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[Adam Taha Contribution Level: 8]

I don't believe PPC is dying at all. It is one of the strategies that I feel, one can learn and when they have grown to know how to use it, then they'll realise how powerful it is.

I don't know about 'competitive.' For who? For the one maybe who hasn't really learnt it and got creative with it, and really studied it, maybe. There's a lot of money to be made, a lot, but it needs someone to invest time, money, in learning it. Time also to test, learn, maybe fail here and then, to learn again.

Personally for me, we haven't even touched the surface of capture pages, social media, blogging as well. Nowhere close. No, we have seen nothing yet.

That's why I am excited.

Anyway, whatever works for someone else.

Adam

[Verniel Cutar Company: Global Domains International, Inc Contribution Level: 3]

I believe in article marketing and Web 2.0.

But I do believe in PPC as well.

These are two different fish hooks, designed to catch fish! (ok, I know that sounds so UNprofound..lol)

Anyway, if you just try PPC and venture into it without prior knowledge, you'll lose money. Guaranteed.

That's why it's important for anyone to learn how to use keyword research tools. Know the KEYWORDS that are popular among your target audience but NOT popular among your competitors.

If you just choose keywords that are used by pretty much anyone else (like MLM, network marketing, work from home), you'll have to pay higher costs per click so that your ad will gain maximum exposure.

The reason? Thousands of advertisers are COMPETING for those keywords and so the higher you pay, the more your ads are given priority by Google (by the way, most people have a bad notion about PPC. They think the expenses will balloon in such a way that they CAN'T control it. This is rubbish. When you start your PPC campaign, YOU control the cost per click, the maximum advertising budget per day, you control the keywords you'll use. So all in all, the only reason that someone will fail in PPC is lack of knowledge in PPC. We don't blame PPC, because it's a very effective marketing strategy. We blame the lack of knowledge in PPC advertising).

As of article marketing, it often has HIGHER CONVERSION rates. My click through rates in my Google ad campaigns are at a constant 4%. I don't understand why that trend has been going on for so long, despite the tweaks and sales letter adjustments I've done. On good days, the CTR goes up to 5%, but the overall average is still 4%. BUT....with article marketing...the click through rate is a whooping 10% to 12%.

With PPC, you invest money.
With article marketing and Web 2.0, you invest energy, time, and writing skills.

Either way, you have to make sacrifices!

I don't know which is better. The Web 2.0 vs. PPC debate has been going on for quite a while, but in my opinion, why not use both?

[Juanita Waterman Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

I must admit this Topic had me Confused. But Lets Get this Straight. If you have the time to sit around and learn PPC and The MOney to Gamble. That is Awesome go for it!!! But the Average Networker is a Part Timer With limited Resources. But if you use Pay Per Click as a Way to Make money off the Average Networker by selling them a Book sot they can sell that book that is a Way to make instant income and pay for your clicks . That does not make good Business sense to me. Because if your Budget it 20.00 a month and you learn to do the Social Marketing thing and other Ways to Get free Traffic. You do not need to Sell a ebook and get them to sell a ebook to Pay for your Pay per Clicks.
Just How I see it. And I am so Glad for People Like Dianne Humphries that had the Courage to Stand up against the Heat she was dished out. Because Now a Simple Everyday House Wife like me GETS it, And to Think she Teaches People for Free with no agenda Wow. I wonder Why she does that?
There I said it! Go ahead and Tell me how wrong I am.
YOur Friend for life
Juanita Waterman

[Daniela Riess Contribution Level: 3]

It's enough for me to understand that the majority of my team will not afford that method, so because of that, if it works or not does not matter. It's not about what works for me or what works for a small percentage of networkers, it's all about what works for my team.
There are marketing ways that work for the 95% of the networkers and then there are the methods that work for the other 5%.
There are ways to build a business either free or very inexpensive. It's a matter of who you are and about your level of commitment to your team. And...unless you are in direct sales, you cannot make it without a team.
I don't pretend to know it all. I'm a professional pointer and that concept works way beyond self proclaimed guru ''teachings''. I'm a ''been there done that'' underdog. My mistakes are my credentials and nobody can take that away from me no matter how hard they try.
Because I learned from the absolute best and I'm paying it forward just as Dianne Humphrey does, regardless of all the naysayers trying to stand in our way.

I appreciate you,
Daniela Riess

[David Batchelor Contribution Level: 3]

Because I learned from the absolute best and I'm paying it forward just as Dianne Humphrey does, regardless of all the naysayers trying to stand in our way.

I appreciate you,
Daniela Riess

So who in your opinion Daniela is the absolute best and who are the naysayers you are referring to???

Warmly,
~ David

[Elwood Crane Contribution Level: 5]

Someone stated above to advertise their "funded proposal." Why would I want to do that? I am trying to build MY business, not someone else's ala an affiliate link.

But yet you are promoting Michael "Drink My Kool-Aid" Dlouhy's book "Success in 10 Steps." Which is pretty much someone else's book...

I have to give Michael credit though ... he's living example of the power of copywriting and conversational hypnosis...

My friend you might want to spend some quality time learning just what michael offers. It is not coolaid. It is giving others the information to make informed decisions on their own.

If it was coolaid I would not be their.

Wishing you the best life has to offer.

[David Allinson Contribution Level: 2]

Like it or not, but Google PPC is the monster we all must tame...and yes, all marketers should also supplement their marketing with Web 2.0/social marketing techniques, but in the end nothing beats PPC! As others have said here, no doubt majority of all top-income earners thank PPC for their success.

[Forest Marie Contribution Level: 4]

ForestMarie,

Not being a "rookie," regarding PPC I will say it again: PPC can be very expensive and did not work for ME. And, yes, I have all of Mike Dillards' stuff and read it, at least twice..thanks. By the way, some of the links in there lead you to people who are scam artists. The Craigslist guy is one of them... did you know that?

Read it again ... twice ... especially the part of funded proposals.

I am not bashing Mike Dillard or his products and I agree they are a great way to build a residual income. But, that being said, you still have to find somewhere to advertise the products. If you are advertising for him, what is your conversion rate of people wanting to join your Direct Sales Marketing company after they sign up? Or, is your only business advertising his affiliate links?

I don't advertise his products directly or with PPC; I have a few banners on my blog. I also have a few pieces in my newsletter I send out.

The following are all comments in the link here:

Thank you for confirming the expense, time and education it takes to learn PPC and, yes, it does have EVERYTHING to do with SEO strategies and algorhythms. Look up the information by a man named Ken Evoy.

I'm not interested in Ken Evoy's "information." I'm as techy as him and probably a lot more by profession. Many people talk about algorithms ... I write them for $150/hr and crack them as well. PPC is all about keyword research and highly converting pages ... SEO is about on page factors and off page factors. Period. If you are talking about having a SEO optimized page for your PPC ad to improve quality score, that's a discussion I'll partake in.

"The power of copywriting and conversational hypnosis?" Come on, isn't that a little nasty? So you admit that writing about things that people want to read and talking to people is the way to go? Thank You. That is what you want to do in Network Marketing is it not? Coach, Mentor and Build Relationships...hmm, there's a novel idea! It's not costing me anything and by the way, thanks for the plug.

Negative. Copywriting and conversational hypnosis are powerful and I commend him for being proficient in those areas.

The question you need to ask yourself is how long will you allow yourself to be leveraged by Michael's funded proposal, such as his "Mentoring for Free" system that you're building for free as he doesn't give you a cut for your efforts because he "doesn't believe" in affiliate programs. Please...

So are you are virtually calling my method "dumb, fat and stupid and my mother is prettier than your mother?" Have you tried actually talking to people? That is what Network Marketing is all about. Your Direct Sales Company is just your company with its products. It is not Network Marketing.

"Nobody cares about your business. You need to HELP people first and then it will come back to you on the back end.

Stop "Selling".

Start "Helping".

Really, I thought network marketing was about marketing through a network and making money at the end of the day. Interesting that you say I need to help people first but earlier you mention you were interested soley in building your business and not an affiliate program that can really help someone.

Gee, I think this is what "Mr. Kool-Aid" (as you so nastily refer to him) teaches. Again, thank you for reinforcing my point... And, have you tried the method before you bash it?

I've seen enough of the method to know that Michael leverages rookies and makes them drink his kool aid and builds a dependency on him. He's not really interested in helping you. Seriously. He's not. Get over it. He's leveraging you guys to build his brand, his system and his products. And worst yet, he's selling "mentoring for free" to backdoor people into his program Vitamark using conversational hypnosis by sending all types of psychological triggers that Vitamark is a "5 Pillar" company and no other company is in the same league yadda yadda yadda ... What a bunch of BS!...

Please, do the numbers on a great PPC ad and tell me what the average signup/conversion rate is into your Direct Sales Marketing company doing PPC. The normal average is 2.7 people. What's yours?

Sure, as you know, I'm very technical and I always measure stats. And I would be delighted to show you my numbers.

Here's my recent setup for PPC for Carbon Copy Pro and Wealth Masters.

My average lead from PPC costs me $3.00.

So, 1000 leads = $3000 dollars

With Carbon Copy Pro, first thing is the application sale of $49.95. This is the funded proposal. I get a $25 commission off this.

On average, 4.5% of my leads invest in themselves by investing in an application.

Ergo.... 1000 leads = 45 applications

So, 45 applications = $1125 ($25 per app)

Stay with me ... just warming up

Applicants then invest in the Carbon Copy Pro marketing system by investing in themselves by investing in a BiB ("Business in a Box").

On average, 20% of applicants invest in a BiB.

Thus,

BiBs: 20% of 45 = 9 BiB Sales

9 BiB Sales = $1800

Total earned so far: $2925 (almost breaking even)

But watch this ...

Carbon Copy Pro is simply a marketing system for Wealth Masters International (WMI) ...

20% of my BiB investors invest in themselves by investing in WMI as an M1 consultant

So ... 20% of 9 = 2 M1 Sales

2 M1 Sales = $2000 commission

Total earned: $4925 + $300 residually monthly (for Carbon Copy Pro)

So now I've made about $2000 increased by residual by $300.

Kowabunga! This Is Huge

Additionally, 33% of M1 members invest in an M2, which pays out $3000 - $5000 commissions.

Further, 33% of M2 members invest in an M3, which pays out $7500.

Nevermind the residual money made from second-level sales on M1, M2 and M3s...

The best thing about this is ... it's 3rd grade duplicatable and EXTREMELY scalable.

Also, this method is profitable even at $5 a lead, $2 under my average...

And yes, I open the campaigns up to my team...And, yes, they love me. And when we talk, we talk about what we're going to do with our money such as investing in stocks, real estate, businesses, systems, etc.

I don't need to get them to drink kook-aid by loving them with a servant's heart. I've found people that do that simply don't know how assist people to make real money so they build a "friendship" to keep them fanatical to keep leveraging them ala Dhloughy...

Padding someone's wallet is KING IN THIS INDUSTRY.

Kowabunga!!!!

[Ferny Ceballos Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 4]

Dang, this thread is getting a little nasty.

I think the bottom line is... and I'm gonna propose this rule to Carl the Cop, you can't get nasty unless you have the stats and numbers to back it up. I think Forest wins in this department. Very impressive.

PPC has been my most consistent lead source since I started marketing 2 years ago, after buying Mike Dillard's course. Along the way came the power of SEO and Social Media, but PPC has always been a very trusted and passive traffic source.

The leads still come in and I haven't touched my PPC campaigns in months. But I did have to become a student of the skill via Perry Marshall, Ryan Deiss and other teachers.

In fact, all our SEO clients have to have a PPC campaign so we can test the keywords we'll be optimizing for, to see if they will actually convert. This is SEO 101 stuff.

Once you have converting keywords, you'll want to use them over and over again in all your marketing, including any free marketing.

Then there's social media... which will either be your highest converting traffic or your lowest converting traffic, depending on the relationship you have with your lead, prior to them arriving on your website.

This and SEO is my specialty, but I'd be a fool to say that PPC is going away. In fact, during this economic recession, Google has noticed a steep drop in its ad revenue, because people tend to cut back on their marketing when budgets are tight. (As Dan Kennedy would say, "Stupid!").

This reduction in competition creates an opportunity for people like Forest to dominate PPC even more and for newbies with the courage to learn, to get in on the action.

Do the opposite of what others do and you will be successful.

Forest, you're the man for being a strong enough leader to grow a team that can duplicate on the level you can. When you have a handful of folks who can do what you do, you don't need 1000's in your downline. Plus it makes remembering your team members names at conferences much easier.

Kudos,
Ferny Ceballos

Wow folks first off I'd like to think everyone for their valuable and relevant input into this discussion.This is what makes Betternetworker such a great site for internet network marketers,we all can learn from each other.

After being a tradition bricks and mortar business owner for the past 20 years am thoroughly impressed with the leadership and knowledge that I've found on this site.I started out my marketing career pretty much using all the free social media platforms that I've found to be very cost effective just starting out.Writing articles,using videos podcasts and such.

PPC is definitely something that I will take a look in the future after I've done my research and training,but for right now I'm having relatively good success with the free stuff.And I truly believe that this is the way to go for someone new just starting out in this industry and for people learning a new skill set to develop a business plan maybe even some cash flow before moving into PPC.I've heard the horror stories of people losing money in PPC simply because they didn't have the training and knowledge to make it work.You've got to be shrewd and methodical to make this business thing work otherwise a fool and his money are quickly departed.