Google AdWords Algo Change

So there is all sorts of buzz going on about the new Google AdWords Algo change. The two I read are from SearchEngineLand and BruceClay.

You read these two and you can hear the Google Press Release. Leave it to Lisa to comment the truth. This seems to be Google trying to make money. I made a comment on the Bruce Clay blog:

As a long time AdWords user, circa the days of Overture and being able to see the top 5 bids, I am NOT a fan of this. I liked when Google came along.

This is going to require a lot of tweaking of bids, more hands on work, less quality ads. I get what Google is trying to do here, but truthfully, its money grubbing.

I prefer the old system of automatic bidding. You punch in the MAX, and depending on others, your bidding is done “up to” that. You had the option of telling Google where you preferred to be, but never went over the max, but rarely were up there. I could bid $10.00 per click, and no matter what, as long as my page was relevant, I remained basically in the top three.

Now they are setting spend to max and max only? So my safety net is gone.

I feel like I’m back in the times of Overture, but don’t know what others are spending. And now I have to be more high touch. I have to check everyday and make sure a new competitor hasn’t come in.

If they are doing this, I want the ability to see the top 5 bids then.

This saddens me … highly.

1. This is going to increase costs and yes, it may drive out bad sites, but it will also drive out smaller competitors.
2. We don’t know what the top bidders are anymore, or if a new competitor comes in. The only way to see is to check everyday. And that’s annoying.

Please someone, come along and explain this to me so that I don’t think this. Maybe I am reading it all wrong and this isn’t going to end my life as I know it. But from what I’m reading right now, I don’t think this is best for the end user. And that is why I liked Google coming in so long ago. It was about the end user, not the advertiser.

I don’t want Google to be about politics now.