7.3. Google AdWords

On the flipside of the AdSense coin, you'll find Google AdWords (http://adwords.google.com), the fount from which those ads are drawn. AdWords is an advertiser base 150,000 strong, from mom-and-pops to Fortune 500s, all looking to make their presence known and wares available alongside Google search results.

And in true Google style, AdWords is different from just about every advertising service you've ever seen. There's virtually no price barrier; anyone with a few marketing dollars in their pocket can buy a few keywords. It's so simple that even the most inexperienced marketer can get a leg up. That said, there's a lot to AdWords, and its simplicity can be deceptive.

This book, being focused on cool hacks, tools, and techniques, doesn't attempt a comprehensive introduction to Google's advertising programs. For a comprehensive introduction and detailed treatment, pick up a copy of Google: The Missing Manual (http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/googletmm; O'Reilly) by Sarah Milstein and Rael Dornfest.