Google’s right-side Adpocalypse: What really happened (DATA)

[stephytechintl]

When Google changed its SERP display last month to eliminate ads in the right rail, many search marketers panicked. Now that the change has been live for a while, columnist Larry Kim looks at the data to determine what, if any, damage occurred.

Let’s dive into some of WordStream’s (my company’s) hot new data, collected from more than two thousand WordStream customers for the time period indicated in the charts (not official Google data).

Click-through rates (CTRs) are up
Costs per click (CPCs) are static
Traffic is steady
Impressions are down
Anatomy of a “loser”
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet (except this)

Remember, brave search marketers: The only thing we have to fear is… ridiculously uninformed speculation. Don’t panic whenever Google changes something.

Be patient. Collect and analyze your data. React smartly.

This wasn’t the first huge change we PPC marketers have lived through. But if you want one prediction you CAN take to the bank: It definitely won’t be the last!

Read more @ http://searchengineland.com/googles-rig ... ata-245011