1. Prepare the CSV file
2. Import the CSV file
3. Resolve errors or warnings
4. Review imported changes

I realize this is a little vague, but Google gives you a much more detailed outline around these steps here.

Another update to AdWords Editor lets you download a campaign (or campaigns) you want to edit, and leave the rest of the account alone. You can choose to download or update only active campaigns. This prevents you from having to wait a long time for your account to download, when you only want to work with one or two campaigns. Go here for steps for adding a new account, downloading updates, changing campaigns you’ve downloaded, or downloading everything (full account).

Google has also made changes to the Keyword Opportunities tool. The changes are designed to make it easier to manage your keyword data. Austin Rachlin of Google’s Inside AdWords Crew explains:

On the "Search-based keywords" tab (the AdWords Editor version of the Search-based Keyword Tool) you can now view and organize new keywords by topical category, letting you zero in quickly on the keywords that are most relevant to your account. Also, when you export or copy keywords, the Keyword Opportunities columns (such as Volume and Competition) are now included. As another response to advertisers’ requests, you can now add terms to your account as either keywords, negative keywords, or campaign negative keywords.

More info on Keyword Opportunities can be found here at this help center. You may also be interested in taking a look at the release notes for AdWords Editor version 7.5.1.

Users of AdWords editor will be prompted to upgrade automatically when you go to use it. You will not have to re-download you account, and it won’t affect comments and unposted changes.

New features listed in the release notes at the AdWords Editor Help Center include:

– First page bid estimates
– Keyword Quality Score
– Keyword Opportunities Locale
– Campaign targeting in the data view, and
– Send feedback to Google

In the AdWords Editor Forum, an AdWords Editor Advisor notes:

You will need to download your account again after upgrading to version 7.0. To save your comments and unposted changes, click ‘Backup then Update’ when you see the automatic prompt to upgrade. AdWords Editor will create a backup file that includes your comments and unposted changes. Then, after you’ve installed the new version, import the backup file by following the steps at http://www.google.com/support/adwordseditor/bin/answer.py?answer=38667. If you’d prefer to upgrade later, click ‘Don’t Update’ in the prompt.

Additonal updates to AdWords Editor include the ‘Volume’ column on the Keyword expansion tab of the Keyword Opportunities tool now showing absolute numbers (traffic for the last month) instead of scaled values, and the Keyword Opportunities tool is no longer available for draft accounts.

AdWords Editor 5.1 update includes, the previous four tabs for advertisements (text, image, local business, and mobile) now been grouped under a single ‘Ads’ tab. This update has been incorporated due to a constant ‘space issue’ in the interface. However, this issue only bothered a handful of users. Well, it seems Google does recognize the importance of each and every user after all.

There are some posts on Webmaster World on the release of AdWords Editor 5.1. One of the most interesting post that caught my eye, stated:

“If you do upgrade, and you have comments on any of your campaigns, ad groups, keywords, ads, or anything, make sure you export them out first before you do your upgrade! I learned the hard way that upgrades wipe out comments.”

On the other hand, according to Search Engine Roundtable, Google AdWords has scheduled a system-wide maintenance on Saturday, May 17th 2008. The advertisements will be functioning, but the Application Programming Interface (API) will be shut down. So, do not get all worked up, if you do not see your API running. It would be up and running as soon as the maintenance is completed.

Comments

An invitation-only beta test of AdWords Editor began in January. That beta has been opened up to more users, as Search Engine Roundtable noted the release of the product for download.

The AdWords Editor provides an offline way to work on an AdWords campaign. Advertisers can pull in all of their campaign information from Google, view statistics, make bulk changes, and upload the alterations back to Google from the editor.

Working offline allows the advertiser to prepare changes and have them ready to go at a future date. Businesses with a seasonal or shorter cycle for running campaigns can stay a step ahead of each needed update. When the time comes to rollout the new campaign, it can be retrieved with the AdWords Editor and sent online.

While any of Google’s AdWords clients can use the software, the company sees the greatest benefit coming to those who have large accounts, with multiple campaigns and lengthy keyword lists. The AdWords Editor can manage several AdWords accounts as needed.

Everything starts with a download of the free editor. The user will be prompted to add an account, and after downloading the campaigns can start editing them.

Although the current version of the software comes in a Windows-only version, the Digital Inspiration blogger Amit Agarwal claims Mac and Linux versions are expected soon.

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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.