Landing Page Load Time Can Improve Your Pay Per Click Google AdWords Quality Score

Google AdWords’ quality scores just keeping getting stricter. Any ideas why? This is good advice:

(Source) One thing I have noticed (but have not formally tested so it’s just a “feel”) is that not having proper meta tags on your landing pages that are relevant to your AdWords’ keywords even if your body copy and headlines are relevant, tend to bring down quality scores.

Landing page quality is definitely something to look at. Google has recommended all along that advertisers keep their landing pages optimized. But they haven’t formally made landing page optimization a part of the overall ad quality score even though they have made an announcement that they intend to. Landing page load time, however, is very important. It really always has been, but now it’s official.

I believe Google instituted this policy because they want to stop advertisers from using redirects. Redirects tend to slow loading time. If loading time is included in the quality score then advertisers who want to improve their quality, and consequently lower their bids, will do whatever is necessary to keep maintain their quality scores. In the competitive environment of Pay Per Click advertising, every edge helps. Google is simply trying to force advertisers to play fair and be honest. Those who do that will see their quality scores improve and their click bids lowered. Pay attention to your landing page load time. It counts.

Pay Per Click Is One Traffic Building Method

It’s easy for Pay Per Click advertisers to think that pay-per-click is the only effective method of advertising online. It’s so easy to track and you can analyze your results, but there are other methods of advertising online that work as well. Many of them may take longer, but they are still effective. Ideally, you will use more than one method online to advertise and drive traffic to your website or blog. Pay per click should be a part of your overall plan. These five methods of advertising should be used in conjunction with PPC to keep traffic flowing to your website.

1. SEO - Search engine optimization is still the most effective advertising online. You may not grab the top positions for your keywords quickly, but when you do rise to the top you will know the benefits are worth the time and effort you put in.
2. Article Marketing - Article marketing is old method of advertising or promoting a website. It’s been around a long time, and it still works.
3. Social Bookmarking - Social bookmarking is relatively new, but it’s free. It only costs your time. Like article marketing, it can be very effective with little investment.
4. Networking - Networking is still one of the most effective ways of advertising - even online.
5. Affiliate Marketing - If you are marketing a product or service, be sure to include in your pricing what you are willing to pay someone for helping you sell your product or service. Then start an affiliate program. This method of marketing is very effective and you can get other people to do your work for you.

That’s five ways you can advertise your business online outside of your Pay Per Click campaigns. That doesn’t mean you should abandon your PPC campaigns. You should keep them and add these online marketing methods to compliment and supplement what you are doing with Pay Per Click.