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WTF ADWORDS! You can't turn off tablets at all? Or even bid different on GDN? (17)

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So it's been over a year since I used adwords ...

hopped in testing a new offer on the display/content network

Figured out real quick how to turn off the mobile traffic since it wasn't converting.

NOW I'm getting "ok" results with the "computers" under devices (a CPA I can work with and improve I think) but HALF MY EFFING TRAFFIC IS TABLETS WITH FULL BROWSERS WTF GOOGLE!

Computers: XXX clicks - 2 conversions
Tablets: XXX clicks (almost the exact fucking same) - 0 conversions

WTF

There has GOT to be a way around this right?

Or has anyone not seen that big of difference with tablet traffic?

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Tablets have been converting just fine for me so I haven't even tried to turn it off.

Based on the stats you've given above, you don't really have any basis to say the tablets don't convert. There's no real statistical significance on either platform still.

I would let it continue gathering data and once you're at 50-100 sales or so, start to pick off placements with 0% CTR and optimize the ads on your good ones as well as knocking out any placements with a CPA that's too high (given it has gotten enough data).

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I had this exact same problem with one of my businesses marketing desktop-specific software.

Woke up one morning to find that I had gone from profit to blowing 80% of my budget on tablet traffic that was impossible to convert. Spent a whole day researching how to block tablets using all sorts of tricks, but these didn't work.

Google's mantra of "do no evil" is long long gone. Any ascertation that this update was to benefit advertisers is complete and utter bullshit.

I figured I could either bitch and moan or completely move away from Adwords, which is what I did. Mobile only these days

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I understand what you're saying amigo -- I know it's not statistically significant yet BUT I have this sinking feeling that a trend is showing.

Yes, I know Google thinks the "experience" is the same but that's BS -- a tablet and computer are two totally different experiences (otherwise the "post your office" pics would be all guys with ipads on the beach lol)

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have you tried setting a mobile bid adjustment -100% for tablets on the settings tab for the campaign(s)?

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this.

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This is an even bigger pain in the arse when you're running PayPerCall on AdWords.

Not being able to turn off desktop/tablet traffic is a complete and utter joke.

You can adjust your mobile bid by a maximum of 300%, but this is no good if the term is fiercely competitive on mobile and less so on desktops. You still pick up the desktop traffic.

Crazy that a platform like AdWords doesn't cater to basic device targeting. But what can you do?

It's AdWords.

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Yeah it's that enhanced clicks crap they introduced.

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Would you not be able to set 1c desktop bids and then increase mobile by 5000% or something to achieve disabling desktop?

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I think the problem is that you're limited there... so can only go up to 300% and can't outright bid 1c on Desktop.

It really is stupid... one of the largest traffic sources on the planet and they don't even offer something that simple.

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I DID set mobile bid adjustment to -100%

In my account at least you do NOT have the option to set tablet bids! WTF!

http://screencast.com/t/WjeMfja8C

agreed if they just let you bid different for tablets that would work probably just like mobile.

What a money grab

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Yeah there's a 300% limit.

Money grab indeed.

Some mobile keywords are $15-$20 to be competitive.

But if your desktop bid is still $5, that's going to haul major clicks.

I have a couple of campaigns that are just marginally profitable. And yet 80% of the traffic is going to desktops which I can't do anything with. Madness!

Only solution is to build an authority site that funnels the traffic to get users picking up their phones.

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Hey Finch, a decent technique I have been using to almost totally stop desktop/tablet traffic is write really high quality mobile specific ads and really poor quality all devices ads, these contain no keywords in the ads, no call to action, no capitalisation and are really generic, this really slows down desktop impressions just due to quality, plus any impressions you do get never end up getting clicks.

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has anybody found a sneaky way to exclude the bullshit tablet traffic ? if you found, make sure to not make it public, but a pm is welcome lol

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This really does work. You need to create a boring ad that will decrease your chances of getting desktop clicks. Your add should NOT follow all of the best practices you know to work.

So, set your mobile bid adjustment to 300%, create good mobile preferred ads and poor/bad/boring desktop preferred ads.

The desktop ads will show on desktops and you'll get a low placement, low quality score (on the ad) and little to no desktop clicks. Your mobile preferred ads will get clicks from mobile devices.

Using this technique will generate 90-95% mobile only clicks, depending on the vertical. Of course it will affect quality score, but you'll get those mobile clicks you want!

Example of a "boring" ad:
this is a website
there are, things for
purchasing, on the website
www.domain.com

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actually your example boring ad is very engaging. i am sure i would click it if i saw such an ad anywhere to purchase things in this website

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It can sometimes be challenging to write a "boring" ad that will NOT get clicks. Sometimes I do see these boring ads out-perform the mobile ads, so I delete them and try something new.

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