Testing ad copy -a “must have” for PPC success-demands version after version of new ad variations.   Since few of us have the tireless, creative thesaurus-like brain required for such a task, we turn to ad optimizers for help.

SpyFu will help you fast track this practice.

As we explained in our Testing article, you are better served in both accuracy and time management to follow this order for testing:

1. Choose your keywords
2. Create ad copy variations
3. Test your ad copy variations
4. Test your keywords

Since SpyFu equips you with multiple ways to choose your keywords, let’s focus on step 2: create ad copy variations.

Run a basic keyword from your campaign in SpyFu Ad History.  The results include the roster of domains that have advertised on this term in the past 12 months, complete with the ad copy each one used.

Since Ad History is designed to flag ad copy changes from month to month, you easily spot where an advertiser shifted gears and where they stuck with ad copy that brought them the results they wanted.

Click on the “Export all ad variations” button (CSV or Excel) to the right of the keyword, just below the chart’s legend.

Keep the Ad History chart open, and use it to your advantage.  With the ad variations now exported into a sort-ready format, compare them against the color changes in the chart.  Delete the copy where previous advertisers cut bait, and keep the versions that look strong.

Save the file, and repeat this exercise with a new keyword.

With the ad copy variations you select, you can break apart headlines from other ad components like body lines #1 and #2.  Now you are ready to put your ad optimizer to work.  (We like http://adcomparator.com/ for its streamlined technique.)

Load in variations of the ad elements, and the ad optimizer will soon build combinations that help you test Headline A against Headline B in your campaign in as few steps as possible.

Soon, you will have amassed ad copy that is tested for your niche but still reads engaging enough to convert.