Any Success with Google Site Targeting and Image Ads?

[worldsem]

I am starting to test out Google's Site Targeting and Image Ad programs and wanted to get some feedback on pro's and con's of the program.

Although you are basically picking and choosing which "content" sites to display on, i want to hear from those who have run campaigns with success for some time.

Any information would be extremely helpful.
Thanks,
WorldSEM

[abbottsys]

Well, I've run highly successful adwords campaigns for years, but I've not had success with either site targetting or image ads. Good old text ads on the Search and Content networks work great for me. But, bear in mind there is probably no single correct answer, it may depend heavily on your product/industry. So, be careful drawing general conclusions. The only real way to figure out adwords is to jump in and run ads. Sounds simple, but it's true.

[AussieWebmaster]

Funny images ads are not working for us on either side... we have uploaded ads and paid the CPM for a loss... and the image ads drop the income for AdSense....

[Vural Cifci]

This is the 4th time that I tried for a client and the only reason I wanted to try was we had some extra $$ that we needed to spend and the only expectation was not related to sales $$. Good number of impressions, relatively good traffic but really bad sales numbers.

[worldsem]

I sounds like it is used more for using extra search budget and building a clients brand online, not much on the ROI side.

Thanks for your input.

[jimbeetle]

From the publisher side one of the mistakes I see some folks make when they try site targeted ads is they don't do enough upfront work to choose the most appropriate sites. The list of sites Google presents is usally a bit broad and you do need to visit each site to be sure it's actually a good fit.

I don't go crazy searching out advertisers to block, but it does seem that whenever I happen upon a site-targeted ad it's just that bit off. It might just be me, but I tend to think that not many folks are looking for a plumber or dentist when they're browsing a tourist-oriented destination site.