You've got questions, we've got answers. There are just some of the more popular questions - if you have one that's not mentioned here just send us an email and we'll get back to you with an answer.
Who pays for the Google AdWords advertising (ie. the actual clicks)?
You do. The fee for ALYRT's services covers the management of the AdWords campaigns, but the click charge is billed to your company by Google.
How much does a click cost?
AdWords advertising is based on an auction model. Each keyword has its own auction, and the price depends on how competitive the bids are for that keyword. For example, the search term "credit card" would be very expensive (possibly $15 a click!) while "pine wood statues" would be less expensive. Clicks start at 15 cents a click and go up from there.
Can I raise the budget if the campaign is performing well?
Yes you can raise the budget at any time. There will only be an additional charge if the budget increase pushes your campaign into the next management plan (this will be clearly explained if the situation arises).
How should I prepare my website for the ad campaign?
You don't necessarily need to make any changes at all. Having said that, there may be some areas to tweak. We'll include you a few pointers in our proposal we send to you.
What's the difference between search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO)?
Search engines use "robots" to scour the websites of the world, and build an index of the content on the websites. When people perform searches they display a list of relevant websites.
Search engine optimization means designing your website so that a search engine can easily determine what content is on your website. Although you do have control over the content on your website, you have no control over when Google decides to include you in the search results list (it could take months or even years), nor what search terms they decide to include you for. Although you can pay SEO companies to help you refine the content on your website, there is NO WAY to buy automatic or instant inclusion or a higher position in the search results (no matter what they tell you!).
With search engine marketing, you can buy your way onto the search results page, in the form of text ads next to the results. This gives you instant access to the search traffic, and total control over the search phrases you want to target. Ideally your website will perform well in the natural search engine results in the long term, but a paid search engine marketing campaign will always be a good compliment, to give you total control over your customer targeting.
Will I be able to log into the Google account and see the campaign?
Yes, you can login and review your account at any time. For obvious reasons, you won't be able to make changes to active campaigns (that's our job!).
How much is all of this going to cost me?
We have pricing plans to suit budgets large and small - starting at just $299 per month. If your budget is even tighter than that you will want to consider our Do-It-Yourself Kickstart package.
Can some of the search terms be changed each month?
Absolutely. We will be performing regular optimizations, and if you have special promotions you want to run (for example), simply let us know the details and we can update the keywords accordingly.
What if, after signing up for a managed plan, I decide to take over and do it myself?
Yes, you can do that. There are no long-term obligations and you're free to end our management services at any time. At the end of the current month, we'll do a final analysis and wrap-up, and hand over the account control to you.
I like the sound of the Do-It-Yourself plan - are there any reasons I should opt for a managed plan?
The Do-It-Yourself plan is a great option for people with extra time that prefer to learn a new skill. But for the same reason you bring your car to mechanic, get dental work done by a dentist, and go to a lawyer for legal concerns, it's often best to use the experts in a particular area. We focus on your AdWords ad campaign while you're focusing on your core business.
Do you have a list of your other customers?
Due to our commitment to client confidentiality, we never disclose any information on any other customers. We're sure you'll appreciate that when your company is on the receiving end of that discretion.
What other services do you provide?
Although Google AdWords is our speciality and focus, we do offer a selection of complimentary services. Click here for a full list.
