“I have a expensive Adwords account which doesn’t provide much profits”

[stershop]

For most companies and individuals this is true. The corporate environment is getting more and more aware of the importance of a Google Adwords account. Unfortunately for them it’s usually only Google itself that profits from these account. This happens not because Adwords doesn’t work but because its users don’t know how it works.
Furthermore, managing such an account requires a lot of time and knowledge about Adwords and this is not something everybody has. In the past (and present) this was done by internet marketers, but apparently intelligent software programs are taking over. These software programs take less and claim to be efficient and a lot cheaper. Any advice?

[jeff.stolarcyk]

Search engine optimization doesn't deal with AdWords. I think that SEO and paid search have a great symbiotic relationship on a couple of levels

1. SEO can target high-bid keywords that are unlikely to create qualified clickthrough while a well-managed paid search campaign can drill down and identify the queries that shoppers ready to take action are looking for.

2. As I noted in a blog post on seoblog.solidcactus.com, appearing in both sponsored and organic listings for any given query is a good way to increase traffic to your site.

I'm not an AdWords expert, but my experience is that a well-managed human campaign is going to work better than software in most cases.

[candypam]

Stershop - here's my thoughts!
There is nothing better than "human campaign" management, and I should know because for the past 15 months my campaigns have been under the control of a human and our results have been phenomenal. I don't think a computer program can sit and brainstorm with me weekly, or turn up the heat on a certain item or turn down the heat in a flash, but a human can.
There is NOTHING better than the real thing!

My human manager develops my program for me and my store, not for zillions others out there. Our plan of attack is all programmed for me period!

I work side by side, week by week and sometimes day by day with my Adwords manager Robyn from Solid Cactus.
Great minds think alike... better yet, ... when one isn't the other is!
We play, we test, and we go out of the box over and over again. We use our own eyes to watch my competion, plus we incorporate the seasons, the time of day, the economy in our well thought out plan of attack as well. I don't know of any program out their today to buy that could offer the personal touch
It can’t be done.. The situation can change daily, the computer program can’t adapt like the human mind can.

Right now... we all must be so careful of the money we spend on these types of things. Every week it seems something changes in the economy, or in how people are shopping.
The Computer programs that are developed for these adword things...by the time you get them, they are out of sync for the real world, but a human that's a professional in the field is always up to date and always in sync with me, my store!
Pam

[cactus_jeanl]

I have a couple of points I'd like to add:

1. Automated programs are a powerful part of a search campaign, but they're not the holy grail of internet marketing. Even the most advanced software can't take into account unexpected fluctuations, changes to landing pages, changing competitors, etc. If you're going to use software, it's best to consider it a supplement to your own management. It makes it easier for you to focus on other tasks for your search, rather than spend all day tweaking bids. There isn't a "set it and forget it" system for Adwords, and I hope no one is claiming to have that kind of solution available.
2. While Google certainly does profit from Adwords (let's not lie, they've gotta make money somehow!), they know they have to tread carefully with advertisers. If they were jacking bids and raising costs, advertisers will get disgusted and they will walk away, or at least divert some funds to other engines/revenue sources. It serves their best interest to give advertisers fair pricing and keep them on board. While they can't control the level of competition that you face in your own verticle, I believe Google does try to keep the playing field as fair as possible