Are our PPC management agency using a robot?

Question

We outsource the management of our Google AdWords account.

Although we understand the interface ourselves, we just don't have the time to manage it, and thought we might also benefit from a pro's added experience.

However, looking at the My Change History page, the only changes I see are '1 Max CPC changed' on each Ad Group - almost always at the same time every day.

Are there any tools available that automate minor changes like this?

Can I tell if they are ever manually logging in and making real changes??

Answer 1

It is possible to build a script that logs into Google Analytics and makes some changes automatically.

It could, of course, just as well be somebody actually logging in, doing some analysis, and adjusting the CPC limit according to that analysis. If the time is really the same, down to the minute, every day, that is hard to believe, though.

There is no way for you to find out whether it was a change made by a bot, or a human.

Maybe you should talk to them, and ask them what they actually do for you, and to ask them for some examples what analysis the adjustments they make are based on.

Answer 2

Robots are hard to detect these days. In the old days you used to be able to just tear a bit of flesh off to reveal a hidden exo-skeleton. These days they're all made out of mercury and stuff and exhibit normal human rationality and behaviour... and the lazers, jeez, what's wrong with good old traditional weapons like uzis and shotguns

Next time you meet with the agency go for a high five, if it nearly takes your wrist off... probably robots