Comments on: Utilize the Google Search Partner Network to Increase Your PPC Performance

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:15:31 +0000

@ Olivier: That is an interesting technique but you’ll have two search targeted campaigns that have the same keyword list. So, in essence you’ll have two campaigns with duplicate keywords. Since one campaign is targeted to Google Search Network and the other is targeted at the Google Search Network/Search Partners – then they’re both targeting Google Search. Bad idea. For now, there is now legit way to sever the two.

By: Olivier

Olivier — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:19:39 +0000

Hey Joe,

Great article and very useful. In ‘Adwords for Dummies’ (first edition), it is mentioned that you can actually separate them by duplicating a given campaign, selecting ‘Google Search Only’ for the first campaign and ‘Google Search&Search Partners’ for the duplicate one. The duplicate one has to have lower bids (say 10-15% lower) so that the Adwords system only shows the ads there on the Search Partner network and not on Google (even though ‘Google’ is selected). Basically, you force the Adwords system to choose.
Now, I tried this myself on several occasions last year and eventually the Adwords system messes up the impressions by starting to show Google impressions in both campaigns. In other words, this unofficial ‘technique’ doesn’t seem to be working anymore. I reckon that it stopped working because of Google Quality Score updates.
Anyway, do you have any thoughts on that and are your experiences the same?
I am asking because some third party ppc companies still use this as part of their sales argument upon until today while my experience tells me it simply ain’t possible anymore.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:58:47 +0000

That is correct. You can’t choose Search Partners only. You have use Google Search & Search Partners together.

By: Eloi

Eloi — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:25:44 +0000

I dont think it’s possible at the moment to run campaigns on the search network only… You have to be opted in the Google Search to use any of their other search networks.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:16:06 +0000

Great post –

After reviewing some of my accounts, I really want to run only in search network. Any word of that being possible?

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:32:55 +0000

@ Eloi: Yes, it is naughty! But it actually works for this account. Sometimes results overrule best practices!

By: Eloi

Eloi — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:16:48 +0000

Great post, really good to find out if your search network is performing as weel as your google search campaign!

I see you have Google search, Search network AND Content Network activated on one campaign! Naughty!