Ad HustlerConfessions Of A Serial Internet Entrepreneur

SocialMedia.com Metrics

Targeting

Site: Facebook
Country: US Only
Max CPC: .10 Cents
Max Budget: $10

Traffic

45,687 Impressions
130 Clicks
0.28% CTR
Cost: $10

Results

Offer Niche: Mobile
Clicks Reported On Affiliate Network: 130
Conversions: 0
Revenue: $0

Summary: I keep trying these mobile offers even though I haven’t got one to do well yet on SocialMedia.com.  Although this one totally bombed, I used the same exact ad and switched the offer and at least in the short term I am seeing a profit.  Let’s see if this holds up so I can write about it in case study #15.

Ad Hustler

We can all admit Google is good at what it does and usually good at what it sets out to do.  Google is currently trying to tackle selling traditional media ads by offering print & radio ads.  The catch is that they are selling these ads using their traditional auction based bidding model.  As a marketer that knows a lot about advertising agencies I see some problems with this plan.  Google’s whole methodology is on the market system, supply and demand drives prices which is great.  The problem is that the demand has gotten great for Google Adwords for just about every keyword in existence.  This demand has shortened supply and drove the prices of keywords through the roof.

Taking this situation into account, think about traditional media.  If Google were able to command a large market share in selling Print and Radio ads (which I’m sure they will because they are Google) the same thing could potentially happen.  Demand goes up, causing supply to go down and the prices for a Radio or Print ad skyrocket.  Here’s my question.  Why would advertisers and advertising agencies do this to themselves.  With Google Adwords you have no choice but to bid on keywords if you want premium positions in the paid areas of Google.  With Radio and Print you have an option.  Just go direct to the source and buy what you want without bidding on it.  The obvious advantage of going with Google is that you will be able to spread your ads out over multiple sources with one buy and hopefully better targeting; but will this benefit outweigh the disadvantage of driving prices up?  Knowing the past, will advertisers and agencies willingly  subject themselves to inevitably higher pricing by doing their media buying through Google?  Only time will tell.

Ad Hustler

I have a major gripe and we ALL deal with it.  Automated phone systems.  Whether you are calling Google, Yahoo, Your Bank or in my case today, Sirius Radio, we all contend with automated phone systems.

I was having a problem with my Sirius radio so I called tech support.  The automated system asked the following questions:

1) English or Spanish?
2) What department do you want to speak to?
3) Home phone number?
4) Home Address?
5) Name

After waiting about 10 minutes for tech support, the technician answers the phone.  She greets me and asks my name.  Then my home phone number followed by my address.  Why would you send me through an automated phone system to take this information and then pay a human to take it again before helping me with my problem?  Automated systems should be used to create more efficient systems.  The only reason I could see using an automated system is if it were going to record the information I gave it and then present it to the technician so the questions did not get asked twice.

Sirius is by no means the only company makes you give an automated phone system information and then asks for the same information again when you talk to a human.  Ever call Google Adwords support?  They ask for your client id and then ask for it again when you get connected.

Let’s make a pledge to ensure our automated systems are being used to create less work and help the consumer rather then create more frustration and redundancy.

That is all.

Ad Hustler

Many businesses, especially local businesses rely on their websites contact form to bring in new business. One mistake often made is making these contact forms too damn long. Do you really need to know my shoe size, mothers maiden name and whether I prefer paper or plastic at the supermarket when I want to find out about your gutter cleaning services? The answer is NO! Keep your forms as short as possible to maintain the highest conversion rate. Most of the time you don’t need more then a Name, Email & Phone Number as the person making the inquiry wants to be contacted personally anyway. Keep your forms short and sweet to maximize your bottom line.

Ad Hustler