Advertising on our sites via Google

Google Adwords is a very powerful tool for advertisers, allowing various types of adverts and placements. The traditional ad placed through it was a text ad which would appear on pages containing appropriate content, as defined by the advertiser using simple words and phrases.

More recently Google have extended the system to include Managed Placements, allowing advertisers to search for individual websites, such as www.arrse.co.uk, and pick advertising space, and also to allow the upload of standard graphic banner ads. The advertiser then has an excellent set of reporting tools to see how the ads are performing.

Getting Started

Firstly an Adwords account is needed – this can be quickly created by visiting the Adwords homepage. At the time of writing the registration link is in the top right and says “Try Adwords now”.

Once an account has been created Google will lead a new advertiser through the steps of creating a campaign using a 'wizard'. Be prepared for a bit of confusion! Google aims to be all things to all advertisers and there are a lot of choices.

What you are aiming to create is a Managed Placement. Once you have done this Google offers a Placement Tool which allows you to search by URL for individual sites. Type in 'arrse.co.uk' or 'navy-net.co.uk' and you will see the ad spaces available, which ad formats they support and a description of each (click on the ad slot title).

To step back slightly. To successfully advertise the following steps are necessary (excluding payment):

1. Create a campaign, eg. "My Product on ARRSE"
2. Create an ad group and upload / create adverts. These can be simple Google text adverts or your own graphic banners
3. On the 'Networks' tab, select managed placements – show details. Then choose add placement (below)
   
4. Choose the Placement Tool
   
5. Search for Olive Net sites by URL
   
6. Look at the placements – click on the name for a description – and click 'add' to place your ad there. Click continue when finished

Summary

While not a complete 'how to' it is hoped that this quick description is useful. Of course the Adwords system is much more extensive and powerful than shown in these few screenshots but Google has good documentation to help advertisers.

In Olive Net's opinion the Google system is outstanding and well worth a short amount of pain to use. Advertisers get excellent rates, can do simple through to very advanced advert management, can see exactly how adverts are performing (using the reporting tab) and can easily extend or reduce campaigns with no booking or contractual problems.

For smaller advertisers and campaigns Olive Net's advertising rates will normally be significantly lower on Google because of the reduction in administrative overheads when compared with the set-up of a more traditional advertising campaign.

Should you have any problems or questions about Adwords or anything else related to advertising with Olive Net please do not hesitate to contact us.