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Google AdWords Announces New Features

November 21st, 2006 - by Brett Derricott - Salt Lake City, Utah

In my inbox this morning I found a message from Google announcing new features in their AdWords tool. The email is actually the first edition of a quarterly newsletter they’ve launched.

The list of features is pretty compelling. From my own use of AdWords over the past few years, I can say each of these features is a welcome addition.

Here’s the body of the email including the list of new features:

Greetings from AdWords:

Our engineers have been hard at work over the past few months, creating new AdWords features based on your feedback and suggestions. We’re delighted to share the results with you now.

We’re testing new ways of giving AdWords updates to our users, and we’d love to hear what you think about this newsletter.

Drop us a line at [email protected].

Thanks!

The Google AdWords Team

Get listed on Google Maps
A business listing on Google Maps is just the thing for dentists, pizzerias, flower shops, and other advertisers with a specific business location. Create a free listing with our Local Business Center to help prospects in your area find you. Then set up a Local Business Ad to drive sales and create awareness for your business. A Google Maps listing with a Local Business Ad makes a powerful one-two punch.
>> Learn More

Coupons on Google Maps
There’s a good chance that customers in your neighborhood are looking for you on Google. Through printable coupons on Google Maps, you can reach customers at the right time, and at no cost to you. Customers can print out the coupons they find on your business listing page and redeem them at your physical store location.
>> Learn More

Ad Scheduling
Ad Scheduling gives you the power to run your ads from 9 to 5 on weekdays, only on Saturdays, or any time you like. Use our simple new interface to select the days and times you want your ad to run. (Of course, you can always keep your ads running 24 hours a day.) This was one of our most-requested features, and we’re happy to offer it now.
>> Learn More

Backup Credit Card
If you pay your AdWords bill with a credit card or debit card or by direct debit, you can now add a backup credit card to your account. This secondary card will be there for you in case your primary method of payment is declined. The result? Your ads keep showing even if your primary payment method fails.
>> Learn More

Video Ads
Click-to-play video ads are now available for sites on the Google Network. Add sound and motion to the reach of the Google Network, and you get a message that’s more powerful than ever.
>> Learn More

I recommend going through a list of your existing and potential clients and cross-checking that list against this feature list. Do you have any clients who sell products or services locally and could benefit from a presence on Google maps? Those same clients could likely benefit from offering coupons too.

What about clients who have a product that is visually engaging or impressive? Google video ads might be an avenue to explore.

Google has again shown it intends to dominate the online ad space. With Google’s share price rising over $500 recently, it seems clear that at least Wall Street thinks they can do it. What do you think?