When I first started my own Digital Ad Agency, all I had was a strong passion for marketing. But with a mediocre skill set and near zero understanding of the industry, I failed.And like any dejected man, I just smoked, played Mortal Kombat and browsed randomly, trying to find out ‘Why?’, or rather ‘Why me?’. That was when I came across these words in a Moz blog."You offer SEO, Web Design, and PPC. That is exactly the same as 100,000s of companies around the world, who by the looks of things are better than you at it. What can you be the best at? What can you become known for?"These words hit me like a ton of bricks. I could completely relate.If there was one thing I wanted to do in my life, it was digital marketing and if I had to survive, I had to get really good at it. At 11 PM that night, I asked my girlfriend not to call me for the next 3 months, put away my PS3 and started my research on the best PPC resources available online.......and I just read. I read like mad and tried everything I read.I didn't just survive, I flourished and I owe my existence to these PPC blogs. To this day, I read every single article by these blogs. I realized that the day I stopped learning was the day I perish. This is so true for every Ad agency out there. Get you entire marketing team to read these blogs, today!
When it comes to marketing, invest in knowledge!These days, I consult for Digital Ad Agencies.
1. PPC Hero
Specialization: PPC Strategies + Case Studies + News
Twitter Followers: 23,400+
Updates: Daily
Most Shared Article in 2015:4 Google Analytics Hacks To Improve Your ROI – Frank Underwood Approved (854 Shares)
I'll be honest, whatever I've learned about PPC has come from PPC Hero.This PPC blog is the gold standard of case studies, experiments, tips, tricks and predictions about pay per click digital advertising. From basic how-tos to sophisticated bid automation techniques, PPC Hero talks about it all.The beauty of this blog is that its writers are fearless. They test adventurously and aren’t afraid to speak their minds. It’s the perfect way to learn without taking risks yourself.Read PPC Hero every single day! You will find tremendous improvement in your campaigns.
2. WordStream
Specialization: PPC + Paid Marketing Strategy
Twitter Followers: 34,500+
Updates: Daily
Most Shared Article in 2015:Goodbye, Google+: Social Network Broken Into Streams and Photos Products (5,000+ Shares)
“I am always on the lookout for solid data that blows away the conventional wisdom.”This quote from Larry Kim summarizes what Wordstream is all about. This blog publishes detailed, data-driven driven posts on PPC management and strategy that will give you a whole new perspective.WordStream publishes a range of content related to content marketing, mobile advertising, sales, and affiliate marketing. This blog is one of the best places to read thought leadership around search marketing.Why should your agency follow this blog? Because Agency life is tough and mistakes are costly. The data driven insights provided by Wordstream will help you navigate the PPC pitfalls.
3. Search Engine Watch
Specialization: SEO + PPC
Twitter Followers: 128,000+
Updates: Weekly
Most Shared article in 2015: 5 SEO Myths to Forget in 2015 (2,600+ Shares)
Google’s legendary Matt Cutts has called Search Engine Watch a ‘must-read’.Tim Mayer of Yahoo calls this the ‘most authoritative source on search.’This blog led by Kevin Newcomb is one of the oldest and most-respected SEO & SEM resources online. One of the “Big Four” search engine blogs, this covers a range of customer acquisition strategies from content marketing to SEO and social media.Detailed how-tos and thought leadership provided by SEW, makes this blog inevitable for Digital Ad Agencies.Their content is actionable and can bring immediate results! For an Agency this is a must.
4. iSpionage
Specialization: PPC Intelligence + SEO + CRO
Twitter Followers: 2,388
Updates: Monthly
Most Shared Article in 2015: How a Search Marketing Agency Went from $0 to $2,500,000 in Revenue in One Year [Interivew] (250 Shares)
“Instead of reinventing the wheel, learn from the successes and failures of your competitors, to get more out of your own campaigns right away.”iSpionage is a search marketing competitive intelligence provider. The blog offers valuable insights and strategies for Agencies to quickly optimize on SEO, AdWords and other PPC campaigns using information from their top competitors.The iSpionage blog also offers valuable search engine marketing insights for PPC advertisers and covers topics ranging from competitive PPC intelligence to Conversion Rate Optimization.PPC intelligence can help you quickly make better decisions. Follow this blog to understand how you can ‘growth hack’ with competitive intelligence.
5. Certified Knowledge
Specialization: PPC Training + Community
Twitter Followers: 7,098
Updates: Monthly
Most Shared Article in 2015: The Complete AdWords Audit Part 12: Google Shopping Campaigns (168 Shares)
Brad Geddes, the founder of Certified Knowledge, is the only AdWords trainer approved by Google to teach advanced AdWords courses. You will need his insights!Certified Knowledge is a comprehensive, membership-based community for PPC insight. This blog has excellent resources on PPC tools, AdWords video lessons, Comprehensive guides, advanced strategies and industry news. From latest news on workshops & events to interviews with industry’s top experts, this blog always keeps you updated.Insights from this community can take your Agency’s efforts to the next level. Follow this blog, follow Brad Geddes!
6. Boost Media
Specialization: PPC + Ad Copy + Creatives
Twitter Followers: 4,806
Updates: Monthly
Most Shared Article in 2015: Creative Ad Copy Still Matters - Boost Blog (560 Shares)
“You invest a lot of time into your paid search campaigns, but how much is spent on refreshing your ad copy?”Boost Media is the only big blog which focuses on the most important aspect of a successful ad: crafting the perfect message that resonates with their audience.Boost blog comes up with actionable and specific posts around pay-per click marketing, particularly ad copy and ad creative, that will help you drive better returns from your pay-per click marketing campaigns.A digital ad copy should evolve to stay relevant and fresh, otherwise Ad Fatigue sets in and Quality Score drops. A Digital Ad Agency cannot afford to lose this perspective.
7. CPC Strategy
Specialization: Retail Advertising + Ecommerce + Strategy
Twitter Followers: 1,846
Updates:Weekly
Most Shared Article in 2015: Facebook Dynamic Product Ads Live in Power Editor (158 Shares)
‘How do you connect relevant products with shoppers to increase the likelihood of purchase?’ CPC Strategy is a retail-focused Search agency that specializes in driving conversions by matching inventory with consumer intent. So they primarily focus on Google Shopping and latest PPC trends, in their blog.This blog publishes super actionable content on a seemingly daily basis and is one of the best resources on Retail Adverts and E Commerce.Rick Backus, the founder and CEO of CPC Strategy and is among the most respected in PPC community and his blog brings specialized content on Retail search, probably the next big thing in Digital Marketing.Stay ahead of the curve, read CPC Strategy.
8. Clix Marketing
Specialization: PPC + Growth Strategy + Social
Twitter Followers: 1,516
Updates: Weekly
Most Shared Article in 2015: AdWords Income Targeting: Can You Find It? (98 Shares)
'A blog of the agency, by the agency and for the agency.'Clix Marketing has been managing digital advertising campaigns for over ten years now and are experts at using PPC, display and social media adverts. So, naturally, this blog specializes in issues like problem-solving, optimization and growth strategy.Coming from a team that has witnessed full-spectrum PPC strategies, this blog is packed with actionable stuff. From Advanced Excel tips to Retargeting hacks, this blog is full of resources that you would want to share with your entire marketing team.Mae Flint Polczynski and John Lee needs a special mention here.Where else would you find a complete category of blogs dedicated to 'Agency Life'? Get your entire marketing team to read Clix blog now!
9. Inside Adwords
Specialization: The official AdWords blog
Twitter Followers: Updates: Daily
Most Shared Article in 2015:
Google AdWords is a very dynamic field and following the official Google AdWords Blog for all updates is crucial for the success of an Agency.Straight from the horse’s mouth, this blog will will help you optimize your campaigns, walk you through new product launches, and teach you techniques for better understanding your customer conversion funnels.For an agency this is a good blog to refer clients or bosses who want to learn more about PPC; their writers do a good job of explaining new features that advertisers might want to try.Be the first to know when a major change happens. Follow Inside AdWords. update your team.
10. Bing Ads
Specialization: The ultimate guide to Bing Ads
Twitter Followers: 45,800+
Updates: Daily
Most Shared Article in 2015: #AdHacks: The five factors of data-driven Content Marketing (504 Shares)
This year Bing grew to 19.7% of the US search market share while there’s no doubt that it is still an underdog to Google, Bing has slowly and steadily made considerable gains in search, particularly in high-competition verticals.Bing is making great strides in areas Google AdWords has been struggling. Bing has been working on better device targeting, search partner targeting, social extensions etc. and your agency better be at the forefront of these developments to reap benefits.Agencies! If you’re aiming to reach a general consumer audience, this platform is one that your SEM team cannot afford to ignore and this blog will guide you there.Besides, from these best PPC blogs, there are a few discussion forums that are worth following.
I. Quora/PPC
Quora discussions on Facebook Ads (5,000+ followers),
Search Engine Marketing (5,500+ followers),
Internet Advertising (12,000+ followers),
Google AdWords (7,500+ followers), and
ad networks/ad services (2,500+ followers).
These numbers by themselves make a strong case for you and your agency to be a part of this community. Ask a question and you will be surprised at the response time and quality of the answers.Join this community, participate in the discussions, share your knowledge and keep up what the rest of the PPC community is talking about.
II. Reddit/PPC
"This is our space to talk about what works, what doesn't, and what's new in the world of digital marketing."Topics include PPC, SEO, CRO, traffic generation, affiliate programs, analytics, copywriting and everything related to digital marketing.Whether you're here to share your experiences or simply learn from others in the field, we welcome you to /r/PPC and look forward to your participation in the group.”This pretty much sums up what r/ppc is all about.This forum is known for its open culture, diverse user community and experts that generate its content. If engaged properly, Reddit can be a great platform to garner attention and a large audience, quickly. How can you and your agency not be part of this community?
III. Twitter/PPCchat
Every Tuesday, 11:00 AM Central Time.Whether it’s as simple as staying up to date on industry articles or dig deeply into a topic, this is where you need to be at 11:00 AM CT, Tuesday.Get all your team members to follow this hashtag. Not only does it keep our team sharp, but it also ensures you are taking advantage of all the industry advancements and best practices for your clients.#ppcchat can also be an opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in the PPC community, share articles you have written, or maybe even meet your next employee.Much like anything else in your PPC career (or campaign), the more you put into it the more you get out of it so if you are looking to stay up to date in the ever-changing world of Paid Search, jump into a #ppcchat.Well, I hope that you will find this list of ppc blogs and ppc forums/discussions useful. Goodluck!
This post is a part of a blog series on Marketing Success by ReportGarden, an ad agency client reports & dashboards automation software.
