Right folks- it’s competition time!
Premise: we want to do something to mark the launch of our brand spanking new suite of PPC tools. We also want to do our bit to help out with the Myanmar (Burma) cyclone appeal, and thought the best way we could do this would be to play to one of our strengths. We’re referring, of course, to the exciting world of PPC advertising.
The genius solution? Read on…
First up: the competition.
You guys compete to write the best PPC ad for charity. That’s the short version…
You (yes, you) write a blog post about the competition and include your ad in the copy- you should link to it in our comments so we know you want to enter. The purpose of your post is to spread the word about the Myanmar (Burma) cyclone appeal- there’s no need to link to our blog (unless you really really want to!). To reiterate: over and above the actual ad campaign, your blog will help raise awareness.
We’ll put all the ad entries into a campaign with the Myanmar (Burma) cyclone donation page on World Vision as the landing page- deadline is Friday 13th June.
We’re putting up the budget to run the PPC campaign for a limited time. Obviously the longer we can run the campaign the better as it will lead to more donations (and more statistical significance for the adverts!). So if anyone is interested in contributing to the PPC budget please get in touch.
The ad that performs the best and drives the most amount of traffic wins.
Secondly: the prize.
Not to blow our own trumpet or anything, but this is a pretty cool prize. If your ad performs the best, you will win this rather wonderful collection of goodies:
- A year signed up to our Reputation Monitor tool, pro level.
- 3 months premium membership with the one and only SEOmoz. This prize was kindly donated by SEOmoz (which means we can spend more on the ad campaign!)
- A copy of Web Analytics: An Hour A Day By Avinash Kaushik
- A Distilled hoody (limited edition)
- 3 months free access to Acquisio Search and an Acquisio t-shirt from the nice guys at Acquisio
- 3 months license to Ranksense from Hamlet Batista
- A signed copy of Radically Transparent from Andy Beal
- 2 year subscription to GoStat Pro from Richard at GoStats.com
- We’ll do a follow up post on you and your ad, explaining why we think it got to the top.
Of course, you’ll also be winning in the sense that any efforts you make should be helping to increase the amount of aid going to the cyclone victims in Myanmar (Burma).
Next up: details.
We’re going to foot the bill for the PPC campaign for a short while.
World Vision are a client of ours and we have arranged this one-off PPC campaign with them as a product of our team building day. All ads submitted will have to be run past them first. Using your common sense should be enough to make sure your ad passes muster. Once approved, your ad will be run from either Distilled or World Vision’s Google Ads account.
Ads need to follow the Google Ads format: 25 characters headline (1st line), 35 characters 2nd line, 35 characters 3rd line.
You can submit up to three ads. However, we may have to limit the number depending on the take-up, so make sure you rank your submissions.
The landing page you’ll be sending traffic to is http://www.worldvision.org.uk/.
We’ve decided to just bid on one keyphrase: ‘Myanmar cyclone appeal’
The deadline for submissions is two weeks this Friday- that’s the 13th June.
That’s it folks. Don’t forget to leave a comment with a link to your post and the adverts you want to compete with.
Update
Great feedback from everyone already for this competition, the following people contributed to the ad budget:
- $100 added to the ad budget from David Mihm
- $200 added to the ad budget from Hamlet Batista
- $100 added to the ad budget from Dylan at Brilliant Prints
And the following people have chipped in extra prizes (which I’m inserted into the list above as well):
- 3 months free access to Acquisio Search, as well as a t-shirt form the nice guys at Acquisio
- 3 month license of RankSense Professional from Hamlet Batista.
- Andy Beal has thrown in a signed copy of his book Radically Transparent. Signed! Cool.
- Richard from GoStats.com has given a 2 year Pro subscription.
Awesome!! Thanks very much to everyone who’s donated so far and thanks to all the guys who’ve blogged about it 
I’ve been waiting for the right topic for my inaugural post and launching of a new site and have just found it.
Kudos to the Distilled team for supporting a much needed effort.
My only question is, why not direct them to the donor page?
http://tinyurl.com/6l5qg6
Thanks for your support Sean.
Re your landing page suggestion… at the moment, the competition is only UK based but we are in discussion with our client to see if we can make it worldwide if there’s enough interest. At which point, thanks, that international landing page would be more suitable.
Nice landing page spot Sean.
Just to clarify Lucy’s comment, anyone from anywhere in the world can enter and raise the profile of the relief efforts.
We are currently planning to run the ads aimed at the UK search market but are hoping we might be able to open that up a little if there is interest and if we can get the logistics sorted…
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Hey guys,
I totally agree with Sean, it would be great if they had a landing page that specifically took donations for the Cyclone Relief Effort (i.e. that you didn’t have to select from the drop-down).
Here is my entry:
Donate to Cyclone Appeal Help with Myanmar Cyclone recovery. Easy process; every donation helps.
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Hi Guys,
This is a brilliant idea! Please find my contribution below, and the spectacular post from whence it came here
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal Help victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma – Donate Now
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Pingback: :: Cyclone Nargis Changer their lives - Make a difference and donate today :: May :: 2008
Fantastic competition and a very worthy cause.
My entry is here:
http://hybridvehicle.blogsome.com/2008/05/31/cyclone-nargis-changer-their-lives-make-a-difference-and-donate-today/
and below:
Help Burma Cyclone Victims 1 Day Changed Their Lives. 1 Donation Gives A Better Future.
World Vision Burma Appeal 600 Staff In Burma Delivering Aid. Make Sure Your Donation Counts!
Burma Families Need Help $100 Means Food, Water and Shelter For A Homeless Family. Donate now!
Dylan
No blog, but here is some copy:
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal Donate Money to Actual People. We Verify Our Aid Deliveries.
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Very nice campaign and I will be more than happy to support the winning entry.
My entry:
http://kinconsult.blogspot.com/2008/06/worthy-cause-using-paid-search-campaign.html
Myanmar cyclone appeal Make a donation now! world vision will respond http://www.worldvision.org.uk
Here is my blog link: http://kinconsult.com/cblog/index.php?/archives/94-A-worthy-cause.html
Find the ad copy:
Myanmar cyclone appeal help rebuild lives now make a contribution http://www.worldvision.org.uk
Bravo guys, we were so happy to see this!
http://www.SEMcares.com
You should contact the Google Grants blog to have them add news of this effort to this page: http://googlegrants.blogspot.com/2008/05/3rd-party-resources-for-managing-your.html
End the Suffering in Burma Burma Cyclone Victims Desperately Need Your Help. Donate Now and Save Lives!
I agree with Sean. Just be sure to include some copy on that page about the charity (where the money is going, what percentage, etc?). Another interesting option is allowing people to choose how their money is being spent. Hillary Clinton’s campaign did this and although she’s hardly a non-profit, it was an interesting approach.
What a great idea! Here is my entry.
{KeyWord:Myanmar Cyclone Aid} Help Volunteers Rebuild Lives in Myanmar with Just $25. Donate Today
Myanmar Cyclone Aid 2.4 Million Homeless and Hungry. Help Cyclone Victims. Donate Today!
Myanmar Cyclone Aid Their lives were changed in seconds Help Provide Lifes Essentials
Thanks for setting this up! It’s a great way to raise awareness.
Here’s our entry:
http://www.letsblogoffice.com/letsblogoffice/
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I’m Abi working as an Ad writer. I find this competition more than just a showcase of talent but a noble act of using ad power to help spread Myanmar cyclone awareness. This opens positive opportunities not only to survivors but also to compassionate hearts who wanted to do generous acts.
Here’s my entry: http://bestessays.wordpress.com/myanmar-cyclone-appeal/
Abigail:
This one is very interesting:
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal A Tragedy Equals An Opportunity Save Lives.Give Hope.Build Dreams. http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Am intrigued to see how it goes.
Dylan
Dylan:
Thank you. I really appreciate. Your entries are also interesting especially the first one. Thanks again.
Abigail
GUIDED by the belief that “Bending down and helping people to get up is a good exercise for the heart,” I decided to take part in this competition with a noble cause.
My entries are in this link: http://writingwithwestlife.blogspot.com/2008/06/attention-westlife-fans-cyclone-victims.html
I’m Aileen. I’d also like to share some ideas because I think that this is a very worthy cause. Hope that through this contest, more support and donations will come for the Myanmar survivors.
Here’s my entry: http://superiorpapers.co.cc/myanmar/
What you are doing is an admirable act that many web-based companies should emulate. I sincerely hope this contest will create the much needed awareness that will help the people of Myanmar.
Here’s my entry: http://schooltimewithcalvin.wordpress.com/
I’m Abi working as an Ad writer. I find this competition more than just a showcase of talent but a noble act of using ad power to help spread Myanmar cyclone awareness. This opens positive opportunities not only to survivors but also to compassionate hearts who wanted to do generous acts.
Here’s my entry: http://bestessays.wordpress.com/myanmar-cyclone-appeal/
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal A Tragedy Equals An Opportunity Save Lives.Give Hope.Build Dreams. http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Myanmar Faces Tragedy Cyclone Ruins Lives of Many Appeal to Your Hearts’ Sympathy http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Hear Cyclone Victims’ Appeal Recover Losses.Preserve What’s Left Restore Myanmar.Donate Now http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Correction on my third entry. It exceeded in character, here’s the edited one. Thanks.
Cyclone Victims’ Appeal Recover Losses.Preserve What’s Left Restore Myanmar.Donate Now http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
I am pleased to see that this competition is getting the attention it deserves.
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal One Day Changed Their Lives One Act can Change Their Future http://www.worldvision.org.uk
Myanmar Needs Help No Matter Where You are, You are Never Too Far to Reach Out http://www.worldvision.org.uk
Save Lives in Myanmar Help Save Millions of Lives by a Single Act of Kindness http://www.worldvision.org.uk
There are few revisions to my work. I hope my three PPC ads can help your cause.
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal One Day Changed Their Lives One Act Can Change Their Future http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Myanmar Needs Help No Matter Where You Are, You Are Never Too Far To Reach Out http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Restore Hope In Myanmar Help Save Millions Of Lives By A Single Act Of Kindness http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
I noticed that people are posting/reposting to include their exact entries, and not just the blog url where the entries are placed (like what i did with my previous comment). So just to be safe, i’ll post all my entries here as well. Here they are:
http://superiorpapers.co.cc/myanmar/
Myanmar Cyclone Appeal Amidst Disaster And Suffering, Help Burma Find Its Way Back http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Myanmar, A Nation in Need Give Your Support And Donation. Together, We Can Rebuild Lives http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
Myanmar Cyclone Relief Any Donation You Provide Will Help Keep The Nation Alive http://www.worldvision.org.uk/
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Hello Distill Team…
I would like to commend your team for your efforts and for raising awareness for this horrible tragedy. I have added a post to my blog and would also love to enter the competition and you needed any further help please let me know.
Ad 1 {KeyWord:Myanmar Cyclone Relief} World Vision, Trusted Experts in Relief. Make A Life-Changing Impact http://www.WorldVision.org.uk
the rest at http://simplethoughtsonanalytics.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Leslie
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Your effort is commendable, a landing page for the charity for donations would of been fantastic but your doing a great job and its all going to a great cause so it doesn’t matter. Well done.