Just a rant..Comparing data for the past couple of years, I've come to an conclusion: Adwords is too expensive.
As a base of reference I'll take into account the quality of traffic sources, which IMO, arranged (from low to high) grade like this:
#9 - (worst) Mailers, spam
#8 - Traffic brokers (Chokers etc)
#7 - TGP gallery traffic, free listings
#6 - SEO (black hat)
#5 - SEO (white)
#4 - MPG, free listings
#3 - PPC (adult search engines)
#2 - Partner TGP/MPG listings on quality TGP sites
#1 - Typein traffic
IMO, typein traffic, being on top of this ladder, if properly managed, can produce $$ per unique from $0.01 to $0.26
Now, this averages at around $0.10 per click (40+ sponsors) over the period of the last 3 years.
If you filter out the low converting sponsor, that leaves you with a list of 10 or so sponsors I've tried that make from $0.15 to $0.26 per unique visitor.
The #1 spot belonged to a program that isn't active anymore (its active but doesnt make sales at all) and the following programs from #2 to #5 make the following:
#2 - $0.19
#3 - $0.16 (after switch to Executive stats, stopped making sales)
#4 - $0.15
#5 - $0.09
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So, my point is, if the best traffic source online averages at $0.10 per click and Google sells spots (for adult) with minimum $0.10 (yet, quality of traffic is up to five time worse)... google is overcharging and leaving a dead zone for other search engine opportunists to fill in offering cheaper CPC (MSN, yahoo).
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