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weldo · 14-12-2005, 03:58

I'm trying to get a feel for opinions and experiences on the question of sponsored vs natural search clicks ???

Our company simply shells out brewsters for sponsored links as part of the course, but I'd prefer us to really spend time optimising the site to aim for better natural rankings - partly so we can channel the budget into other areas.

A 3rd party company has already suggested that their experiences show that natural searches produce around 5 times the number of clicks than sponsored links.

Can anyone else add to this ???
All comments and experiences gratefully recieved.

mx · 14-12-2005, 05:05

When I've been involved in such matters, I've found the biggest traffic flow came from comparison sites, rather than google adwords and the like.

I would of thought the best way to proceed is to optimise your site whilst continuing sponsored links, and decrease your ad spend only when your site attracting sufficient natural clickthroughs.

weldo · 14-12-2005, 05:37

Yeah - I'm sure thats what will generally happen over time - but its disheartening to get your first Page 1 ranking on a certain keyword - bring it to the boss's attention (with the perfect opportunity to remove that particular keyword from the Adwords and channel the budget elsewhere) only to get zero response, folllowed by a complete change of content, and subsequently lose the position altogether....

Thats what I'm up against, and I'd like to find stuff that may back me up and highlight (again) the issues i have with those kind of changes .... and stop this "make it like the brochure" mentality.

Grrr....

Limbo · 16-12-2005, 11:59

If I had a budget for advertising I'd spend it on a good copywriter. Content is the best thing for natural links/SERP's. Full stop.

With good content your site will not have to worry about search engines at all. You'll get traffic because you deserve it, not becasue you paid for it.

oli · 16-12-2005, 12:04

What sort of site is it ?
Design co. ?

Phantomsuspect · 18-12-2005, 05:47

Start with a good optimized site: content is key, make your site useful to others not just to showcase your product, then marketing to gain link popularity, supplement your traffic with paid listings and slowly scale the paid listings back as you gain natural results and ranking.

weldo · 19-12-2005, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by oli

What sort of site is it ?
Design co. ?

No mate - it's a corporate software company thing.

Everyone's comments so far make sense, and are in line with what I'm trying to make happen - I was just hoping that someone could already have done some sort of comparison reporting or knows of any links to support the sponsored v natural thinking/approach ... ??

14-12-2005, 03:58	#1 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,229	Sponsored v Natural Search I'm trying to get a feel for opinions and experiences on the question of sponsored vs natural search clicks ??? Our company simply shells out brewsters for sponsored links as part of the course, but I'd prefer us to really spend time optimising the site to aim for better natural rankings - partly so we can channel the budget into other areas. A 3rd party company has already suggested that their experiences show that natural searches produce around 5 times the number of clicks than sponsored links. Can anyone else add to this ??? All comments and experiences gratefully recieved. __________________ fuck signatures

14-12-2005, 05:37	#3 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,229	Yeah - I'm sure thats what will generally happen over time - but its disheartening to get your first Page 1 ranking on a certain keyword - bring it to the boss's attention (with the perfect opportunity to remove that particular keyword from the Adwords and channel the budget elsewhere) only to get zero response, folllowed by a complete change of content, and subsequently lose the position altogether.... Thats what I'm up against, and I'd like to find stuff that may back me up and highlight (again) the issues i have with those kind of changes .... and stop this "make it like the brochure" mentality. Grrr.... __________________ fuck signatures

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14-12-2005, 05:05	#2 (permalink)
mx fucksocks™ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: in the boosh Posts: 1,611	When I've been involved in such matters, I've found the biggest traffic flow came from comparison sites, rather than google adwords and the like. I would of thought the best way to proceed is to optimise your site whilst continuing sponsored links, and decrease your ad spend only when your site attracting sufficient natural clickthroughs.

16-12-2005, 11:59	#4 (permalink)
Limbo On yer bike... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,954	If I had a budget for advertising I'd spend it on a good copywriter. Content is the best thing for natural links/SERP's. Full stop. With good content your site will not have to worry about search engines at all. You'll get traffic because you deserve it, not becasue you paid for it.

16-12-2005, 12:04	#5 (permalink)
oli Free Ring Ding™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 9,532	What sort of site is it ? Design co. ?

18-12-2005, 05:47	#6 (permalink)
Phantomsuspect Violent & Irrational Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: upstate NY - Albany Area Posts: 28	Start with a good optimized site: content is key, make your site useful to others not just to showcase your product, then marketing to gain link popularity, supplement your traffic with paid listings and slowly scale the paid listings back as you gain natural results and ranking.

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