Understanding google Ad display position

[crocwatcher]

OK, someone take a crack at this please -
I have a new adgroup with one exact match keyword in a small niche, only 3-4 advertisers. I am currently bidding 1.10/click. Google charged me .46 for my last click (today) so I have lots of room left in my bid to buy up on position. I have my position preference set at 1-3. When I search for the keyword, my ad doesn't even show on page 1! They are running 4 ads on page one and have my ad showing on page 2 in the number 3 spot. on top of that they are reporting in my adwords account that for today my average position is 1.8!!! what the he#@??

[abbottsys]

First of all, turn of Position Prefs so you can see what happens without this constraint. Also, remember that "average position" is exactly that, it's measured across all displays, search network, content network, and your entire targeted geography. The position you see from your personal (local) search could indeed be vastly different. Also, clear your browser cache, history and cookies, and then try another search. Google has *lots* of things going on in deciding ad rank

[crocwatcher]

thks, I'll try clearing cache. It is only showing on google search, no partners or content. But thats a good point on my specific location (it's turned on in US & Canada only) Now that you mention it, I have noticed vastly different positions between myself and a friend in another part of the country...

[AussieWebmaster]

some of your competitors may be localizing search

[chris1]

Check your ad position here:
http://www.google.com/search?adtest=...gl=US&q=google

[crocwatcher]

cool stuff, thks!

[AdWordsRep]

Here's an even more full-featured place to check on your ad's postion:

http://www.google.com/adpreview

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Some info quoted from the AdWords Help Center @ https://adwords.google.com/support/b...y?answer=46454

What is the Ad Preview tool?

The Ad Preview tool enables you to view ads and search results as they would appear on a regular Google search results page, without accruing extra impressions for your ad. We suggest you view your ad through the Ad Preview tool, since searching for your ad multiple times could change the position in which you see your ad on the actual Google search result page.

To perform a test search with the Ad Preview tool, follow these steps:

1. Go to http://www.google.com/adpreview.
2. Enter a keyword.
3. Enter a Google domain, such as google.com or google.fr.
4. Select a display language.
5. Select a location. You can choose a location from the drop-down menus, or you can enter specific latitude and longitude coordinates.
6. Click Preview ads.

The search results and ads appear as they would on Google, except the links on the preview page aren't clickable.

This feature is also available for mobile ads.

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AWR

[AussieWebmaster]

Thanks for the input AWR - will you be a SES San Jose? Time to buy you a drink or dinner

[AdWordsRep]

<< Note: off topic to thread >>

Thanks for the input AWR - will you be a SES San Jose?

A pleasure.

I will most likely not be at SES San Jose - thereby cementing my ever-developing reputation as a recluse.

BTW, if you subscribe to what seems to be the prevailing notion on this forum as to what I look like, you would probably be shocked to actually meet me.

Picture grey hair, and not the seemingly expected gender either - Heheh. What a let down for folks on this forum!

Sorry about that.

AWR

[Trace]

In my experience the position preference feature does less to optimize your ad's positioning. What it does do is exclude your ad from running if it doesn't fall into your range.

For example if you set a position preference for positions 1-3, any time your ad ranks for the forth position it just doesn't display. All it has done for me in the past is limit my impressions to those within the range I have specified. It has not optimized my positioning.

Anybody else have a similar experience?

[AussieWebmaster]

Originally Posted by AdWordsRep

<< Note: off topic to thread >>

A pleasure.

I will most likely not be at SES San Jose - thereby cementing my ever-developing reputation as a recluse.

BTW, if you subscribe to what seems to be the prevailing notion on this forum as to what I look like, you would probably be shocked to actually meet me.

Picture grey hair, and not the seemingly expected gender either - Heheh. What a let down for folks on this forum!

Sorry about that.

AWR

You mean you are not one of the hot blonde 20-somethings that run around the Googleplex?

I was more interested in meeting you for your knowledge not your body... Yahoo has me covered in that area.... hey they have to make up the traffic number difference some how