Conversion Value Setup For Search Campaigns

Full-Coverage Conversion Value Modeling

Whether a search campaign is for lead generation or eCommerce, each type of conversion needs to be assigned a value.

Here, we are focused on lead generation campaigns, which include the majority of search campaigns. For example, advertising a service business where leads (sales inquiries) are handled by a sales organization. We have a separate article about this topic for e-commerce search campaigns.

Why assign PPC Conversions a value?

By assigning a conversion value, we are able to measure the two most important metrics for a search campaign: ‘return on ad spend’, and ‘advertising margin’. Even more importantly, we are able to inform the automated bidding system in relative terms how valuable a conversion is. So the automated bidding will be more aggressive in bidding for more valuable conversions.

PPC Conversion Values in e-Commerce campaign

eCommerce campaign conversion value is straightforward: the amount of the sale minus the product cost. So for example if we know the gross margin for a product line, it’s simple to approximate.

PPC Conversion Modeling in Lead Generation Campaigns

This is best explained by example.  Suppose a regulatory consulting firm obtains new clients after form fills and phone calls.  60% of incoming client phone calls have resulted in a contract over 2 years. Looking over their financials, they see those calls generated revenue with an average project value of $15,000.

In this case, we would calculate the conversion value of a phone lead as 0.7 * 15,000 = $10,500.

For a Salesforce.com consultancy, the average project might range from $10,000 to $500,000 or even higher from a single phone call.  The numbers are impressive but they’re all over the place. Larger values with more variance distribution require a bit more consideration in order to arrive at a meaningful number.

The conversion value doesn’t have to be exact, it will serve it’s purpose if within +/- 25%.

Benefits of creating a conversion model

First, reporting so we know the campaign profitability metrics.

Second, to feed conversion metadata (conversion value) back into the automated bidding.

Third – higher performance campaigns!

Issues with Conversion Value Modeling

eCommerce businesses are the most straightforward in which to establish a conversion value. The majority of search campaigns are lead generation campaigns, so the value of each client acquisition must be made from a sample of project revenue over a longer planning window.

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