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Are you Adwords ads Under Review?  I was in the midst of running a test between Yahoo and Google, comparing conversion numbers in multiple markets (I wrote about this earlier), when … I hit a stumbling block.

For me (and for many), the benefit of Adwords has always been the 15 minute gap between your ad creation, and the impressions starting to roll in. It was amazing, fun, and allowed you to instantly get results. For me, it’s the third greatest reason I use Adwords (apart from market share - ease of use).

Patience has never been my strongest virtue, and the ease of use of Adwords, coupled with it’s speed of showing you ads, made it a clear choice over Yahoo in my mind. But now - things are changing …

So, imagine my surprise when none of my latest adwords campaigns start running at all. In fact, they remain in a state of limbo. Every ad I place is “Under Review”. Hours pass, days pass … but no impressions. My ads are not approved (but not disapproved either). So, as my adwords as sit in a state of limbo, I’m left to wonder why.  Yes, the Google explanation is kinda weak - they are reviewing my ads. But WHY? This never happened before. Is this happening to everyone?

After a small bit of research, I can say … Maybe? It’s definitely happening to some. But I make an ad in a different account, and it’s instantly running as normal. Uh - oh. So what is triggering my adwords ads to be under review in one account, and not in another? I don’t know! Is it an account based trigger? A keyword based trigger? Or, as google suggests, simply an ad based trigger, that I’ve run massively afoul of.

Regardless, my adwords ads aren’t running!  The first approval process to two days, but now, it’s been 4 on this set of ads, and NOTHING. They still sit un-reviewed. Wow! That’s pretty impressive isn’t it.  Another great feature of Google’s ad program … now toast.

So, with this new development, and google’s quality scoring out of control (not necessarily difficult, just have to go through the checklist of adwords specific quality score items), and slow ad review time, and higher costs per click … wow, I was joking about Yahoo before, but now I’m REALLY glad that I am trying to test the two against one another.  Remember, I am not testing traffic (as Yahoo can still deliver quite a bit of that), but rather conversions (optins and sales).

Anyway, how disappointing that we can’t have the instant-on results of Google past. I’m very interested in hearing about other people’s experiences with Adwords placing ads under review, or not instantly starting your campaigns (as before). I’m guessing that my account has somehow been tagged - but will need further research.  I’ve always been a little impatient … that’s why google has been the perfect partner in the past!

I mean, I don’t want to be a baby about this. We’ve had it SO good in the past. Yahoo has always had a waiting period for approval of campaigns - so this is nothing new to the space - simply to Google. This all came about months ago, but it’s the first time I’m actually experience it. How about you?

After nearly five years of traveling the globe, living the high lifestyle of those that make a massive automated living on the internet, I am settling down. Yes, settling down. Mind you, living in such a beautiful city as San Francisco, it’s not THAT hard, but it is a big step.

Yes, I work every day on my business, but no, I am not constrained by offices, commutes, location, or any sort of time principles. I work because, I WANT to work. I enjoy it.  And for many years, I have taken full advantage of that freedom which this internet lifestyle provides.

I am an internet marketing guru only in so much as I love to teach.  While I probably make more than most, travel more than most, and live the “true” internet lifestyle more than most, it’s the fact that I love to teach that will really set me apart. That, and the fact that I can really “break things down” into systems that people can follow. The challenge charges me.

I have no plans to travel for the next four months. I’m going to concentrate on BUSINESS. Yes, business. But NOT my current automated businesses. It will be hard to turn away from them, but I will. I’m going to focus, and try to come through with what I’ve promised for ages, yet been too busy to deliver on.  I’m going to try to launch my internet marketing business.

Yes, the actual MarketingCrazy launch. The whole game plan, realized, and executed. It’s a pretty heady goal for the end of 2009, and that’s why I’m writing it down.  Now, for better or for worse, I’m accountable. Of course, as the words flow from hands to paper, I already want to hedge my bets, and say 1st quarter 2010, but no … MarketingCrazy will launch in 2009.

What does that mean exactly? What will the launch entail? Well, no doubt we’ll launch our internet business video podcast, and we’ll likely launch our first coaching program shortly thereafter. Stay tuned - it will be a wild ride.

What’s the goal? The goal is to teach internet marketing fundamentals. Those things that don’t change! Not the glossy, glitzy “make a million dollars in a day” type stuff. But the real secrets to internet success. The fundamentals that others simply don’t teach.

In four months, I have a ten day trip through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, but I may cancel it in order to feel that “settled” feeling. It depends how far I get! After that, I have a trip to Hawaii … yeh, I’ll probably go on that one (because if I actually do end up working for the next four months, I’ll need a vacation).

I’m about to rant. Literally, I’m about to rant.

We’re at 3 phone calls, over 30 emails, and all I’m trying to do is get a refund for a product I never received.  Crazy? Yes. Please, Chuck, or any support person, if you see this …

I really want to tell this story of internet whoa. I really do. In fact, I believe people need to hear it from someone as successful as myself.  Because, honestly, it can happen to everyone. It does happen to everyone.

Please, if Chuck is out there, or there’s any one out there that can help me get a hold of Chuck Mullaney, or the Keyword ESP support team, or the Pajama Network - let me know.  I simply want the refund for “landing page to end all landing pages”. No, don’t laugh. I seem to have totally fallen for it. I feel like such a dupe!

And then to be repeatedly, endlessly, ignored … well, we’ll save that for a later post, where I will talk IN DEPTH, about common sense.

Email me: info at marketingcrazy, or reply to the post … or call my support team at 877-507-3403.