A Search Marketer's Secret Weapon
Overall Satisfaction with WordStream
I use WordSteam to better manage and optimize our SEM campaigns. Since the tool is meant to primarily improve the efficiency of SEM managers it is not being utilized broadly across our organization. The tool enables me to quickly identify areas in our paid search accounts that need to be optimized (bids, keywords, ads, etc) and improve them on the spot.
Pros
- Remove duplicates: The platform has a tool that enables marketers to easily identify duplicate keywords across campaigns, ad groups, and the account; from there duplicates can be paused in an effort to improve quality scores and account performance.
- Bid management: WordStream reveals which current keywords can improve campaign performance by increasing and decreasing their bids - updates can be made on the spot.
- Ad optimizations: WordStream scans paid search accounts to ensure each ad group is using high performing ads. Marketers can quickly create new ads, and pause ads based on the tool's recommendations.
Cons
- Keyword URL updates: There isn't an easy way to add new keywords to the account and add custom keyword level "final URLs" to each keyword (this is important for Marketers who use custom tracking parameters at the keyword level).
- Ad extensions: WordSteam provides recommendations on how to improve some ad extensions; however, Google's newer ad extensions (Structured Snippets) are not supported by the tool.
- Integrations: Currently, WordStream only integrates with AdWords, Bing, and Facebook - the tool would provide much more value if it integrated with more platforms.
- Saves time: WordStream's "20 Minute Work Week" feature allows marketers to see and act on all recommended updates in the account on a weekly basis.
- Cost effective: Compared to alternative bid management platforms, WordStream is very cost effective (with fewer bells and whistles).
- Increasing efficiency: The tool identifies account flaws that most marketers might miss if they were being evaluated manually.
- aquisio and SEMRush
WordStream is a little different from the competition. There are much more expensive solutions that manage the account for you with more features (Kenshoo, Marin, etc) and there are cheaper solutions out there that offer some of the features that WordStream provides; however, if a marketer wants to personally manage an account with some aided help than WordStream provides a great, cost-effective solution.
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