Frequently asked questions about
BidRank
How do I check that I have the latest
version of BidRank?
The News &
Information dialog can be accessed by clicking on the newspaper
icon on the BidRank tool bar.
The running version of BidRank will be displayed at the bottom of this
dialog. If a newer version is available, additional information will be
displayed concerning that version.
Go back to the FAQ index.
What is the latest news and information
from BidRank?
The News &
Information dialog can be accessed by clicking on the newspaper
icon on the BidRank tool bar. (see image above)
This dialog will
contain any current issues concerning supported search engines and BidRank.
Check here to find out if there is a known issue with BidRank or one of
the search engines that it supports. BidRank updates this dialog whenever
an issue exists or its status changes.
Information
concerning special offers, new features, tip and tricks will also be
displayed here from time to time.
Go back to the FAQ index.
How do I move my license registration to
another computer?
A licensed user can easily move their
current license from one machine to another using the steps indicated
below. This process will disable the license on the source computer and
enable it on the target computer. This feature gives the licensed user the
ability to run BidRank on whatever computer they wish without having to
contact licensing@bidrank.com.
- Install the same edition of BidRank on
the target computer.
- Click Register on the target computer.
- Copy the target computer's Reference
Code.
- Click Move License in the Licensing menu
of the source computer.
- Enter the target computer's Reference
Code and hit OK.
- CAREFULLY copy the displayed License
Key.
- Enter the License Key on the target
computer and hit OK.
Many find this useful
when they wish to run BidRank on a laptop while on the road. Once they
return they move the license back to the original computer.
This process is also
useful if a license user wishes to begin using BidRank on a different
computer.
Go back to the FAQ index.
How do I download the free update?
A licensed user may
always update for free while that major version is available. It is
considered an update when the version number is of the same major version,
e.g. 3.02 to 3.10. You only pay for upgrades, which are a major version
change, e.g. 3.11 to 4.00. You would also pay for a change in edition,
e.g. going from the Standard edition to the Professional edition.
Please open the News
& Information dialog of BidRank and scroll to the bottom to check if there
is a update available.
Update
Instructions
- Click the Stop All icon (red traffic
light) to stop all automation timers.
- Click the newspaper icon to bring up the
News and Information page. It will tell you if a new update is available
near the bottom of the dialog.
- If an update link is provided, click the
link to download, then Save the file to your hard drive. Do not choose
Open, or Run From This Location.
- Close the News and Information screen
and exit BidRank.
- Double-click the downloaded file to
begin the installation.
- Once the installation is complete you
will be able to open and run BidRank as before.
NOTE: Updates do not require a new
license key. Do not uninstall the current BidRank prior to the update.
Go back to the FAQ index.
How much is it to upgrade and how do I do
it?
Upgrade Information
|
| Upgrades
may be purchased by sending an upgrade request to
upgrade@bidrank.com.
Please specify the product name, BidRank for Overture or BidRank
Plus, what you wish to upgrade to and include a copy of your
original order confirmation.
Once your status is confirmed you will receive a coupon to be used
when purchasing your upgrade. Go through our normal purchasing
process and use the coupon code on the order page. Your net cost
is described below:
| BidRank for Overture
|
BidRank Plus
|
| Upgrade Type |
Net Cost |
| version 2.x
Std. Ed. to version 3.x |
$40.00 |
| version 2.x
Pro. Ed. to version 3.x |
$90.00 |
| version 2.x
Bus. Ed. to version 3.x |
$120.00 |
| version 2.x
Ent. Ed. to version 3.x |
$150.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Pro. Ed. |
$170.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Bus. Ed. |
$320.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$470.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$870.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Bus. Ed. |
$150.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$300.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$700.00 |
| Bus. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$150.00 |
| Bus. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$550.00 |
| Ent. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$400.00 |
|
| Upgrade Type |
Net Cost |
| version 2.x
Std. Ed. to version 3.x |
$30.00 |
| version 2.x
Pro. Ed. to version 3.x |
$50.00 |
| version 2.x
Ent. Ed. to version 3.x |
$100.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Pro. Ed. |
$130.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Bus. Ed. |
$230.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$280.00 |
| Std. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$580.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Bus. Ed. |
$100.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$150.00 |
| Pro. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$450.00 |
| Bus. Ed. to
Ent. Ed. |
$50.00 |
| Bus. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$350.00 |
| Ent. Ed. to
Com. Ed. |
$300.00 |
|
|
|
Go back to the FAQ index.
What are the system requirements for
BidRank?
BidRank minimum system requirements
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
- Internet Connection (Standard Edition)
- Broadband Internet Connection (All other
Editions)
- 16MB Video Card
- Pentium or Athlon 433 MHz or above
- Windows 95 OSR2/98/98SE/ME/NT 4.0
(SP6)/2000 (SP2)/XP Operating System
- 128 MB RAM
- DirectX 7.0 or later
BidRank recommended specifications
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
- Broadband Internet Connection
- Pentium or Athlon 900MHz or higher
- Windows 98SE , 2000 or XP
- 512 MB RAM or more
- DirectX 8.0a or later
BidRank recommended specifications for
Commerce editions
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
- Broadband Internet Connection
- Pentium or Athlon 2.5 GHz or higher
- Windows 2000 or XP
- 1 GB RAM or more
- DirectX 8.0a or later
Go back to the FAQ index.
What features exist to help me organize my
large number of keywords in BidRank?
The display allows you to click on any
column to group keywords together based on that column. For example, click
on the Domain column to group all like URL's together, or click on the
Account column to group based on that. If you wish to have a customized
grouping, enter a comment for a selected group of keywords, then click on
the Comment column header to group the keywords based on that field. The
Category column can also be used for this purpose.
Go back to the FAQ index.
Can I make the same change to a large
number of my keywords' bid properties in one edit?
Yes, you can make the same bid properties
change to a large number or all of your keywords in BidRank. Select all of
the keywords that you wish to apply the change to. Right click the mouse
on the selection and click on Properties. Make the desired changes
and hit Ok. A dialog will appear allowing you to confirm that you
wish to apply the changes to the entire selection.
To select all keywords, press control-A.
To select certain keywords, hold down the
control key while left clicking the mouse on the desired keywords.
To select a contiguous list of keywords,
left click the mouse on a keyword at one end of the list then hold down
the shift key while left clicking the mouse on the keyword at the
other end of the list.
Go back to the FAQ index.
Can BidRank handle multiple accounts?
Yes, BidRank can handle multiple accounts.
The only limitation in BidRank is the number of keywords. Each keyword
could be from a separate account if needed. For example, the professional
edition of BidRank is limited to 500 keywords. This could allow someone to
manage 50 keywords from each of 10 accounts is so desired.
Go back to the FAQ index.
How many keywords can BidRank manage at
once?
Each edition of BidRank differs only in the
number of keywords that it can manage simultaneously. Each keyword counts
every time it is entered into BidRank even if it is the same keyword
across multiple accounts or search engines. For example, if the keyword
"audio bible" existing in three different accounts and one wanted to
manage all three of them at once in BidRank, it would count as three
keywprds.
Go back to the FAQ index.
What does it mean when BidRank starts up
with the message, "The number of concurrent BidRank users has been
exceeded." ?
It is because, occasionally when BidRank is
closed, the licensing system does not immediately mark the license as
available. Therefore when you start it again the license is still taken.
It takes 1 minute for the licensing system to release a license that has
been abandoned. BidRank will open after that. Do not attempt to re-license
BidRank. If your system is using a multi-user license, then all licenses
may be allocated and you will have to wait for another user to close
BidRank, which will make a license available.
Go back to the FAQ index.
Why am I getting a "Bidder's domain name
NOT Found..." status message?
The "Bidder's domain name NOT Found..."
status message indicates that BidRank was unable to find your listing in
the search results for the specified keyword. This can be caused by a
couple of different reasons:
-
- Listing is outside of
the top 40 results.
- BidRank requires that your listing
appear in the top 40 search results for the specified keyword. If your
listing is outside of the top 40, you will need to log in to the search
engine manually and raise the bid enough to get listed in the top 40.
-
- Your URL does not
exactly match what you have specified in your search engine account
for the same keyword.
- If you have recently modified the URL in
your account, you must also edit the bid properties with the same
change. We recommend that you use the Keyword Wizard from the
Add Keywords option of the Edit menu to add keywords to
BidRank. The Keyword Wizard will place the correct information into the
bid properties field for the keywords that are downloaded into BidRank.
-
- Your account is off
line or out of funds.
- Check that the account is on line and
the keywords are showing up in the search results for the search engine
in question.
Go back to the FAQ index.
Why am I getting an "Error: Could not
connect to SE." status message?
BidRank directly connects to the specified
search engine (SE) when it needs to check a position or change a bid.
Occasionaly this message may be displayed if the search engine drops its
end of the connection. The keyword will usually run successfully on its
next try.
If this message is being displayed for many
or all of the keywords, then check the internet connection for the
computer that is running BidRank to make sure it is up and running. If
that is fine, then check the News & Information dialog to see if
there are currently known issues with that search engine.
Go back to the FAQ index.
What does a status message mean when it
starts with "(aa)SE:" ?
BidRank has an XML interface with each
search engine that it supports. Whenever the search engine in question has
a condition that prevents a bid check or change request from completing it
returns a reason text. This text is directly from the search engine itself
and can vary. BidRank displays this text in order to provide the user with
the explanation that the search engine provided.
The "aa" portion in parenthesis is an
abreviation for the request that BidRank made to the search engine.
- (gms) is the get market state request,
which BidRank makes in order to check the current position of a listing.
NOTE: Overture limits this command to once every 8 minutes and 48 times
per keyword per day.
- (sl) is the set listing request, which
changes a bid. NOTE: Overture limits this command to once every 8
minutes and 24 times per keyword per day.
- (gai) is the get account id request,
which is made at the beginning of the Keyword Wizard. NOTE: Overture
limits this command to once every 20 minutes.
- (gl) is the get listing request, which
the Keyword Wizard uses to download keywords directly from the search
engine.
Go back to the FAQ index.
Since Overture has AutoBid, why do I need
BidRank?
Overture's AutoBidding setting simply gives
you whatever rank your maximum bid will get for you. It cannot maintain a
rank at all. It does however, show your competition the maximum that you
are willing to bid.
BidRank will maintain a rank for you.
BidRank will hide your true maximum by only bidding what is needed on
Overture(the true bid max is set in BidRank by you). BidRank can Gap Surf,
which allows you to grab the most cost effective rank out of a range that
you specify. BidRank allows you to set a drop back rank, which is used if
your target rank cannot be achieved within your bid max. BidRank has
Primary and Secondary Automation features, which allow you to specify two
different sets of Target Ranks and Bid Maximums depending on the time of
day. This is used by those that desire higher ranking during their good
sales times and a lower ranking during the off hours to save money. In
answer to Overture's AutoBidding, BidRank has a new "strategy" option
called AutoBidder. BidRank's AutoBidder will maintain the rank that you
desire and bid one penny below the next rank above yours. This allows you
to encourage the bidder above you to lower his max bid on Overture (make
sure that you are also using Overture's AutoBidding when using BidRank's
AutoBidder).
Go back to the FAQ index.
What is the difference between the
Overture Bid Types: Auto Bid and Fixed Bid?
An Auto Bid allows an advertiser to set the
maximum amount (Max Bid) they’re willing to pay for each click. Our
systems will then look at the Max Bids of all the other advertisers in
that search term marketplace and give them the best position available.
The advertiser only pays $0.01 more than the Max Bid of the next highest
competitor. As other advertisers change their Max Bids, our system will
adjust their cost automatically so they maintain the best position at the
best price available, without exceeding their Max Bid.
A Fixed Bid is what Overture has
traditionally offered. It allows an advertiser to set the exact amount
they’re willing to pay for each click. Unlike Auto Bidding, with Fixed
Bidding they pay the exact amount they input, there is no elimination of
bid gaps.
For example if an advertiser sets their Max
Bid to $0.50, they will pay $0.50 for each click, regardless of what the
other advertisers in that marketplace bid.
Go back to the FAQ index.
What is a “Max Bid”?
A Max Bid is the highest amount an
advertiser is willing to pay each time the listing receives a click.
Go back to the FAQ index.
What role does Overture foresee Bid
Management Licensees playing under Auto Bidding?
Overture sees an ongoing valuable role for
third parties in working with Overture. For companies that wish to
maintain a guaranteed position on an ongoing basis, additional
bid-management services may be just as useful as they were prior to Auto
Bidding. In addition, bid management services may also be helpful for
companies that wish to utilize complex bidding rules.
Go back to
the FAQ index.
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