I've recently begun an Adwords project and found that this was very helpful in getting me started. It also provides many ideas and resources for future improvements of my usage.

Howie Jacobson offers a very insightful and helpful guide to sifting through the often confusing aspects of Google AdWords. What is great about this book is that it isn't necessary to read the book from cover to cover in order to get the information you need. The book is divided into sections (which are accurately named) so you can jump right into the topic you need most help on.

The author also provides a website in his book that he runs for further information and responds promptly to emails with a helpful answer to your question. Great book! Must Buy!

Prior to reading Adwords for Dummies, I knew next to nothing about Adwords and had more or less avoided learning it like the plague. I didn't have an AdWords account and wouldn't have even recognized the Adwords interface. Then I decided to conduct some market research, and I needed to learn the Adwords basics. A friend recommended this book, so I ordered a copy of Adwords for Dummies from Amazon. (The book really could be used by a dummy, although they'd likely gain a few IQ points just by reading it.) In terms of teaching Adwords, I can't imagine a better source. Everything is spelled out (including many "secret tricks" gurus would charge you thousands for) in clear, easy to follow language. Even though I'm NOT a techie and was brand new to Adwords, I had my own campaigns up and running THE SAME DAY that the book arrived. Adwords for Dummies is just that great of a guide. There's even a chapter just on Google Analytics that lets you get started right away. But that's not all. Dr. Jacobson is hysterical, and on more than one occasion, I laughed out loud while reading. It was like being in a class with a master teacher- maybe like your middle school history or math or English or science teacher- who entertained you and taught you so that you really learned, both at the same time. My two cents is order the book without delay- it's really free, anyway, as Google gives you $25 (ie, more than the cost of the book) in Adwords credit! Highly recommended.

AdWords For Dummies is slightly more for beginners (as is typical for The Dummies Series), while the "Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords" is more advanced. Heck, let's not dice garlic here and cry; if you cut loose of 40 bucks and get them both you'll recoup your money in a few hours. But be forewarned, you'll be tempted to crank out much more money as you learn about many various and optional keyword research, competitive analysis, split-test and other pay per click efficiency tools highly recommended within these books.

I've read a lot of AdWords books and have provided a well-known AdWords keyword research software tool for almost four years now, so I know the good and the ugly when it comes to Google's advertising system. Take it from me, a lot of people struggle with AdWords, and many give up altogether, but with a fine book like this one, you can easily avoid becoming one of them.

This book takes a brand new user by the hand and walks them through setting up an account, doing keyword research, structuring an AdWords campaign according to Google's best practices, and much more. Along the way, great tidbits of information are provided like how to write effective AdWords ads, how to do local advertising, and where to find negative keyword ideas, to name just a few. Practical suggestions and helpful advice can be found on almost every page as you go through the book's process for building a well-crafted AdWords campaign and sales strategy.

What I especially like is how this book goes beyond doing just AdWords and focuses in on the entire sales funnel, e.g., how to craft well-written landing pages (important for slashing your AdWords bid costs), how to use Google's amazing analytics tool to increase your sales conversions, and how to follow up with prospects and get more sales using newsletters and email autoresponders effectively.

I dare say that if most AdWords advertisers studied and properly implemented the techniques provided in this book, Google would lose quite a bit of money each day since there is a large number of advertisers who are naively spending more than they should in Google's system. Don't be one of them! Get educated. AdWords for Dummies is a great place to start.

So far this book is right on the money and has helped me set up a couple of campaigns already and I knew nothing from the start. I highly recommend this book both as a learning tool and a reference. The authors website has alot of cool stuff too.

I read the whole book in two nights. It's now next to my desk as a first hand reference.

Very good for anyone that want to understand the full potential of Adwords.

J.I. Hernandez
[...]

This book is outstanding. I give it my highest rating. The Author (Howie Jacobson) has taken a massive topic, cut it up into bite sized pieces and served it up in business boosting scoops. I have a tendancy to buy everything, and frankly, I was shocked with the quality of this book. Because of the "Dummies" brand I had totally underestimated the quality of this book. I own a number of similar books that cover the same ground but NONE that are as valuable as this one.

This book is EXCELLENT! Best I have EVER read for google, analytics, etc.

The reason I found so much value with this book is that it offers:

* actionable ideas (no guessing what I'm suppose to do)
* easy to digest material ( great job teaching)
* entertaining as hell (keeps me going)

Many books of this nature are dry and filled with lots of technical jargon. I found this book like a ray of light... a breath of fresh air for non-tech people like me in a TECH world.

If you want a book that you will actually understand, that will get you excited about these topics and that you will actually implement, buy this book today.

I originally read this book to specialize in Google. I read this book 3 times before I started my Adwords account. I use Adwords as a vehicle to sell product through the internet. Howie makes sense. He shows you the good and the bad side of Adwords. Before trying to take on Adwords, read this book first; it'll save you a lot of money!
Since reading this book, I have become a Certified Google Advertiser, thanks to Howie. He always updates his students (fans) with the latest Google news. This book could get a lot of people out of corporate world and work for themselves. I am almost making just as much money using Adwords as I do at my regular job. Don't dive in headfirst into Google Adwords, read the Adwords for Dummies first!!!

This is a very good book with full of good in-depth insights into Google's Adwords. I strongly recommend Google advertisers to buy this book.

I personally never buy any Dummies' book before because I always thinking: Those are just for "Dum" people and of course I'm not one of them ;-)

In addition I have lots of doubts about books covering subjects where you can basically find all the information for free in the internet.

Ok, they got me. After reading the Adwords for Dummies I change my mind: this book is very well done, easy to understand and covering larger topics than just Adwords.

This book is in fact an introduction to Internet Marketing and how to do research and understand your market by using Adwords. It describes the Adword machine in order to know how you can optimize your CTR (Click through Rate) and ROI (Return on Investment) and not just feeding Google with your Money.

More than that, Howie Jacobson (The Author) gives a lot of information about Opt-in, Landing Page, Split Testing and Market Study which is not easy to find in the internet without being trap by the Guru of the day.

In a nutshell, this book helps me to understand and see Adwords not just as a traffic generator for my web site but as a very powerful tool to test a lot of internet ideas such as; domain name, headlines, book titles, Market Response and etc.

Note: I recommend you to buy a new book in order to be sure you get the 25$ coupon from Google.

This book was great in explaining the difference between Direct Marketing (of which AdWords is) and traditional marketing. Basically they tell you to throw out everything you thought you knew about "Brand" Marketing and start from scratch with direct Marketing.

I think everyone reading this book is familiar with the old adage "I know I'm wasting half of my advertising budget, I just don't know which half". This book, along with the AdWords platform solves that problem.

If you can play fantasy baseball you can run an AdWords account.

I really liked the example on page 20 that walks you through all the numbers and acronyms with a real world example. I guess the only down side was the free $25 Adwords gift would only work with new accounts.

My husband and I bought this book to help with a ppc campaign we were developing for our online store, A Zen Gift. Howie Jacobson's Book, AdWords For Dummies far exceeded our expectations. Besides numerous practical tools and referrals, Howie's writing style made it easy to understand and actually fun to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in making more money online - 2 thumbs way up!

Something for everyone that has an interest in increasing there traffic to there own site through Adwords. But the best thing not mentioned on the cover, is the "members only" site that gives the tools and chapter updates not found in the book. in addition, the followup emails give more insight than other experts give in a full day training class.
Overall, its highly recommended.

I also can recommend Perry marshall's book for a more detailed strategy guide to adwords.
Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords (Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords)

The book offers a detailed guide to start with this Google tool as well as marketing tips that will make your ad really magnetic. Great buy.

I'd already started to use Google's Adwords but had got a bit lost! After reading Adwords for Dummies I realized why my campaigns weren't working and, more importantly, what I needed to do to make them work. I also LOVE the resources that Howie Jacobson makes available on his website for readers of his book.

The success of my Adwords campaigns has improved enormously, and I now know I'm spending my Adwords budget wisely.

The whole idea of managing an effective AdWords campaign can be challenging, but Howie Jacobson presents the information in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. You expect the basics from a Dummies book, but Howie Jacobson goes beyond the basics and lays out the entire process so you can start your own campaign now. He lists free tools you can use to help you out with your research and implementation. When you purchase the book you get access to his readers only site with updates, video tutorials and additional information. Howie Jacobson was a co-creator of the Smart Beginners Course by Ken McCarthy. Howie has years of experience in both online and offline businesses and he uses what he teaches in his own businesses. So this book is based on real-world experience. When you buy this book you're tapping into a wealth of knowledge and experience and you'll continue to learn more as he updates the readers site. This is a must-have book if you want to really understand not only AdWords but also how to create sites that attract customers. Take a look at the Table of Contents!

I think a slightly better title for this book would be "Online Marketing with AdWords for Dummies". I say that because the book goes beyond just AdWords to talk about the peripheral systems involved. Personally, I was after purely AdWords information, so the extra stuff was just something to be ignored and bypassed.

That added material aside, if you want a VERY thorough walk through AdWords, this book will serve your needs quite well. It is dense, full of very useful information and techniques. The author also includes a great deal of supporting info and tools on a support website, which helps to keep things up-to-date.

All in all, a fantastic investment.

I am normally pretty skeptical about product reviews for books on Internet marketing. It seems like they all get 5-stars and a dozen reviews within days of the book being published. Makes me wonder if there aren't some ringers there. So when I saw this book, I was thinking, "Can't be THAT good!" But I thought if I got one or two good ideas from it, it may be worth my trouble.

I was wrong. I didn't just get one or two ideas - I got a thousand! This book is the real deal, maybe the best book I've seen of the often mediocre Dummies series. If you get beyond the corny humor that the Dummies editors seem to encourage in their writers, you really will find everything you need to know to get started on Google AdWords, with a lot of bonus information on Internet marketing in general. Yes, the author seems to be pushing some of his buddies' websites a bit too often, but that's a small price to pay for the thorough, comprehensible job he did on this. The guy knows his stuff, and to be honest, most of the websites he recommends seem to be worth a look.

I'm currently going through this book a second time and picking up little things I missed. I recommend this book without reservation.

Three weeks ago, I knew nothing about AdWords. Then I heard that it might be really important to the success of my business. I did some basic research, and decided to buy Howie's book. That was a good choice!

As others have mentioned, the book is free if you apply the enclosed credit to a new AdWords account.

Thanks to the excellent organization and clear writing, I now have a solid basic understanding of a very complex system, and a strategic plan for refining my future AdWords marketing efforts.

I spent a few hours skimming the book to get an overview, and marking sections to return to later for more careful study. Then another few hours of considering how to apply the principles and techniques to my business. I now have a functioning account with several ads that are generating traffic to my website.

I sent Howie a question about the best structure of campaigns vs. ad groups. He answered the same day, and didn't even point out that I had overlooked the answer in the book.

I still have a lot to learn and put into practice. This book will be my guide.

Thanks, Howie!

If you are not familiar with AdWords (or how to sell products), then AdWords for Dummies is must purchase for anybody interested getting their products sold. And even if you are a pro in Adwords, there's probably tips worth reading.

The book is written in very practical terms and comes with lots of ideas and hints that can be applied right away.

I have an online business and have been using Google Adwords for about a year now. It has worked pretty well, and I was happy with the results. I started to look into ways to improve traffic to my website, and bought this book based on the recommendations here. In the first chapter alone I learned over a dozen tools, tricks and ideas for improving my adword campaign that I had no clue about! And it just got better. Howie writes in a friendly, easy to understand manner that makes this not only a valuable tool, but an entertaining read also! If you are currently using Adwords, thinking about Adwords, or have an ecommerce site but aren't yet using Adwords, buy this book, immediately. This is a comprehensive, easy to understand book for both beginner and seasoned user with countless ideas, suggestions and tools for improving your CTR and ROI. There is something for everyone in here. I cannot stress enough how important Google Adwords has been to my business, and with my new understanding of how to use it (I was doing the bare minimum before and thought it was doing fine!), I have only made two or three of the dozens of changes I need to and have already seen a signifiant jump in not only traffic to my site, but they are interested, paying customers, not just empty clicks that cost me money. And I cannot stress enough how amazing this book has been in helping me figure out how to use the system to my advantage.

I have ALL the books on this subject and this one is hands down the best. It's an east read - practical, and covers WAY more than just Adwords. He brings the entire marketing game into focus in a way no other does.

Howie may be a PhD - but he has more common sense than most. By the way the companion web site is worth the price alone as a membership site. If you are looking for a practical book to help you get started and continue - this is the book you want to buy.

AdWords for Dummies is a great tool for someone who needs to learn Google's AdWords program. There is a AdWords coupon in the back that immediately makes the book worth the purchase. Howie does a great job making a somewhat complicated advertising program like AdWords, simple to his audience.

Coach Steve Rau
Owner
www.PlayBallAcademy.com

This is an excellent primer on a very complicated and difficult subject to master. If you can get past the sillyness and bad jokes (the reason for my rating the book four stars instead of five), which I'm sure are meant to lighten things up, this will take you far into the world of AdWords. The mechanics of AdWords are straight forward, but complicated and with many layers and AdWords for Dummies gets you through that with a minimum of pain. The real challenge comes with trying to write a good ad and choosing the right (and wrong, in the case of negative) keywords. Sadly, I'm in an industry (fine jewelry) where bids on the best keywords are up to $5.00 and $10.00 right now (at Valentine's Day).

This book makes the technical background of Google AdWords comprehensible and fun. Howie Jacobson keeps it light and simple while still covering all the essential areas regarding Google AdWords. He walks the reader step-by-step through beginning their first campaign and takes them all the way to creating dynamic landing pages.

The book is organized in a methodical way but you do not have to read in chronological order. Start wherever you desire in the book and you will immediately begin learning tools and techniques that will boost your ad campaign!

We've been looking for a solid book on Google adwords and found "Adwords for Dummies". Not only is this book for beginners, but it gives a comprehensive outlook for those who are already connected with Google Adwords that want to learn more about how it works, bidding for keywords (costs), calculations/formulas, user friendly adword tools, and lots of other stuff too!

Howie also goes into how to better your marketing techniques with newsletters, bribing your customers (in a professional ethical way of course), and understanding Google analytics.

If more people who have websites knew about this book they would definately save more money and drive more customers to their websites! Simply a priceless book and a straight-foward honest author! Very Impressed!!

I love this book!

Howie is a great teacher, has a cool sense of humor, and combines the
"big picture" with a lot of "nitty gritty" tips and tells you how to do stuff step by step.

It's good for non-techies who want to tap the power of the internet and unleash the creative genius inside them.

I hope Howie builds on this book and sets up a low cost coaching service
(Hint, hint ... Howie!)

This book is a total pleasure .... Thank you Howie!

(He didn't even pay me to write this!)

I bought both Adwords for Dummies and the Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords and they are both good books but the Dummies guide has proven more useful. First off, the Dummies guide is about 90 pages longer, feels more comprehensive, has more step by step instructions and has many more screen shots than the other guide. What's more, the Dummies format makes it familiar once you open the cover, so it's easier to digest information with familiar icons, tips and warnings throughout, especially if you're not an expert at this stuff. Secondly, the $25 Google Adwords gift card (which was actually $30 for me as it also covered the $5 sign up fee) was great and easy to use. Make sure you apply it to your Adwords account when you sign up or within 15 days of signing up. The Ultimate Guide to Adwords cover says it has details on a "Free Google Success Toolkit" ($85 value) inside, but I have yet to find it. Looked in the index, intro, front and back covers, kind of irritating.

Internet marketing strategist and AdWords coach Howie Jacobson, Ph.D. presents AdWords for Dummies, a user-friendly manual to using Google AdWords to serve one's marketing needs. and attract the right kinds of visitors to one's website. Chapters discuss how to set up a starter edition AdWords account, uncover one's online market, choose the right keywords, craft attractive ads, improve one's ad campaigns through keyword management, follow up on prospects, apply conversion tracking to cut costs, common beginner errors when working with AdWords, and much more. AdWords for Dummies lives up to the solid reputation of the Dummies series by blending professional expertise with a simple and straightforward tutorial anyone can follow. A, $25 Google AdWords gift card rounds out this enthusiastically recommended aid to Internet marketing in the twenty-first century.

I usually don't buy the Dummies books, but I decided to buy this one because of the good reviews and the fact that it was the most current title on adwords available. I had already signed up for adwords before buying the book and I really didn't know a whole lot about it. I was just trying to understand all the options offered but didn't really know how to use them to my advantage.

This book explained it all and really showed me how to run an adwords campaign the right way. With the $25 credit for google adwords it really is basically free...but I'd say that even without the credit. The information is more valuable than the price of the book.

Howie Jacobson's guide to the Google Adword's system is suitable for Adword's users of all skill levels, from the beginner to the experienced pro. In my opinion, everyone benefits from a great source book like this. It's easy to read and understand, and there's so much information within, you'll find yourself learning something every time you open it.

The Beginner:
Adwords has a Starter Edition and a Standard Edition. If you are starting out with the Adwords system, Howie's book shows how to get the most from either edition. Your best bet is the Starter Edition. Don't let the name fool you, it is a feature rich system. You could try to figure it out on your own, of course, but Howie's done it for you, and he's organized it in an easy to follow fashion He'll guide you on how to get the most out of your campaign. He'll show you the common, and not so common, pitfalls beginners fall into. And he'll prepare you for the move from Starter to Standard, if you decide that's the direction for you and your campaign.

The Professional:
I think every profession knows you need a good library of resources at your disposal. Howie's book is a great bargain. Not only will it help you to navigate the Adword's system, but it will also make it easier for you to explain the system to your clients and collaborators. Thus it is a great resource for the home business or the office.

So no matter what level your functioning at, if you're using Adwords, Adwords for Dummies by Howie Jacobson is a must have.

As you may or may not know - Howie Jacobson was, at one point, a Teacher. He truly shows his teaching skills in this book...

I've read a TON of Adwords books and I swore that there was no book better than "Beating Adwords", until I read this. I mean it's not even remotely close, to be honest.

This book closed SO many gaps that were left open from all of the other books.

If you're a beginner - you're going to walk away knowing MORE than most "advanced" level Google Adwords users. If you're advanced - you're going to prove to yourself that you were NOT as advanced as you probably thought.

This book is just amazing for what it gives you. The price compared to all of those $47-$97 ebooks is almost a joke! On top of that - you get a $25 AdWords voucher code too! =)

There's no comparison... take it from a guy who has bought every AdWords ebook and several PPC/AdWords paper back books.

If you don't buy this book - you're KILLING your revenue and your bank account!

One other plus about the author is that he's VERY quick to reply to questions. Maybe I just got lucky and hit him at a good time? No... he replied quickly to two other queries too!

He's also got a very nice companion website to go with the book... it's not one of those cheesy outdated websites like a lot of technical books have. It's actually answering questions, giving more info, etc. It's a blog, actually.

This book is the best Adwords book on the market... and if I say it anymore - someone will assume I am the guys mother or father. I promise you I have absolutely no relations with the guy, nor do I know him. I am just pumped about spending so little money to learn so much after spending so much money on other books in the past!

I love the Dummies books. They typically are very good, especially for filling in holes in the foundation when you're learning a new topic quickly.

Howie's book is not a typical Dummies book.

It's much, much better.

Howie goes beyond the foundation and provides a ton of insight on Pay-Per Click advertising and Internet/Direct Marketing.

Beginners will find what you've probably come to expect from Dummies books -- a good grounding in the topic.

Intermediate and advanced PPC practitioners also will pick up plenty of tips and advice from a very experienced marketer, who also is a great teacher.

Thanks, Howie!

Disclaimer: Yes, I wrote a case study that Howie graciously included in the book. That in no way affects my opinion of the book. Howie wrote the best Dummies book of all time.

Great Book for those looking to start their 1st campaign...or those looking to get a (big) leg up on the competition. Many, many useful tips, but not so deep you get discouraged. Highly recommended.

God bless Howie Jacobson and his family, and you must be wondering.... but why? what have just happened?... well I bought this book in order to learn more about Adwords, after searching on internet for a lot of information... and getting some books about it... and I found out that it is a incredible book... is a very complete book. EXCELLENT!!!!!

I can say that above being a very complete book that covers from zero the creation of adwords account, campaign, perfect landing pages and lot of advices on the topic...it gives you a Bonus and online tools to begin with.

To make my review short... the main points I can mention are:

* Shows you how to create your Google account
* Shows how to know if your niche is worth the time before working on it
* Shows you how to design your campaign very quickly
* Shows you how to create landing pages
* And a lot of more!!

It is like magic because the book does all step by step, very easily, but with so much detail.


The best Adwords book for beginner and people who know the topic.

Go get it!!!! you won't be disappointed.


Ramon Elias.
Soinsoft.

I have been giggling all the way through this book even while learning tons of concepts, tips and techniques that have me quite excited about using adwords to create great campaigns. The writer throws in jokes when you least expect it, and the effect is to make reading it feel like a conversation with a friend. (A very smart and funny friend.)

I work for a nonprofit and just recently launched an ad in an urgent attempt to get folks to respond to a call to action. The book has quickly clarified for me what I'm doing right and wrong and how to make my campaign better, and has inspired me to try it with other projects. Particularly helpful is the advice on getting inside the mind of the google searcher while they are in the process of trying to scratch an itch - you have about 2 seconds before they click on another link. What an interesting and fun challenge.

I don't have a marketing background - don't need it to understand the book - and I've learned so much more than how to write an adword. The book goes into the marketing concepts behind the tools in an engaging
way that gets me excited all over again about the power of the internet, especially for the little people.

For the past few years, Perry Marshall's "The Definitive Guide to Google AdWords" has been the "King of the Hill" tutorial for serious Internet Marketers when it came to learning Google's popular pay-per-click advertising strategy.
Well move over Perry `cause there's a new sheriff in town. Dr. Howie Jacobson is now in the driver's seat with his new book "AdWords for Dummies".

This complete guide can show the absolute novice who can barely spell Google if given the first three letters, how to set up an account or it can show the most experienced marketer how to put in place their split testing program or their conversion tracking.

While the information in "AdWords for Dummies" is spot on, it's the format and style that really sets this book apart.

Wiley Publishing Inc, the books publisher has perfected the "Dummies" series format for teaching almost anything and Howie's plugged into that. He's taken the format, applied it to Google's complex and potentially confusing program and done a great job in making it understandable for everyone.

Starting from scratch, even the most inexperienced rookie following Howie's step by step approach can set up an account, establish their budget, write their first ad, select a few key words and have an initial campaign in place in a couple of hours.

But here's the amazing aspect of this approach. As Howie shows you, your feedback is immediate. Within 24-48 hours you'll have some results. Good or bad. That's when Howie steps in. He next shows you how to begin tweaking your campaign so you can begin achieving maximum response.

Where Howie really shines is STYLE. Do you remember seeing the comedian Gallagher? Remember how he always said the word style......styyyyyyyyle.....it took about five seconds it seemed. Well, that how I would say it to you if we were talking. Howie's style has got a great sense of humor and an arsenal of relatable stories. He uses both in his teaching to keep the reader's attention and to make his points seem achievable by anyone.

Why's this important you ask? Well, this topic has all the potential to be as boring and dry as Alan Greenspan talking on monetary policy. Without some styyyyyle, the readers are heading for the TV remote and/or the refrigerator.

Howie doesn't let them get away.

If you are looking to start a pay-per-click campaign on Google and have no experience then this book is for you. If you want to improve an existing campaign, this book is for you too.

Howie's hit a home run!

When I started flipping through the pages of this book, I started to feel a sense of relief that someone finally made the complex system of Adwords simple.

Even for someone who knows the system well, like myself, to be able to have a book like this is like a breath of fresh air.....because it targets and highlights the key elements you need to know.

Sometimes we end up knowing too much on something, and the real key is knowing EXACTLY the most important elements.

Howie did a brilliant job of making this book user friendly and at adding in more content that ties directly to Adwords...like conversion and landing pages.

I even found a quick tip I implemented immediately on my site at UnlockTheGame.com...I added "7 days a week, 24 hours a day" next to my phone numbers and my inbound calls leads have dramatically improved.

Something so simple, which most online marketers miss.

Thanks Howie for a great resource.

I've played around with purchasing ad words for several years, but I've never really understood enough to get the results I was hoping for. Despite the high potential, it's a subject that can very quickly get complicated.

Then along came Howie Jacobson's wonderful new book, and suddenly it all began to make sense. In typical "Dummies" style, this book makes it clear how ad words work and how to set them up to your advantage, and miraculously, it does it all in a painless (okay, enjoyable) way.

If you've been wanting to take part in the biggest thing to hit advertising since the invention of the 30 second TV commercial, but didn't know how or where to start, buy this book and you'll be on your way. You'd be a dummy not to.

Adwords for Dummies is very informative view on the complex Google tool. Howie Jacobson gives insight and direction with humor and simplicity. I have struggled with Adwords for quite a while now and I have found many helpful tips and practices in this book.

Once you have purchased the book Dr. Jacobson has a website "[...]" set up with tutorials and even more tips that guide you even further towards being successful in advertising with Google. I found this website very helpful also.

Adwords for Dummies is geared towards the beginner but it also has some great new ideas for the more advanced. I need to add that I found myself laughing out loud quite often.

Nice job!

You might call this, "The Million Dollar Review," after-all, I'm the guy, Dan Hollings, that recently orchestrated the internet marketing campaign for The Secret (Extended Edition) and thus, I know a thing or two about this topic.

Despite all the mass media hoopla, from Oprah to Larry King, the Wall Street Journal to Newsweek (not to forget, Saturday Night Live) and more... one of the biggest secrets about "The Secret" was that Google Adwords played a bigger role than most would believe. Yes there was viral, social media networking, word-of-mouth, database marketing and a plethora of other strategies all working in concert, but at the core of the millions upon millions in sales that occurred directly from optimized Secret landing pages was a humble Google Adword campaign.

What does this have to do with "AdWords For Dummies?" Well, I can't say I personally know Howie Jacobson (I'd love to meet him), but from what I read, it seems back two or three years ago when I could have really used some of the secrets now revealed in his book, Howie was more than likely out juggling or playing with his big goofy dog. Even one of my most dog-eared books of this category, the Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords (Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords) by Perry Marshall was not published until Nov 29, 2006; over a year after my work on "The Secret" campaign began. Ah, I guess (as the movie might say) the universe just wasn't delivering what I needed in a timely fashion! I'm convinced, however, that either of these books could have produced at least a 10% increase in my results (now let's figure... $24 million X 10% = a $2,400,000 increase in profits). I'm not sure I'll ever forgive the universe for this one :-)

"AdWords For Dummies" is slightly more for beginners (as is typical for The Dummies Series), while the "Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords" is more advanced. Heck, let's not dice onions here and cry; cut loose of 40 bucks and get them both. But be forewarned, you'll soon be tempted to crank out much more money as you compile the various keyword research, competitive analysis, split-testers and other pay per click efficiency tools recommended in these books.

Now, a few book review comments...

After basics were covered in the early chapters, Chapter 5 is where I began to slow down a bit and absorb. Here, Howie covered "Choosing the Right Keywords" and this is a subject I just love. Yes, I know a lot about keyword research, but finding even one additional tip or technique can make a big difference; I was on high alert as I cruised through this chapter. I was familiar with the 'Peel & Stick' strategy from "Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords" - but, Howie used it in a new way. You'll find Howie's expand 'Peel & Stick' strategy very helpful. A free tool to help automate this strategy is available from Aaron Wall: do a google for "Free Open Source Keyword Phrase List Generator." Rest assured, I wasn't born loving this keyword stuff, it's an acquired love, but you'll love the results too, if you hunker down and do the work.

Chapter 6, "Writing Magnetic Ads" got down to a series of very valuable and easy to grasp strategies that will attract not just clicks, but the "right" clicks. No magnets required! One trick Howie reveals in this book (yes, we all love cheap tricks) is the fake www-domain trick. How could I resist! Forgive me Howie for revealing this one here, but what fun I had with this one! Basically you write your ad, but at the bottom, where Google AdWords allows you to add a display URL, you enhance the authority of your ad by using a URL closely associated with the ad subject matter, but not exactly the real thing. Hang with me as I clarify. Let's say I'm wanting to market a book, like: "AdWords For Dummies" within AdWords, but I do not own www(dot)AdwordsForDummies(dot)com. I could get www(dot)www-AdwordsForDummies(dot)com and display in my AdWords ad a very impressive URL... www-AdwordsForDummies(dot)com --- go there, try it, it works! People read ads quickly and do not discern a (dot) over a (dash) so www- allows you to match your URL to your ad if you do not own the URL you wish you had.

Continuing in Chapter 6 (I guess the magnets kept attracting me there) I found myself liking this Howie dude more and more. I mean, he likes dogs, he can juggle, he has a PhD in something other than marketing, he offers free vegan oatmeal cookies to his readers (by email - pg. 153) and he even plugs his wife's Comfort Soap site. I love it. By the way, if you have young children and want to help them build self esteem (after they finish there bath with some nice 'Mango Butter' comfort soap), then get this book by my wife: LYDIA: The Story of How the Ladybug Earned her Wings. Yes, it seems Howie and I are a lot alike (except for the PhD part).

"AdWords For Dummies" ends with the traditional Dummies "Part of Ten" - sort of a top ten list of Adwords things to do or not to do. I must admit I was a little disappointed here. Howie admits they'd never make their way onto Letterman, but likewise, they'd not fancy my list either. A bit of a let down at the close of an otherwise valuable book; deserving of a spot on your internet marketing "must have" shelf. By the way, if you're wondering why I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5... I'm expecting more from Howie and I need to leave room for greater things to come.

Here's the formula: www-AdwordsForDummies / a batch of vegan cookies / and a nice comfort soap bath!