Google Adwords is Getting Older

When Google first established their Adwords program, I was thrilled. I used their new system not only to promote my own websites and launch my business, but also to educate myself in the world of online marketing. At the time, Adwords flowed feely, sales were plentiful and life was good.

So what happened? Sometime around the turn of the year, Google Adwords got old. Sure, they have an excellent system in place to keep not only high-paying, but also high-performing ads in the forefront, but is the model too simple?

After experimenting with Adwords and realizing instant success, I was worried when I saw the program really catching on. One, then three, then eight months down the road I saw more competition and higher prices. I stewed over my campaigns' ad wording night after night trying to milk every last drop of performance. I had a distinct advantage because I had joined the program at the beginning, but after a while I started to falter.

My business had grown and expanded into new territory. I found that I didn't have the time to invest in growing ad campaigns anymore. My business model turned to the upstart advertising networks that were popping up in Google's shadow. Although they didn't leverage the same power of search, I was able to again dominate my preferred keywords. Sales rose and life was good.

Now I find my business in new territory. Having built self-sustaining websites on the backs of the advertising networks, my sites have rooted themselves in the organic search results of every major search engine. I'm bringing in the same number of sales, but without spending a dime on advertising.

Will it last forever? Absolutely not. Soon another change will come and the dynamic of search, the internet, and life as we know it will take another turn. The businesses that survive will be ready for the change and will re-invent themselves to adapt to it.