JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Has anyone tried Google advertising

Finding it hard to get exposure. Google lets you buy an ad that will come up when someone types in a keyword you pick (like "alternative," "folk," or "britpop"). You can set a limit for how much you want to pay per month.

This seems better than using those Get Hits to Your Site!! services, which get you automated, useless hits. But I'm not sure - expensive. Anyone tried this or other advertising gambits?

I have not used it. But I would think it depends very much on what you are advertising, what market you are aiming at and what kind of budget you have to spend on advertising. I was involved in sales and marketing a few years ago. My philosophy was to identify the customer and target that specific market. If you are offering specific services or aiming at a niche market then it may work. I am uncertain as to it's effectiveness.
Personally I would look at an alternative way of advertising.

Thanks - you're probably right. Anyway, I'm not going to argue with you since you're big.

Robin.

Google ads are probably one of the most effective methods of advertising online, because they're targeted. Anyone using Gmail or Google itself is exposed to them, and countless sites have Google ads on various pages. However, ANY kind of advertising, even if targeted, typically has very low response rates. I have never purchased music after seeing it in an advertisement, for example. Have you?

Putting time (and perhaps money) into press & publicity is still the best way to get exposure. People will always trust a third party source with no vested interest more than an ad.

Andrew,
Good point about focusing more on the Press release and getting good 3rd party reviews, etc. Anyone can wave their own "banner" and say good things about their work or product, but it always carries more "weight" when it comes from other people with no direct (vested) interest.

Michael

I agree with Big Jim. It probably adds up quickly. There's a lot of folks on Facebook and they do target advertising and you actually make an offer to them what they should charge you. There's a lot of active free posting sites out on the web too.
Good luck.
:0)
Susan

Please do not spend your hard-earned dollars on advertising.

Every musician I've met who's tried it has said it wasn't worth it.

Andrew's correct: try to get press coverage instead. It's better than advertising, and it's free

A wise man once said

I know half my advertising dollars are wasted...I'm just not sure about which half

What exactly is your goal with advertising?

My method is built on live performance and it starts by building locally and then circling out regionally and with time and luck it will expand nationally.
I have not really had much luck with online advertising or random online sales. Usually some 3rd party has to give you the thumbs up and direct traffic towards you.

Dan