Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature

30th July 2009

Google AdWords is now rolling out a new feature called Bid Simulator, which shows advertisers what sort of click volume they might expect at various cost per click bid amounts.

The bid simulator can be accessed in the new AdWords interface by clicking on a CPC value to adjust it, or clicking on the tiny graph-like icon next to the current bid value, as shown in the screenshot below:

Adjusting CPC Bids with Bid Simulator
Accessing AdWords’ bid simulator

When the tool opens up in a new layer (on the same page), it shows a simulation of the estimated clicks, cost and impressions that particular keyword will get if the bid values are increased or decreased. The tool also includes a graph to illustrate the change in number of clicks as CPC changes.

Google AdWords Bid Simulator
AdWords bid simulator in action

Documentation provided by Google describes the function of the Bid Simulator: “It doesn’t predict the future, but it estimates the click, cost and impression data that your ads would have received over the last seven days had you set different keyword-level bids. ”

The tool does not work for all keywords, and the graph does not show up for all keywords that have the bid simulator enabled. Search volumes are the determining factor for whether or not the simulator and the graph within the simulator are enabled or not.

According to Google, “The bid simulator requires historical information in order to provide click and cost data for different bids. If a keyword didn’t receive many clicks in the last seven days, it isn’t possible to simulate clicks and cost.”

Values for the bid simulator only apply to the search network – that is, Google search and other search partners.

Tags: advertising, bid management, cpc, google, google-adwords, ppc, search-engine-marketing

Add Your Comments

Share this post via:

Email to a friend

16 Responses to “Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature”

Follow comments on this post through the RSS 2.0 Feed

Randy Pickard : 30 July 2009 at 7:01 pm

Interesting new feature, but not of much value to sites competing on terms with low impressions and click rates. I have not determined where the cut off is in regard to number of clicks requires for estimates, but 21 clicks per week does not seem to make the cut.
Ej : 21 August 2009 at 4:57 pm

I’ve had negative results from the bid optimizer – it over-inflate your bid without providing an equal return of impressions/clicks. After testing this feature on a few keywords I won’t use it again as it greatly increased my CPCs without providing a significant amount of additional traffic. Looks like another attempt for Google to increase revenue from advertisers. http://twitpic.com/epyjb

Discussion on social networks & blogs

webmarketingwiz : 30 July 2009 at 12:17 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature: Google AdWords is now rolling out a new feature called Bid Simula.. http://bit.ly/kVxcL
meltduplooy : 30 July 2009 at 12:47 pm

Bid Simulator tested in Adwords Beta version since May09 http://tinyurl.com/qgfldy – feature to be rolled out now? http://tinyurl.com/nwywdg
robfranta : 30 July 2009 at 12:51 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature http://bit.ly/1N8rPs
twtadds : 30 July 2009 at 1:03 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature: Google AdWords is now rolling out a new feature called Bid Simula.. http://bit.ly/XTOC0
affiliatwit : 30 July 2009 at 1:58 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature: Google AdWords is now rolling out a new feature called Bid Simula.. http://bit.ly/nvDdE
leetilford : 30 July 2009 at 2:11 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature http://bit.ly/99qwu
PPCMogul : 30 July 2009 at 2:13 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature: Google AdWords is now rolling out a new feature called Bid Simula.. http://bit.ly/alizV
dominateadwords : 30 July 2009 at 3:05 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature http://bit.ly/XdVzc
AdWordsHelper : 30 July 2009 at 3:50 pm

RT @AccuraCast two thumbs up for the Bid Simulator http://bit.ly/BFdab
GoogleAgencyDE : 30 July 2009 at 3:55 pm

RT @AccuraCast two thumbs up for the Bid Simulator http://bit.ly/BFdab
Le_Colonel : 30 July 2009 at 3:55 pm

RT: @AdWordsHelper: RT @AccuraCast two thumbs up for the Bid Simulator http://bit.ly/BFdab
elbguru : 30 July 2009 at 5:06 pm

RT @tweetmeme Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature | AccuraCast Search Daily News http://bit.ly/spZhA
ppcwebspy4u : 30 July 2009 at 5:58 pm

Google AdWords Launches Bid Simulator Feature http://bit.ly/LsBmi
markbaa : 31 July 2009 at 12:42 am

Adwords launched “bid simulator” http://tinyurl.com/nwywdg Curious to see how accurate this is! Looks awesome in theory.

Add Your Comments

Please Note: We do not use nofollow, but we moderate all comments. Your comment will go live once it has been moderated. You do not need to resubmit it.

Avatars are displayed for users logged in via Facebook or can be created on Gravatar.com, and will appear whenever you leave a comment on a Gravatar-enabled blog.