I spend alot of time managing client accounts on Google’s Adwords and only a handful on Yahoo’s Sponsored search mainly because I really don’t like the Yahoo interface and compared to Google’s Adwords interface, it feels a little pre-historic.
Well Yahoo search sponsored search is about to change with a new improved interface and a bidding model that matches Google’s Ad Score and Relevancy algorithm. No more highest bidder wins on Yahoo anymore with relevancy becoming the key to low cost and higher rankings in sponsored search results.
Although I haven’t been able to take a sneek peek inside, early indications show categories changing to campaigns so managing Yahoo and Adwords may become more similar that we can imagine.
Other new features are
- Geo Targeting capability
- Campaign Budgeting
- Ad split testing
- Campaign Scheduling
- Bulk Ad Management
- Ads Up and Running in Minutes
I’m really looking forward to seeing the new improved interface as having alternative advertising opportunities outside of the Google umbrella is a welcome change.
Yahoo is doing some very innovative changes lately which leverage from social interactivity with hit sites like Flickr, and their comprehensive Developer Centre supporting developers of many languages to integrate Yahoo web services into client sites. Yahoo is also the default search engine for the Flock web browser which I really like.
The only thing left for Yahoo to do here in Australia is get more market share as the majority of traffic here is predominately Google search referrals.
Yahoo is just about to roll this out in the US in a few days time so I called Yahoo Australia and asked about the Australian rollout and they told me that the new Sponsored search upgrade is expected to be rolled out in Australia in about two months time.
You can find out more at the Yahoo Sponsored Search Upgrade Centre.
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