Microsoft Launches adCenterCommunity.com
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008;
-- David Snyder |
By David Snyder
Microsoft launched a new adCenter community Monday. The new community replaces the adCenter blog and forums with product specific blogs, categorized user forums, multimedia distribution, and user profiles.
This new SEM resource can be found at adcentercommunity.com.
The community offers advice on adCenter advertising, the adCenter API, and adCenter analytics.
In her welcoming blog post Carolyn Miller, a Microsoft Program Manager and blogger, stated:
“We’ve tried to build a community portal that encourages interaction so that not only can you get information, updates and assistance from Microsoft employees, but also from each other, as some of the most knowledgeable users of our products and services are our customers.”
This new product is an extension of an adCenter customer service program that already blows its competition out of the water. Adwords, for example, is pretty well known for its sub par customer service and famous generic email responses to questions. While Google does offer an Adwords blog, an Adwords group in Google Groups, and a learning center in the Adwords program, the fractured nature of this content stand in stark comparison to the adCenter initiative.
At a recent conference I inquired of a Google Adwords’ representative why Microsoft was so quick on the draw with customer service in comparison with the leader in the market. The response I received was a joking, “They have more time on their hands.”
With the impending merger of Yahoo and Microsoft, Adwords employees may not be laughing for long. A competitive share of the market plus superior customer service and training programs could give Microsoft an edge in the push for online advertising dollars.
About David Snyder
David Snyder is the online marketing manager for THAT Agency.
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March 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am
[…] David Snyder is the guest host today on Marketing Pilgrim. He reports that MSN is ditching its current adCenter customer service products in lieu of an adCenterCommunity. I say, Bravo! This new product is an extension of an adCenter customer service program that already blows its competition out of the water. Adwords, for example, is pretty well known for its sub par customer service and famous generic email responses to questions. While Google does offer an Adwords blog, an Adwords group in Google Groups, and a learning center in the Adwords program, the fractured nature of this content stand in stark comparison to the adCenter initiative. […]
March 18th, 2008 at 11:42 am
It’s good news. I will try it.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
adCenter makes AdWords customer service look like a rundown Walmart. I’ve talked on the phone with adCenter reps and was easily able to get all of my questions answered immediately.
Microsoft’s entire business provides better customer service and I think they know that it’s important. It may be a lesson that Google learns the hard way.
I’ve always believed customer service is #1; so far, Google’s proved me wrong.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I agree that it’s definitely easier to get a person on the phone with AdCenter, but it also feels like I need to do it much more often with AdCenter. Since a lot of people overlook MSN advertising, it can be kind of tough to find the answers you want on independent forums, so I have high hopes for adCenterCommunity.
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 am
[…] Launches AdCenter Community Microsoft has launched AdCenterCommunity.com, a website for its growing AdCenter advertiser base to to learn […]