Here’s a useful Yahoo link that everyone should have handy: Enter your keyword terms here and Yahoo will tell you how much they are worth in Yahoo’s network. The keywords might be worth more or less through Google or Adbrite. For example, enter “modern art abstract” and you get to see who is buying abstract art traffic through Yahoo, and how much people are paying for those clicks.
This is very powerful. For example, you might see an opportunity to buy low and sell high. You could hypothetically “buy” a surfer through Yahoo for 20 cents and “sell” her through to a Google AdSense unit at 30 cents. I’m just using these numbers to give you the general idea. Make sure you follow the rules of these programs. And remember, when we talk about “traffic” we’re talking about real people. People are unpredictable.
Example. Let’s say you are an abstract artist. You know that you want to buy the keywords “abstract art”. But you know that there’s a wide range of “abstract art” out there. Some people would even consider Monet abstract. Impressionism isn’t abstract, but who am I to argue with the market? Regardless, you recognize that you need to be more specific. You know that a query for “abstract art” is too vague to be useful. What do you do? Your shapes are influenced by Cezanne, so you throw in the “modern” keyword, because you know that Cezanne and modernism go hand in hand.
Now you check to see what “modern art abstract” is worth over at Yahoo. You figure you can get in there for 20 cents/click so you buy some traffic from Yahoo. Your artwork is photographed and ready to sell. You’re excited. “My starving artist days will soon be over!” You hope you at least break even at 20 cents/click.
Someone clicks a 20 cent “modern art abstract” Yahoo link leading to your page. They see your art. They love it. They love it so much, they hit “print” to show your work off in their cubicle. Raise your hand you artsy cubicle curators! Really, people do this–I’ve seen it. As an artist I don’t mind, in fact I love it. My trademark style gets advertised wherever my work is showing. Relax. It’s an unsigned print–nothing to be afraid of.
So in this example, you just bought some cubicle advertising for 20 cents. Not bad. Even if the viewer never purchases a print from you, or makes it to a 30 cent Google AdSense ad, you still might have gained a bookmark. Or this person might tell a friend. That’s how it works. At the very least you bought a smirk for 20 cents.
This other tool will offer keyword suggestions, and it will give you a feel for how often your keywords are searched for in Yahoo. Take it from there and let me know how you do.