Articles by Elizabeth Marsten
Elizabeth Marsten // 20 Aug, 2012
Google Shopping: Interview with Rick Backus of CPC Strategy
Rick is the CEO and Co-Founder of CPC Strategy, a comparison shopping engine management company started in 2007. They take client feeds across multiple platforms (Amazon, Nextag, PriceGrabber, etc;) and optimize them for ROI through strategy, attention to detail and expertise in CSEs (comparison shopping engines.) Rick was kind enough to let me ask a… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 19 Jul, 2012
Using Visitor Flow and Site Search in GA to Prove You Need PPC Landing Pages
How do you know when you should use a lander over a category or product page in PPC? Well, yes, you test. But let’s say you’ve tested between the two, but are stuck in a circle and would really like to test a category lander just for PPC and need some “evidence” to convince a… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 21 Jun, 2012
What a Paid Search Marketer Needs to Know About Google Shopping
Froogle, Google Product Search, Google Shopping- whatever you call it, it’s integrated with AdWords – now more than ever. And if you think Google is going to stop there…yeah, right. This just got a bit more competitive is all. Oh yeah, and less free. If you’ve been following along with the recent announcement that Google… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 31 May, 2012
And So Are the Days of Our Tukwila Lives…
Today, Portent is moving to the Smith Tower. But before we can say hello to downtown Seattle, we have to say goodbye to Tukwila Life. If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase “That’s Tukwila Life” – it’s the motto of the city of Tukwila, where Portent has made it’s home for the last ten years or… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 23 May, 2012
9 Tips for Setting Up an AdCenter Account from Scratch
It’s free to sign up! AdWords charges you $5 for account activation. Don’t dump your entire AdWords account in. That’s just silly. Use the 80/20 rule. 20% of what you’re doing in Google can go over to adCenter. Just like a house fire, take only what you treasure most. Then accumulate later. There are settings… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 4 May, 2012
10 Dangerous Defaults in PPC
You remember that episode where Homer Simpson goes into space as a NASA astronaut? He only got to go because Barney Gumble has an alcoholic relapse and Homer was the second runner up. Scientist: Well, Homer, I guess you’re the winner by default. Homer: Default? Woo hoo! The two sweetest words in the English language:… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 26 Apr, 2012
Expert PPC Management Within Your Reach
Pay-Per-Click advertising is a beautiful thing. Set up an AdWords or adCenter account and your ads can target thousands of potential customers looking for a product just like yours. Mmm, that’s nice. But it can be complicated and difficult. Especially on a budget. And time consuming. PPC Essentials Package That’s why Portent is rolling out… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 23 Apr, 2012
Thurday’s Free Webinar: PPC for Cheapskates
Hey Everybody! Don’t forget about Portent’s free monthly webinar on Thursday, April 26 at 11am PST. This month, yours truly will be presenting: PPC for Cheapskates. Pick up great tips and tricks to maximize your PPC dollars, whatever your budget size might be. If you have not registered yet, don’t be shy, registration is quick… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 15 Mar, 2012
The AdWords Manual Review
If you’re not familiar with the exciting adventure that is an AdWords Manual Review, heed my warning. It’s one of those clauses they hide in the terms and conditions and has little to no flexibility on either scheduling one or finding out more about them- like why your account was flagged in the first place.… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 23 Nov, 2011
Midnight Madness PPC
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Thanksgiving, it’s fast approaching. I’m sure you’ve got your campaigns all pumped up with holiday-riffic ad copy burgeoning with sales and promo codes sitting in an Editor file, ready to go. And course, have your daily budgets set to skyrocket to keep up with demand. People sure a love a deal.… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 3 Nov, 2011
AdWords Ads with Email Form
I haven’t heard much about Contact Form Extensions since PPC Hero talked about the beta last January 2010 (yeah, AWHILE ago) and all but forgot about it until I ran across it today myself. Searching on what will be a super hot topic, well now, I found a contact extension form ad in the sidebar,… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 2 Sep, 2011
Speaking at SMX East -NYC
If you’re attending SMX East this September at the Jacob K. Javits Center, look for me! I’ll be on the Q&A panel for Ask the Paid Search Buyers on Thursday the 15th. Bring the questions you’ve always wanted to ask about PPC. And you’ll definitely not want to miss my presentation on How to Create… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 22 Aug, 2011
How to Fake it: Automating PPC When You Can’t Afford the Machine
I pitched SMX Advanced this year for the Human vs. Machines: What’s the Best Way to Manage Paid Search? session. I didn’t get accepted (sniff) but that’s doesn’t mean that my pitch can’t be a most excellent blog post. I knew I was a little off the beaten track with it anyway, but that is… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 5 Aug, 2011
MSN adExcellence Exam Guide
You’ve seen the blog posts- the painstakingly written over 5 months series on taking the MSN adExcellence exam, but the clicking from post to post and inability to look at them while taking the exam is NO MORE. That’s right, all the posts have been compiled into a handy FREE downloadable ebook that you can… Read More
Elizabeth Marsten // 16 Jun, 2011
Ian’s Angriest Posts
Ian’s on vacation this week, to a place with little or no internet and he asked for a volunteer to do a CM post and to have “fun” if so warranted. Well, it’s warranted. And I am leaving the country while he’s gone and not coming back for a couple of weeks after he gets… Read More