Comments on: Google Says You Should be Including Canada in All Your PPC Campaigns, What!?

By: Tom Hale

Tom Hale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:14:05 +0000

Google showing their schizo side again.

This is another of those more is better policies that seems to fly in the face of what I consider a basic Google, especially AdWords, creed.

Quality is better than Quantity.

I always hate to see these default settings that hammer the uninformed.

-Tom Hale
AdWords Specialist

By: ebay motors

ebay motors — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:58:42 +0000

Just another way to get more money from freshmen advertisers.

By: PPC For Hire

PPC For Hire — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:52:33 +0000

I disagree with this decision almost as much as ‘auto including’ new advertisers into the content network. Its amazing … almost every newbie client that comes to me complaining of low CTR can easily attribute most of their percieved non-performing campaign to the content network. I suppose I’ll have to add checking geo-targets to my ‘first things first’ list as well. I’m sure they’ll manipulate this into their quality scoring somehow as well and then not tell anyone!

By: JB

JB — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:59:34 +0000

Unreal.

All that lip-service about long-term health, quality, transparency, etc. is just that: lip-service.

Google sounds like the government: “We are going to help you by taking more of your money and spending it inefficiently.”

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:26:31 +0000

It’s beyond annoying when I’m setting up a campaign for a Canadian client and I forget to change the default from US to Canada. I can certainly understand the frustrations American advertisers are going to have because of this. Even though any experienced search marketer knows to check their settings, it’s really easy to forget once in a while especially if you’re doing SEM for a lot of clients.

I agree with Phil on this one. I’d like to see it left blank and you can’t go live with your campaign until you set your geo-targeting options.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:06:26 +0000

Agreed that it is an annoying way to increase revenue. What would the value added benefit being of making this change? It is one extra step we have to remember in order to ensure dollars are spent where we want them.

Also, I think it really takes advantage of newer PPC advertisers who may not be as aware of default settings in Adwords.

Great post though. Thanks!

By: Jaan Kanellis

Jaan Kanellis — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:06:21 +0000

Just as bad as them opting you in for content search when starting new campaigns.

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:09:18 +0000

Glen, Phil, Elizabeth and Jonathan, thanks for your comments. I’m glad to hear you guys have the same thoughts as me. What is Google thinking?!

By: Jonathan Volk

Jonathan Volk — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:29:35 +0000

I think an annoying attempt to raise Q4 profits.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:36:10 +0000

Agreed, having to go in manually each time to remove Canada per campaign is not OK. That’s just adding one more facet for people new to PPC to be tripped up on (like the auto inclusion in the content network with search network bids) and it’s reeks of more accidental revenue in the same way for Google.