword string is too long i.e. "kitchen utility knife set" - which would make the string longer than the allowed 25 characters, it simply defaults to "Processing Knives" or whatever string you put there.

Hope this helps.

CT

PS, avoid the hidden text on your website. Google doesn't like it!

[everten]

Thanks very much Christof, have implemented some of your ideas and removed the hidden words.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Hal

[christof]

No worries Hal...

I have to say, Google loves these forum pages. This page now ranks number one (for Australian results) for the search term "kitchen knives"! SEO can be so easy sometimes!

Cheers

Christof

[dferguson]

:-P

[niko]

Bad luck it's dropped to second :/

[digitalfunstuff]

Hi Chris,
Can you please tell me what you mean by hidden text? Do you mean word on your web site in white colours?

Regards
Annie
www.digitalfunstuff.com.au

[dferguson]

Hi Annie

Hidden text is any text that is 'hidden' from view...

Normally is occurs by choosing the same text colour as the background colour.

e.g. White background with white text.

The search engines may also be aware of similar coloured text.

e.g. White background with light cream text.

[christof]

David's correct (above).

Niko, it's fallen further, to 18th today. Oh well. With all this extra posting going on the keyword density must have dropped considerably!

Kitchen knives, kitchen knives, kitchen knives.

That should move it up again!

he he

Chris

[niko]

Or maybe from the link I placed on my web site to yours ;)

[niko]

One thing I as a buyer like to know is the way the handle on knives are made, meaning how robust they are. Same as pots and pans I always look at the handles to see if they are going to last, so just as a suggestion you could add a magnified image of the handle and a quick positive description of the design.