Tips on writing text ad copy

Initially I was frustrated with my inability to write a PPC text ad copy that would win clicks. I have spent hundreds of dollars on Google and Yahoo pay-per-click advertisement. However, I had little success.

I read several articles by Perry Marshall on Google Adwords and spent hours in selecting and compiling big lists of keywords. I used a combination of keyword selector tools from Google and Overture, also I subscribed to Wordtracker and purchased numerous keyword generator software such as Keyword Equalizer, Niche Finder and etc.

As I have a limited budget, my bids are usually less than $0.15. Even though I thought I had most targeted keyword covered, I was not gettting the clicks!

Then one day, while research for some keyword with Google, I discover what my problem was. I saw my ad and the ad copy sucked. It read horribly, who on earth would even bother to waste a mouse-click on it.

That was when I decided to work on my ad copy seriously.

I got hold of all the advertising books I could lay my hand on. The older books in the library are fantastic. I did not remember the titles of the books - I was too engrossed and busy taking notes.

However, reading library books will not make you a competent copywriter. Practice and more practice would. Still, I was not satisfied with my progress. Something was not right.

The something was found in the search engine listing. I needed to study other people ads(OPA) - understand what "clicks" and what to avoid. I found that I actually enjoyed studying OPA and it was so much easier to "borrow" ideas from some of these gems...