Searching for Solutions

I love Google. Nice folks, good service. Most of the time. I'm a bit annoyed, though, when automatic filters in AdWords thwart my marketing attempts.

Case in point: Yesterday I created a new campaign because I noticed some liars in a place where I don't want them to be. During the ad creation process, I got an error message along the following lines: "Google AdWords does not allow superlatives. Please remove them from your copy."

The "superlative" in question is the number 1 in 1-800-Bakery.com. I filled out the exemption form as usual, explaining the reason for the 1 being there, and expected the usual swift processing of my ad.

After 24 hours, I'm still waiting. And I doubt I'm alone, given the large number of "1-800," "best," "fastest," and "finest" domain names out there. I'm assuming that the huge volume of AdWords ads is slowing the editorial response time at Google, but some feedback, any feedback, would be nice. Something along the lines of, "Please allow 2-3 business days for review."

Or, if you really wanted to solve the problem, just turn that filter off in the Display URL field, because what you're essentially doing is telling a host of advertisers that they're second-class citizens because Google doesn't like their domain names.

They're still doing a much better job than MSN's AdCenter, which can take up to three weeks to approve PPC ads. I've submitted time-sensitive ads to them only to have the holiday pass before the ad was approved. I know things take time, but this is the Internet, and customers expect a quick turnaround. If it's going to take the better part of a month for an ad to go live, let the users know so we can plan ahead.

I'd be remiss if I didn't slam Yahoo Search Marketing while I'm at it. These guys need to spend some time reading Jakob Neilsen and redesign the entire interface. Figuring out how to navigate their site is like trying to find a number-two washer at Home Depot--I know what I need is here somewhere, but there's no easy way to get to it, and all the employees have gone on break.

There's my suggestions to the Big Three search engines. Now my suggestion to you: Microsoft is debuting its new Live Search at www.live.com. There's some interesting attempts to reinvent the search engine wheel here, and I like the idea of having all the results on a single page that can be scrolled instead of having to wade through pages and pages of results.