So I need to find something to help manage our PPC campaigns at work. While I can live with simple maintenance functionality, a degree of automated bid adjustment wouldn't be a bad thing if at all possible. Can you help?
While working with our previous supplier, I have developed an internal PPC management system that allows us to set up keywords and adverts for products through our own CMS. This system regularly builds a text file with all of our PPC data in and sends it via FTP to said company. I would like to work with a company (or piece of software) where this system would not go to waste, if at all possible.
So what is your software of choice? All reccommendations very much appreciated!
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1. Cost
It's simply just too tough to keep the costs down. With Google charging these companies to access the API on a weighted system, the 3rd party passes the cost off to you the consumer, loads of fun there!
The other part is for an internal company to work with APIs and stay up to date, it takes a Full Time Employee doing just that, it's crazy all the changes they do and number of versions out there.
2. Reliability
Even if you get a system up and running that submits bids automagically to the engines, they don't guarantee immediate changes, while most will change quickly, there are still times and situations where the changes may not take and thus you could blow a very large wad of cash on a system that you thought was doing the work for you.
3. It's not you
Ultimately, you are the person that wants to see it succeed or not. 3rd party software doesn't care, there may be a rule that brings a keyword down that you really must have up and running for branding and what not, if you don't tell it so, you will still come down. Letting a system make changes for you without knowing who you are and what you do, it just doesn't work as nicely as some of these systems say they do.
Ultimately, from the years I have worked in PPCSE and the work I have done in the backend on these things, I think that while reporting is nice from a 3rd party, the management of the keywords still has to fall in the lap of skilled people.
One thing I have seen way more effective is that of cutting down your total number of keywords to a list that is effective and balancing out your overall approach of online marketing, from PPCSE and SEO. Using both helps to balance your budget as well.
Just my two cents...