Anyway, I decided to give adwords a go. Once you sign up for the service, you can choose between a text ad or an image ad. You can also build a dynamic ad using their builder but personally, I didn't like the templates. If you choose an image ad, you need to create the ad in one of these standard sizes.
If you clicked on this ad you would either be taken to my Amazon page or www.TheSoulkeepersSeries.com, depending on what day it was offered (I changed the link mid ad). I used keywords with this ad to target where it was delivered: teen, young adult, book club, paranormal, etc.
The results? According to google, this ad had a 20-40% CTR (click through rate) depending on the day which is absolutely fabulous. When the ad ran, my daily sales more than doubled. But, it was expensive. I blew through $100 in four days and that was only because I set a cap of $25/day on the ad. If it had been my own money, I wouldn't have earned back the cost of the ad at 99 cents per copy. However, if I was still selling at $2.99, I would have come close.
Bottom line: in some circumstances, Google adwords is a really great deal. Say you had a series of books. A small ad that linked to your website and promoted all of your books would likely pay for itself if it was well executed.
I found the site moderately easy to use. Google offers personal phone support the first six weeks after your first ad. Its worth your time to check it out. Put it in your arsenal of promotional tools. You may need it for a rainy day or sunny June!
