Live online tutorial on ‘Ad Extensions - making a good thing even better!’

On Wednesday March 9th we’ll be holding a live and interactive tutorial all about Ad Extensions in AdWords. Ad Extensions allow you to expand a standard text ad with one or more lines that provide additional information such as an address and phone number, additional page links and product images.

While the standard text ad format can often provide enough information for users to find what they’re looking for, including a picture, for example, could make the message more relevant and valuable. Similarly, having a map can help someone find your location more easily. During this live course we’ll discuss the benefits and implementation of Sitelinks as well as Location, Product and Mobile Extensions.

This live course will be presented by AdWords Specialists as part of the AdWords Online Classroom (UK) and is appropriate for advertisers who want to make their ads as informative as possible. It will take place on Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 3pm - 4pm (GMT), 7am-8am (PST) so make sure to sign up now!

Posted by Dan Friedman, Inside AdWords crew

Start to 'Think Mobile' in a new live online course in the AdWords Online Classroom (UK)

This Wednesday, February 16th, we’ll be hosting a live online course in the AdWords Online Classroom (UK), where you can learn how to start using mobile advertising to reach more customers.

With over four billion mobile phone owners globally, half of all new Internet connections now come from mobile devices. This live course discusses the explosive growth in ownership and usage of high-end mobile phones and the implications for businesses and marketers.

We’ll highlight the main mobile trends that businesses should be aware of and outline effective mobile strategies and mobile advertising solutions for companies and advertising agencies to adopt.

The hour-long interactive course will be delivered by an Online Media Specialist and will include time for Q&A. It will take place on Wednesday, February 16th from 3 pm to 4 pm GMT (7 am to 8 am PST).

If you’re interested, make sure to sign up now!

And visit our AdWords Online Classroom for additional live and on-demand courses.


Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

Join us for Google’s Think Mobile Event Live Stream

The rise of the mobile web is driving one of the most dramatic consumer behavior transformations in history. Billions of people are using their smartphones to search for information, consume news, watch videos, interact through social networks, and engage with advertising every day. So what does this mean for mobile marketing?

Tune in and find out what Mary Meeker, Partner at Kleiner Perkins, and Google’s Dennis Woodside, SVP of Americas Operations, and Jason Spero, Head of Americas Mobile Advertising, have to say about the future of mobile and what marketers can do to better connect with the mobilized, modern consumer.

The live stream will start on February 10, 2011, at 1:05 pm EST, and you’ll be able to watch from your desktop computer or mobile device. Please register for this virtual event by visiting the Think Mobile Live Stream page.

Following us on Twitter? Use the #thinkmobile hashtag as you're watching the event.


Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

Learn how to set up Ecommerce reporting in Analytics in a live online course

This Wednesday, January 26th, we’ll be hosting a live online course about Ecommerce in Google Analytics as part of the AdWords Online Classroom (UK).

During the course, we’ll discuss how to set up Ecommerce tracking in your Analytics account and enable it for your reports. We’ll also discuss implementation techniques such as tracking third-party shopping carts and detail the best reports to use for in-depth analysis of your AdWords activity. This should help you assess your AdWords return on investment and give you more insight into how your advertising is performing in terms of online transactions and revenue generated on your site.

The course will be presented by Analytics specialists and is most suited to advertisers with websites that include the functionality to purchase goods or services. It will take place on Wednesday, January 26th from 3 pm to 4 pm GMT (7 am to 8 am PST) and will include time for Q&A.

If you're interested, be sure to sign up now!

Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

Learn about using Remarketing in the AdWords Online Classroom (UK)

This Wednesday, January 19, we'll be hosting a live online course on Remarketing in the AdWords Online Classroom (UK). This free, hour-long, interactive presentation will be delivered by an Online Media Specialist and will take place at 3pm GMT (7am PST). There will also be time for Q&A.

Remarketing is a simple way to connect with your website visitors. After driving traffic to your site with search ads, you can then remarket to those people who reach your site by showing them tailored ads as they browse through sites on the Google Display Network.

During this session we'll take you through the benefits of using remarketing and how to set it up in your account. If you advertise with AdWords and are interested in the Google Display Network then we encourage you to attend.

Be sure to sign up now!

And you can also check out all our on-demand courses on the AdWords Online Classroom site.


Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

There's still time to meet your 2010 resolution to become Google AdWords certified

Long lines at the shops got you down? Dreading yet another ugly sweater party or family cookie exchange? Kicking yourself for not becoming Google AdWords certified in 2010?

No need to fret, there’s still plenty of time left in the year. To become Google AdWords certified, you'll need to pass the Google Advertising Fundamentals Exam and one of the three advanced exams (Search Advertising, Reporting and Analysis, or Display). You can register for exams here, and take them from the comfort of your own office or home -- the perfect activity to do while sitting in front of a cozy fire waiting for mysterious, magical home invaders to bring you gifts. As a bonus, you’ll be able to give your company the holiday gift of another certified individual to add to its profile page!

We’ve made it easy for you to prepare for the exams. The AdWords Learning Center offers text lessons (some with interactive modules) for each topic on the exam, which you can review at your own pace. In addition, if you can’t quite squeeze in training this year, we have numerous AdWords Seminars for Success in early 2011 in a number of major cities throughout the US.

For more information, please visit the Google AdWords Certification Program homepage.


Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

The True Value of Search advertising

We know that understanding search advertising and trying to measure its return on investment is not always easy. Marketers and business owners often find it difficult to quantify the indirect effect that online search is having on offline sales.

The AdWords Online Classroom has recently launched a free, on-demand market insights presentation, The True Value of Search, to help you understand the value of search marketing beyond direct response.

During this short video tutorial, we’ll introduce you to the ROPO effect (Research Online, Purchase Offline), latent conversion and how search is involved in the buyer's research and purchase journey. We’ll discuss search as part of the broader media and marketing mix as well as search for branding and how to integrate it with offline marketing. You’ll even see some real life examples of how search campaigns have driven offline sales.

So, if you’re interested in learning about how valuable search is for you, check out this course now!


Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

Learn about media planning in a live course in the AdWords Online Classroom

This Wednesday December 1st, we’ll be hosting a live course on media planning in the AdWords Online Classroom. The course will highlight the best practices of media planning and break down the planning process into 5 simple stages. We'll also give an overview of a number of Google tools that you can use to achieve high ROI, relevance and reach for your Google Display Network campaigns.

The course will be delivered by an Online Media Specialist and will last for approximately 1 hour, including time for Q&A. It will take place on Wednesday December 1st, 2010 3pm - 4pm BST / GMT+1 (London), 10am-11am EDT (New York), 7am-8am PDT (San Francisco).

Make sure to sign up now if you're interested!

Posted by Nathania Lozada, Inside AdWords crew

Live online course on how to define and analyze conversions on your site using Analytics Goals

On Wednesday November 24th we’re hosting a free, live, online course about Goals in Google Analytics. Goals help you measure conversions or successful actions on your website, such as visits to a 'thank you' page after a customer makes a purchase on your site.

In this live course you’ll learn how to set up Goals and how they can benefit you. We'll clarify the difference between conversions in AdWords and Goals in Analytics, as well as discuss the reports the Goals section offers. After completing the course you'll know how to use Analytics Goals to measure the effectiveness of your AdWords traffic, then make more informed business decisions as a result.

This interactive course will be delivered by two Analytics Specialists and will last approximately 1 hour, including time for Q&A. It will take place on Wednesday, November 24 from 3-4PM GMT (7-8AM PST) and is suitable for anyone who’d like to learn more about Analytics Goals.

If you're interested make sure you sign up now!

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

Learn about advertising on YouTube in a new online course

If you're interested in creating a stronger online branding presence or drawing high-volume traffic to your site, YouTube can help you accomplish both by giving you access to the world's largest online video-streaming and sharing community. YouTube can further enhance your current online advertising campaigns with millions of ad impressions and video ad streaming opportunities, so that you create the high-profile online presence that your website needs.

There are now a number of ways in which you can raise your profile as an advertiser using YouTube. During this course you'll learn about the different methods of targeting YouTube, and how to make the most out of any existing presence you may already have on this platform.

This is a live course presented by a YouTube Specialist and is appropriate for all advertisers interested in growing their presence on YouTube. It will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 3pm - 4pm BST / GMT+1 (London), 10am-11am EDT (New York), 7am-8am PDT (San Francisco).

If you’re interested, make sure to sign up now!

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

Get started with mobile advertising in a new live online course

On Wednesday, November 3rd we’ll be hosting a live online course about how you can start using mobile advertising to reach more customers.

Did you know that there are now 4 billion mobile phone owners globally? Half of all new internet connections come from mobile devices, and by 2014 it's projected that there will be more mobile internet users than desktop internet users.*

In this course we'll take you through the changing landscape of mobile advertising. We'll also show you how to identify if users use mobile devices to find your services and how to set up Mobile Search and Display Campaigns.

This course is for those of you interested in learning more about mobile advertising and how to easily set up your AdWords account to target more users on mobile devices. The interactive course will be delivered by an Online Media Specialist and will take approximately 1 hour including time for Q&A. It will take place on Wednesday 3rd November from 3pm - 4pm BST / GMT+1 (London), 10am-11am EST (New York), 7am-8am PST (San Francisco).

If you're interested in this course, sign up now!

*Morgan Stanley report, 'Internet Trends' published on April 12, 2010.

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

Learn about using Remarketing in a new course in the AdWords Online Classroom

This Wednesday, October 20th, we'll be hosting a live online course on remarketing. This interactive presentation will be delivered by an Online Media Specialist and will take approximately one hour, including time for Q&A.

Remarketing is a simple way to connect with your website visitors. After driving traffic to your site with search ads, you can then remarket to those people who reach your site by showing them tailored ads as they browse through sites on the Google Display Network.

During this session we'll take you through the benefits of using remarketing and how to set it up in your account. If you advertise with AdWords then we encourage you to attend.

If you're interested, be sure to sign up now!

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

Transform your AdWords account and win cool prizes - sign up by October 3

There’s still time to sign up for the the AdWords Train & Gain challenge which kicks off October 4.

click for full size image

Once signed up, you’ll receive four weeks of free advice for improving your AdWords account. At the end of the four weeks, you’ll have learned lots of different ways to improve your account performance. If you complete all the steps and answer a short questionnaire to let us know what you learned, you could win an Android Phone. Or even a free consultation with an AdWords expert — in Sydney, Australia.

Check out the Train & Gain site for more details about the challenge, who’s eligible to compete and how we’re selecting winners. Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Sign up for AdWords Train & Gain now

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

Introducing ‘Improving Online Conversions for Dummies’

Cross posted from the Conversion Room Blog:

Are you eager to optimise your Conversion Rate, but feel a little bit overwhelmed by all of the tools available to help you? Today we're delighted to introduce Improving Online Conversions for Dummies.

We have just released a simple, easy to follow mini book, in conjunction with John Wiley Publications, to help you get a better grasp of the conversion improvement tools offered by Google. Improving Online Conversions for Dummies explains how you can make sure your ads show on searches that are most likely to convert into sales. Understand which ad clicks and impressions lead to conversions, better apportion your marketing spend and even develop your own conversion attribution model. Discover the secrets to getting more bang for your buck with this ebook.

click for full size image

For more information, visit www.google.com/conversion/fordummies

Posted by Gordon Zhu, Inside AdWords crew

The AdWords Small Business Center: the key tips, tutorials, and updates you need for a successful AdWords account

Today we're happy to announce the launch of a new website - the AdWords Small Business Center. Many of you asked for an AdWords resource focused on learning and the top tips for small and medium businesses, and we listened. This new central learning hub allows you to share AdWords best practices and provides the key information you need to know to run a successful AdWords account.

,

click for full size image

Learn the essentials

Whether you're new to AdWords or not, the AdWords Small Business Center allows you to explore insightful topics as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user. It covers everything from strategies for writing great ads to ways to improve your website, all in an easy-to-navigate format.

Stay up-to-date

Stay in the loop by visiting the Inside AdWords blog right from this new site. It makes it easy to read about the latest trends and product updates and use them to grow your business.

Explore new possibilities

Want to discuss one of the tips on the site with another small business owner? Visit our recently launched AdWords Small Business Corner, a discussion forum in which other small and medium business owners who use AdWords exchange advice on the strategies that have helped them grow their businesses. Use it to share your AdWords experience or simply learn from others.

We hope you find the AdWords Small Business Center useful. Check it out today!

In the coming weeks, make sure you're also on the lookout for our blog post on AdWords Train & Gain, a challenge to help you become more successful with your online advertising. We'll be giving away cool prizes like Android phones and, for one lucky winner, a trip to Sydney, Australia for a free consultation with an AdWords expert. Sign up now or find out more details and official rules.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

Get design tips to boost the impact of your display ad

While the right text and placement of your display ad are always crucial, you should also make sure that your ad is well designed. But how exactly can you ensure that your ad stands out on a web page, looks professional and is consistent with your overall brand message?

On Thursday, September 2nd, we’ll be holding a short one-off live course on effective display ad design. The session will give you a set of practical design tips including key insights on using color, font and images. The focus will be on the Display Ad Builder tool, although the tips are applicable to display design in general. The course is suitable for anyone interested in display advertising.

The course will be held on Thursday, September 2nd at: 3pm - 4pm BST / GMT+1 (London), 10am-11am EDT (New York), 7am-8am PDT (San Francisco).

Sign up here to attend.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

Introducing the AdWords Small Business Corner, a new forum discussion category for SMBs

We’ve heard from many of you that you’d like to be able to easily share tips for developing a successful AdWords strategy with others like you. To help you do that, we’ve created a new category in the AdWords Help Forum: the Small Business Corner. The Small Business Corner is designed to give those of you who are running your own AdWords accounts the opportunity to share best practices in discussions with your peers so that you can make sure your AdWords account is doing all it can to support your business goals.

This new category is not about troubleshooting specific account issues, but rather about sharing and learning from the experiences of others. To give you a preview of the kinds of topics that we hope to discuss, here are a few conversation starters that we had in mind:

• Choosing the right tools to measure results
• How to write great ads
• Finding the right frequency to sign in to AdWords

Of course, this category is about your interests and needs, so we hope you’ll suggest the small business-related topics that you’d like to cover. For any other topics, please consider the other existing forum categories available to you.

Getting started

To join the conversation now, just visit the Small Business Corner. If you’re new to the AdWords Help Forum, you may want to create a Google Profile (while signed in to your AdWords account), introducing yourself and your business before jumping in. In the meantime, you can check out the introductory discussion thread here.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

New Tutorial: Exporting Google Display Network Placements from Ad Planner into AdWords

DoubleClick Ad Planner helps you research and identify the web sites most likely to attract your audience. With Ad Planner, you can select sites, add them to your media plan and easily export them directly into your AdWords account as a new campaign, or add them to an existing campaign or ad group.

Many of you requested this feature because you wanted an easy way to plan and buy Google Display Network (GDN) campaigns using Ad Planner.

Exporting to AdWords is easy and this online tutorial will show you how to take advantage of it. In this video, you’ll learn more about:

• Creating a media plan and finding GDN placements
• Exporting your plan to AdWords
• Setting up a new campaign or adding to existing campaign in AdWords

Click here to watch the video

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

Get started with mobile advertising with a new online course

We’ve just added a new course to the AdWords Online Classroom all about mobile advertising and how you can start using it to reach more customers.

Did you know that there are now 4 billion mobile phone owners globally? Half of all new internet connections come from mobile devices, and by 2014 it's reported that there will be more mobile internet users than desktop internet users.* We offer a number of innovative ad formats to help you reach mobile users looking for products and services.

This course is suitable for anyone who’d like to learn more about mobile advertising and how to easily set up your AdWords account to target more users on mobile devices.

Click on the country flag most appropriate to you to watch this course now!

Click for U.S. course

Click for U.K. course

Click for Australia course

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

*Morgan Stanley report, 'Internet Trends' published on April 12, 2010.

Learn about remarketing with a live online course

This Wednesday, July 21st, we'll be hosting a live online course on remarketing. This interactive presentation will be delivered by a Display Network specialist and will take place from 15:00 to 16:00 GMT, including time for Q&A.

During this session we'll take you through the benefits of using remarketing, who it's best for and how to set it up in your account. If you advertise with AdWords and get a large number of visitors to your website, then we encourage you to attend.

If you're interested, be sure to sign up now.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew