google and advertising

hampshirebabe

Hi, I'm thinking of using google Adwords, but cant seem to work out how much its going to actualy cost me. Does anyone use them can give me some idea how it works?
Also, is there any basic info for complete beginers about how to improve my google ranking. I keep reading things like 'link your site to others' 'make a sitemap' and others, but I dont know how to do it.
My facebook page comes up quite high in the list, but just says you need to join facebook to see more.
I'm the only female driving instructor in my area teaching automatic. I'm getting referals from other schools, but I have to pay them. I'd have thought it would be easy enough to find my number by searching for specific words on google.
Any help very much apreciated.

chalkie99

Do you actually have a website, other than your Facebook page?

If so, perhaps add the url (website address) to your profile here so we can have a look and maybe give you a few pointers.

DermotFlanigan

I wouldn't use google adwords if you are just advertising locally. There are far cheaper ways of advertising, and you can also target your local area.

It takes time to get your website to the top of the searches. If you google it, you will find websites that will create a sitemap for you to upload to your website.

If you PM me your website, I will have a look and give as much help as I can.

gazfocus

We run a few Google Adwords campaigns for our customers and it can be very expensive.

When you set up Google Adwords, you specify a daily limit (i.e. £5) but Google state in their terms that they can (and will) go 20% over your daily limit to make up for days that you don't spend the full limit (saturdays and sundays perhaps).

The main issue, if you don't have a large enough budget is your ads could show for a couple of hours per day, clean your budget out and then your ads won't show for the rest of the day.

I will send you a PM with some further advice.

thenudeone

It can be worthwhile if you use the codes for £50 or £80 of free credit which I frequently recieve from ISPs, some websites, and fliers in business and computing magazines (some people sell them on ebay!) but it could be expensive otherwise.
It depends how likely a click (which you pay for) is to turn into a customer; and how much a new customer is worth to your business.
You can tailor it quite extensively form demographics and geographics, and limit the cost per click to what you think it is worth, but you might not get too many impressions if you set it too low, as other advertisers with higher limits will get priority.

Facebook advertising is also worth a look, but I've never seen any offers.

Savvy_Sue

Please see the Forum Rules on advertising.

chalkie99

Move it to your profile as I suggested.

paulwf

My suggestion (for what its worth - probably not much!) would be to try a referral scheme. I bet if one person at college is learning to drive you can guarantee all their mates are too. How about giving a pupil some free lessons if they refer a friend who then signs up? Done correctly it could bring a huge amount of business without costing you any actual money.

I've tried adwords and although its tempting as its such small amounts at a time the money soon drips away and before you know it the amount adds up without bringing in much benefit.

hampshirebabe

Because I do automatic I dont tend to teach students, mostly its new mums, slightly older ladies or ladies from other countries. Once I get known I'm sure the work will pour in, its just starting out thats the hard bit. I'm about to do cards in shop windows, but I want to make sure my website is acessable for when I do. Referal scheme is one of the best things, and I have got it in place, just need some to refer me, I've just left a big driving school in the area, so all my old pupils refer to them.

Horace

Have you tried networking? That might get you known and for little outlay (no need to be joining networking groups that have massive fees either), there are networking groups out there that have no membership fees and you pay for lunch or breakfast (depending on the time of day) or you pay for coffee if you do something like Business Biscotti.

Networking will raise your profile because nearly everyone knows someone who is learning to drive.

jamesperrett

My wife finds Google adwords much more effective than Yellow Pages nowadays. Google will allow you to set a location for your ads to appear and this seems to work as she doesn't seem to get enquiries from outside this area.

James.