I have finally plucked my courage to re-launch my Google AdWords campaigns. After reading the transcript of Perry Marshall’s Google AdWords "Webinar", I feel like I am now equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make my campaigns work.

Here’s what I have learnt so far:

1) Do not use single word keywords or use "phrase matching" on a single word keyword

The effect is the same as a "broad match" and besides most people do not search using single word keywords

2) Disable your campaigns on AdSense and other Google partner site

If not, they’ll mess up your statistics!

3) Bid for positions 6 onwards to get the highest click through rate!

Don’t bid for 1-4 because they’ll most likely be clicks from uninterested people.

4) Never dump all your keywords into 1 Ad Group

This is one of my first mistakes and it took me some time to understand. Suppose you have the keywords "free toys" and "toys for free". You DO NOT put them in the same Ad Group. Instead create 2 Ad Groups to accomodate them both for higher click through rates.

5) Check out the cost of the number 1 positions all the way to the position you want

This can be done with the Max. Click budget estimates. I falsely belived I could get tons of clicks if I always set to $0.05 per click! Now I go for slightly higher clicks at $0.20.

6) Choose an affiliate program with Pay Per Lead and a high EPC (Earnings per 100 clicks)

So far, only Commission Junction and ClixGalore have programs that satisfy my needs. I chose a vacation affiliate program that pays $2.50 per lead with a high conversion rate of 20%! I hope this works out fine!

I’m still learning about Google AdWords. At least I’m not afraid to make mistakes and learn from them today than I was previously. I’ve failed in 8 Campaigns already. I’ve learnt from my mistakes, paid a little price, I’m sure everything will go up from now on!

Categories: Pay Per Click Search Engines | No Comments »

I’ve decided to scrap the eBay tips on VincentRich.com and focus on affiliate programs and Google AdWords. I will be updating the Web site’s descriptions and all to reflect that.

I am currently looking for a cheap, good and reliable Web Host that allows unlimited number of Web domains for me to host multiple Web sites. I will be needing these multiple domains for my affiliate programs and VincentRich.com!

For the past few days, I’ve been doing a lot of research on starting my own eBay Consignment Business. I am currently brain storming my ideas and drafting my business plan for it. This is really an exciting time of my life!

I just discovered the ultimate personal development tool. It’s called "The Sedona Method", its one of those books that I’ve always wanted to purchase but kept procrastinating!

I heard about the Sedona Method last year but it took me almost another year to purchase it! I didn’t want to commit to the full CD audio course so I bought this book instead. Amazingly, its very detailed and practical to use!

I wish I got this book last year. If I did, I wouldn’t have wasted a few thousand dollars on personal development courses. The Sedona Method beats the crap out of them all! I’ve never found a tool that could help me release negative emotions quite like this. I’ve been to NLP courses where they teach you to "anchor" positive feelings to temporarily shift your mental state to a positive one instead of a negative state.

In my experience with NLP, its temporary…. The negative emotions aren’t gone. They’re being suppressed. The Sedona Method adds a twist to the whole personal development game by teaching people how to release negative emotions by transcending the expression/suppression cycle we’ve been conditioned for so long! That’s a very refreshing change.

I remember the emotional high after attending personal development seminars and conferences. After a few days, it fades away and I wonder where did all that good feelings go? Well, the Sedona Method let me experience that once again, although I’m not a expert at it at the moment, with some practice, I’m sure I will be able to let go of every negative emotion and resistance that’s holding me back.

Thanks to the Sedona Method, I’m feeling calmer, happier, more motivated, greater self-confidence than ever before. And I’m only at 1/3 of the book! Can’t wait to complete the other 2/3 of the book!

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Its the surprise of the century…

My government announced today that the 2.5 year National Service (Military Service) will be reduced to just 2 years from December 2004 onwards!

What that means for me is that I get to leave the army on 26 October 2004 instead of 26 December 2004. That’s great news! Even though I still have to serve 2 years 4 months, a 2 month discount is fine by me and I’ll take it with no complaints!

I’m looking forward to just 3.5 more months of military service and it will be all over!

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I received free tickets for the 3rd Global Conference on Buddhism on 12 - 13 June 2004. I feel very blessed to receive a sponsored SGD $180.00 ticket for this event.

That’s not all…

I also received a whole stack of Buddhist VCDs from a new friend of mine today. This week has been great in terms of my spirituality. I’ve been reading the book The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life by Geshe Michael Roach.

It’s a very interesting book by an american monk who was ordered by his Tibetan teacher to return to the USA to apply buddhist principles in a Diamond business. He was intructed to wear normal civilian clothes and not to reveal his Buddhist identity to anyone while working.

Geshe Michael Roach’s insights on money and business definitely brought a new light into my perceptions on business and the right way to make money. He even has a section of "46 Business Problems" and their solutions. The solutions all come with a twist…

Let me explain….

Most books tell you how to treat symptoms of your business problems. Geshe Michael Roach’s approach goes beyond the surface and dives deep into the CAUSE of our business problems. That cause is our thoughts!

For example, Business Problem #1 states that if your company finances are unstable, in a state of constant flux. The right way to solve this problem would be to share your profits with those who have helped you produce them. Be very strict about never making a single penny through any improper action.

Most businesses would cut costs by being stingy with their money. His approach is the exact opposite. This is based on the belief that money can only be made with a generous state of mind and not a stingy one.

Other topics include:

Learning to develop a healthy attitude towards money, keeping your mind and body in good shape, taking 1 day off every week to reflect on your life and work, taking 2 weeks off for a retreat, 46 business problems and their solutions and more. Grab this book, its going to be one of those books you’re going to refer to again and again! Be sure to check out the Enlightened Business Institute for more information about Geshe Michael Roach.

Great quote from Geshe Michael Roach! That’s proof that its possible to make money and be spiritual at the same time.

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I’ve been ripped off once…. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. It’s like throwing away 1/3 of your money to the bank for nothing!

Let me explain….

Whenever you deposit a USD check to a Singapore bank, there will be 5 charges as stated below:

1) 0.125% (1/8 % of the amount of money of the check)
2) check commission fee (Min SGD $20 to a Max of SGD $100 per check)
3) mailing fees (The local banks need to mail it out to the US to clear the check)
4) US bank’s commission fee (Undisclosed amount! You will know it when you have paid for it!)
5) USD to SGD conversion (The market rate is about SGD $1.72 = USD $1.00, they’ll probably take SGD $1.69 and put that little bit in their own pockets!)

*** It doesn’t matter if your bank account is in USD or SGD! The only benefit is you’ll skip the USD conversion charge since there is nothing to convert. ***

What does this mean for a person like me who receives regular USD checks?

A bloody headache! That’s what it means to me! I have 2 options… First, deal with it… Let the banks rip me off. Second, open a US based USD savings/checking account.

I’ll choose the second option. Since the local banks are going to mail it to the USA anyway, why not I do it and save time and money? No more commissions to them and more money to me!

The challenge now is to look for a US bank that accepts non-us residents to open a bank account. I have to hurry! My checks won’t last forever!

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