Top Web Hosting Reviews
Top Web Hosting Provider of The Month:
Top Web Hosting
Visit Bluehost.com | Read Bluehost Review

>> Web Hosting Geeks // Web Hosting Articles // PPC Advertising  


The Truth About Overtures Pay-Per-Click Program








Before Google's AdWords, Overture was the preeminent pay-per- click program. It's still a monolith in its own right that deserves a closer look.

Overture's pay-per-click program actually consists of four different programs: Precision Match, Local Match, Content Match and Site Match. However, for this article, I'm just going to be talking about Precision Match.

Precision Match (formerly Pay-For-Performance Search). According to Overture the program allows you to:

  • List your business in sponsored search results across the web.

  • Control your position by the amount you bid on keywords.

  • Set your own price-per-click.

  • Pay only when a customer clicks through to your site.

Overture claims its Precision Match listings reach over 80 percent of active Internet users, with your business showing up in the results of some of the web's most popular sites, including Yahoo!, MSN, InfoSpace and AltaVista.

You have a choice of two sign-up options: Fast Track and Self Serve. Here are the differences: Fast Track allows you sign-up online or call 866-747-7327. Self Serve allows you sign-up online only. Fast Track offers a 3 business days turnaround.

Self Serve--5 business days. Fast Track offers expert assistance with. search term selection. Self Serve doesn't. Fast Track offers expert assistance with titles & descriptions. Self Serve doesn't. Fast Track offers expert assistance with budget management. Self serve doesn't. Fast Track offers a customized proposal.

Self Serve doesn't. Fast Track allows you total control of your campaign. Yeah right!

Self Serve does as well. Don't make me laugh! Fast Track offers free account optimization.

Self Serve doesn't. Fast Track offers expert assistance with tracking URLs. Self Serve doesn't. With Fast Track editorial approval automatic. With Self Serve--Subject to review. Fast Track has a one-time, non-refundable service fee of $199.

Self Serve is free.

And now for the fine print. Remember, you're already paying $199 for Fast Track. But wait, there's more!

Account optimization can be redeemed no earlier than 60 days and no later than 180 days from date of sign up.

A $50 initial deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to click-throughs or to the minimum monthly spend. Each account has a $20 minimum monthly spend. There is a minimum bid requirement of $0.10 per click-through. Sellers of certain legally restricted products may require certification at extra cost.

Can you believe all of those ridiculous charges? With Fast Track, you're already $240 in the hole, before you even get started! Does that seem fair to you?

Well, in order to be fair to Overture, before I wrote this article, I talked to 25 past and current Overture advertisers. A handful were extremely happy with Overture. The rest, however said they had made no money and that Overture's service was extremely slow or non-existant.

I also had a lot of people e-mail me complaining that Overture's Keyword Suggestion Tool is inaccurate, and misleading, and that the results they got were a lot different than the figures Overture claimed for many keywords.

In conclusion, I say "run, don't walk away" from Overture's pay-per-click program. Remember, this is the same company that signed an agreement with "scumware" giant Gator.

I think that should tell you all you need to know about Overture!

About The Author

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net.

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net


MORE RESOURCES:

JumpFly PPC Advertising News (blog)

Use PPC Advertising in a Declining Economy
JumpFly PPC Advertising News (blog)
When looking to make cuts, make sure that your Pay-Per Click (PPC) advertising budget is not on the chopping block first. PPC advertising is unique in that, ...



PPC Advertising and Geo-Targeting: SMN Webcast Thursday
Search Engine Land (blog)
On Thursday at 1 PM EST, join Dan Soha of Five Mill Inc as he explains the ins and outs of geo-targeting, on the SMN Webcast: “PPC Advertising and ...



PPC Advertising and Geo-Targeting is the Topic for November 12 Webcast at ...
PR Web (press release)
By limiting the geographic target, advertisers can increase efficiency, boost conversion rates and improve their overall ROI for PPC advertising. ...



JumpFly PPC Advertising News (blog)

Black Friday & Cyber Monday PPC Management Strategies
JumpFly PPC Advertising News (blog)
You have likely heard the terms Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but do you know how to use pay-per-click (PPC) advertising to take full advantage of these ...



Web Host AIT Offers Free Search Engine Ads
Web Host Industry Review
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Web hosting provider AIT (www.ait.com) announced on Friday it is now offering free search ...

and more »


Inconsistency in Google Maps May Be Business Killers
The Social Robot (blog)
You've hired the best SEM firm in town, ran PPC advertising, and created back links to entice people to visit your site. You're hoping that with more ...



Alternatives to Google AdWords -- Worth Your Time?
Search Engine Watch
When you look for alternatives to Google AdWords (or even Bing or Yahoo PPC advertising), think about how people find the site you're going to advertise on. ...
Google on the Move with PPC Managenent Test Betas: Keyword Search Pros to HelpClickPress (press release)

all 13 news articles »


New Chart: How Agencies View Client Search Marketing Budgets
MarketingSherpa.com (subscription)
In a world where accountants understand PPC advertising, the levels of efficiency (or minimum ROI) would increase on elastic budgets in tight times, ...



Pay-per-click Advertising: Seven Pointers for Smaller Campaigns
Practical Ecommerce
Managing small-budget pay-per-click campaigns (under $3000 per month) is typically more difficult than managing campaigns with higher spend levels. ...



Elephant Traffic Unveils First Transparent Web-Based Interface for Advertisers ...
Reuters
... search traffic has been neglected till now but our research has shown that it delivers up to 50% higher conversions rates than standard PPC advertising. ...

and more »

Google News





 
 
 

© 2004 - 2008 "Web Hosting Geeks" | Web Hosting Reviews | Customer Reviews | RealMetrics Reviews | Hosting Articles | Directory | Partners | Contacts
Over 7000 articles: web hosting, web development, domain names, ecommerce, web design, site promotion, ppc advertising, seo, site promotion and many others.
Web hosting reviews, ratings and awards are not based on any incentives or commissions. Names and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
A direct link to Web Hosting Geeks (http://webhostinggeeks.com) must be provided in order to use any of the above information. Contact us for more info.

Partners: Hosts by speed, Cheap Website Hosting, Free Website Hosting, Cheap Web Hosting, Top 10 Web Hosts, Top 10 Web Hosting Deals, Best Website Hosting, Free Web Hosting, Free Web Hosting, Dedicated Server Hosting, Adult Web Hosting, Web Hosting Discussions, Dedicated Server Reviews, Best Web Hosting, Web Hosting Discounts, HostProfessor.com, rsuog, halyava, PHP Website Hosting Services, Web Hosting Reviews, Hosting Uptime, Best Web Hosting Reviews, Cheap Webhosting, Web Hosting, Flash Templates, CMS Templates, Web Hosting Reviews, Website Hosting Reviews, Web Hosting Providers, Best Web Hosting, Top Web Hosting, RSUOG Web Hosting