Experiments In Google Quality Scores

By Jason Lee Miller - Tue, 10/21/2008 - 12:47

Webmasters earn elusive perfect 10

A lot has been made about quality scores for Google ads. Rated on a scale of 1 to 10 per keyword targeted, the quality score is the ultimate determinant of ad placement on the search results. As webmasters experiment, tips for how to achieve a perfect 10 are emerging in the forums.

Google recently explained why the highest bid on a keyword doesn’t always guarantee top spot to advertiser. It has more to do with the relevance of the ad and the likelihood of being clicked. A big bid with high relevance and high likelihood of making Google money wins. Likewise, a small bid with high relevance and likelihood of being clicked a bunch of times and making Google more money wins.

In the Search Engine Watch forum, a member posted initial success with this recipe:

Take two-word keyword phrase, mix in new domain: word1word2.com. Do not add navigation, ads, or links. Add both words in title tag, write about keywords, run ad for keywords and use new webpage as landing page. Let stand, Google quality score serves 10. Cost: one red cent.

At least at first. It’s unknown if the quality score sticks over time without links or anything else.

At Digital Point, one poster achieved his QS10 score in these ways:

1.    Maximum three keywords per ad campaign.
2.    Eliminated words Google suggested.
3.    Estimated CPC bid to third-spot level
4.    Geo-targeted campaigns, limiting to only areas where merchant can sell
5.    Limited to timing to periods of peak interest
6.    Tested versions of keywords, eliminating what didn’t work well

Well, there you have it, the latest in QS testing. Happy experimenting.

Hat tip to Search Engine Roundtable.

News Tags: Search, SEO, Google, Quality Score, SEM, AdWords

About the author:
Jason Lee Miller is a WebProNews editor and writer covering business and technology.

10 Comments

By Jason (WPN reader) - Fri, 04/03/2009 - 23:35

great read!!

By Ruben Zevallos Jr. (WPN reader) - Sun, 01/04/2009 - 19:49

I did something like you said... but...

Well, I did something like you said, but the result was not like I expect... I have lot's of visits, a big cost, almost my all buget burned in a week and I did not have the result... To me and some of my customers, there are other tools, like Orkut comunities, web sites, mailing lists and viral marketing that could be more efective than Ad Works

By TraiaN (WPN reader) - Tue, 12/02/2008 - 16:20

Google's Quality Score

It's good Google provided a little more details on the Quality Score, but even thou QS will remain a big mistery for all of us. Some reverse engineering can be done anyway :). My conclusion is that a highly optimized page in terms of SEO, will have a great quality score. One of my colleagues wrote some articles about Google's QS. You can find them at Google Adwords Quality Score - Part 1 and Part 2.

By Internet Marketing Indonesia (WPN reader) - Sat, 11/15/2008 - 03:52

Definitely will try this!

Thank you very much Jason!

Still keep working on finding a great formula to get the highest quality score..

I definetely will try the Digital Point sample tonight.

By Texas (WPN reader) - Tue, 11/04/2008 - 09:20

Thanks Jason, definitely

Thanks Jason, definitely some great tips worth checking out. I have seen an increase in QS when I implemented the keywords in de title of the ad and the same in the title of the landing page

By Fitnesswithme (WPN reader) - Sun, 11/02/2008 - 13:50