Received this notice from the adCenter team this morning...

Upgrade highlights
Instant editorial feedback on your ads and keywords during the creation process so your ads will go live faster.

More intuitive reporting allowing you to easily analyse and optimise your reports with interactive filtering, sorting, and graphs.

Flexible budgeting for your campaigns. Now you can set a daily budget target with a maximum spend per month.

Substitute default dynamic text to be used if your inserted keyword or placeholders cause the ad to exceed the maximum character limit.

New Ad Submission Process
Just a quick update on the latest AdCenter interface stuff. The really good news is that you no longer have to submit each ad one by one to change the status from Draft to Active.

1. On the Select a campaign page, open the appropriate campaign.
2. On the Select an ad group page, select the check boxes of the Draft ad groups you want to submit, and click Actions.
3. In the Actions drop-down list, select Submit ad group.
4. On the Windows Internet Explorer dialog box, click OK to submit.
-- The status of the ad groups will change to Active, and your ads will be live, if your ad groups did not require an editorial review.

I'm going cold turkey

I've been a Google search type of chap throughout my online life. For as long as I can remember, when I want to find something I "Google" it. What's a competitor up to? Google It!When was the last time Wales one anything at Rugby? Google it! Have any of my pathetic attempts at SEO bore fruit? Google it!

As of tonight, I'm going cold turkey and switching my allegiance to Live Search. I know, but i can handle it. Sure I search a lot but I can control it. Yes I know, when I type my own name into Google I get loads of Ego links that make me feel slightly less insignficant than I really am. But tonight, for 7 days straight I'm using Live Search instead!!!

Wish me luck!

PS

Darn! Just realised I wrote this in Google docs and published it to my Blog which is on Blogger.com AND I'm wearing my Google underpants as I type this... DOH!

AdCenter have announced some changes to the quality score system. If I'm reading it correctly the changes mainly affect the ads that appear in the top slots above the standard search results.

According to the AdCenter Blog...
"As part of the Live Search 2.0 launch, we have made changes to the adCenter quality-based ranking system – the formula that we use to calculate which ads appear in the mainline"

"This change represents a win-win for advertisers and searchers; in addition to giving you more control over placement, searchers are getting better quality ads in the mainline."

In simple terms there would appear to be a minimum quality threshold that an ad must surpass if it's to appear in the top slot (sorry.... "Mainline").

The Blog Post then goes on to say...

"You could see your ads move in or out of the mainline depending on your CTR and set Max Bid. You may need to bid more to maintain mainline positions. You may see ads move up into the mainline without bidding more. For ads remaining in the mainline. Your actual CPC may increase"
Bold bits are my emphasis

Mmmm not totally a "win win" situation then ;)

Ok so yesterdays post was all about the funky new video thumbnails on Live Search. Having raved about how cool they were, someones gone and removed the video link. When I mentioned in the office today that all the video thumbails started "talking to me and moving around" my loyal colleagues suggested it was time I took a holiday or at least have a lie down.

THEY WERE THERE, I PROMISE!

Just becuase they strip away the link doesnt mean you still cant get to them :)

Try this link to Harry Potter!