Changes at Raven Tools!
-
I received notification today that Raven tools will lose it's Adwords API, see below:
"Raven received notice from Google late last week that we would lose access to its AdWords API. Without API access, Raven can't provide Google AdWords research, management and reporting to our customers"
This is a massive blow as we use Raven to track progress for clients and also to run keyword research etc. Does anybody that knows Raven have a suitable alternative?
Thanks...
-
another update to this. Adwords was restored to Raventools today.
-
another update to this. Adwords was restored to Raventools today.
-
We've only received notice that we can't use it, even if we pay. I suspect that many other tool providers like us and Raven also had access revoked, but I can't say for certain.
-
Satisfying the shareholders at any cost really helps to simplify the decision making process considerably. Ever since the Google Wave debacle a few years back, it seems that everything I've seen new and innovative from Google has been less 'cool for techie' and more 'good idea to make more profit'.
It seems we can count the Adwords API as yet another project headed to join the scrapheap in the Google Labs junkyard. Useful for some but not profitable enough to keep around.
-
The EVIL GOOGLE trend continues...
They're acting this way because they can and they will continue to push down competitors until the government steps in. This is what happens when a company becomes a monopoly.
-
There is more from Raven on their blog today. https://raventools.com/blog/update-google-adwords-availability-in-raven/
Interesting what they are saying (or not saying) about other people having access.
-
Thanks Rand...
It's amazing that a company the size of Google with the monopoly that it has in most markets can operate in this way.
-
Thanks for the update Rand.
They're hard to communicate with, inconsistent, and don't have any guarantees, even though we pay...
In a weird sort of way it'd good to know that they treat customers of all sizes with an even hand
-
A few folks on this thread asked how this might affect SEOmoz. As you've probably noticed over the past couple months, our AdWords API and data access has also been intermittently down (and is now down again). This affects the keyword difficulty tool (though not the difficulty scores, as those don't use AdWords data), and it affects the keyword pages in the web app.
The basic story is that we're expecting Google not to give access back, but you never know. They're hard to communicate with, inconsistent, and don't have any guarantees, even though we pay for this data. Thus, my best guess would be that they'll be shutting it off for lots of organic tool providers (like Moz & Raven). If you want AdWords search volume data, you'll probably have to go direct.
Our plan in the short term is to start using data from Bing, and then eventually to see if we can build a good metric that correlates well with search volume as reported by AdWords (like we do with PageRank->MozRank or Page Authority->Google Rankings). It's gonna be a slog, but this appears to be how Google wants it.
-
Do we know yet if this is Raven specific or if this is something that will affect all tools which use the API? Moz - what are you hearing?
I'm naturally very suspicious of everything Google does and this seems like they're moving to eliminate third party reporting services. Thoughts?
-
Thanks Mat for a copy of their email.
-
I used Raven before they added lots of adwords tools and I'll use them if they go. I still think it is one of the best value toolsets out there. I say this as I don't want people to think I'm knocking a great product. However hereis the main part of the mail that went out:
--- start ---
Raven received notice from Google late last week that we would lose access to its AdWords API. Without API access, Raven can't provide Google AdWords research, management and reporting to our customers. There's no short-term solution that will allow Raven to keep its AdWords API access and not affect other tools important to many of our customers.That's why, beginning at 11:59 p.m CST (GMT-5) on this Wednesday, Nov. 14,** Raven Internet Marketing Tools will no longer offer AdWords authentication, tools or reporting data.**First, I want to stress that your Google AdWords accounts and campaigns will not be affected. You can still log in to https://adwords.google.com to manage those accounts and campaigns. This change only affects Raven’s ability to sync your AdWords data in our platform.Second, I want to apologize. We know that this is more than an inconvenience to you. We’re urgently researching alternate data to integrate with Raven, but we don’t have specifics or a timetable to share yet.Since we will no longer be able to provide AdWords reports, I strongly suggest that you export or report any Google AdWords metrics before the cut-off date. For step-by-step instructions on how to download or report on your Google AdWords metrics to date, please see this article from our Knowledge Base.-- end --They then went on to list the exact parts that will be affected - tool by tool and their plan for tackling each.
The impact on keyword manager and serp tracker are bad for me (particularly as these are two areas that I think they do much better than seomoz). I hope that they will find alternative, credible, data sources for those.
-
I did not see that email come in. But that's a big change. What does Raven have to say about it ? Any other vendors using Adwords API facing similar issues ? Knock Knock Moz team.
-
Oh crap, I'm glad I checked the Q&A today as I didn't event receive an email from Raven about this crucial change. This will obviously impact their reporting functionality and take away from their core value of having everything (adwords, analytics, social) available via the one login...
-
Exactly my thoughts...I haven't heard anything from SEOMoz so I can only assume that it's Raven specific, but that would be a big issue for Raven!
-
Received this today as well, just as I was leaving the office. Weird. Does this mean that Google are changing their API terms and everyone is going to have similar problems, or I wonder if it is specific to Raven.
I don't use them for PPC management, but they're still useful tools to have.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Is there a tool that can give you demographic info on keywords?
I'm looking to find demographic information on certain keywords. Is there a tool that does this?
Keyword Research | | renalynd270 -
Tools to group large list of keywords
Hi Guys, Was wondering if anyone knows of any tools which can group large lists of keywords. Currently using http://www.wordstream.com/keyword-grouper Any other good tools to check out? Cheers.
Keyword Research | | jayoliverwright0 -
Termexplorer good tool for keyword research or not?
Hi Mozzer, Did you have tested the "Term Explorer" tool for the keyword research? Is it a good tool? Can we trust the results? Thank you for your help. Regards, Jonathan
Keyword Research | | JonathanLeplang0 -
What is the best tool or method to locate good keywords?
Hi to all, So as I am working towards the best possible site that I can build, what is the best tool or method to find keywords that people would search for that may line up with my website? I have starting using google keyword research tool, or at least I think that is what its called. Also I am using moz, but it shows bing result for traffic. So I guess backing up, do you usually find the keywords with the largest traffic estimates, and then work those words into your web pages? I know to build for people first, then search engines etc. But just curious what you do or use to get an idea on what keywords are popular. Thank You
Keyword Research | | Berner0 -
So Google encrypts keywords... so what! just look in webmaster tools...
Buongiorno from 11 degrees C very cloudy & dull wetherby UK 🙂 With Google encypting all organic search terms and (Not Provided) appearing like an unwanted rash of eczema doesnt the panic end when you just get that data from Webmaster tools? Maybe ive got it wrong but isnt all the organic keyword data sitting in webmaster tools any way? so in the words of Lance-Corporal Jack Jones - Dont Panic! Any insights welcome 🙂
Keyword Research | | Nightwing0 -
How do you compare results using different tools?
We are looking at SEO as ways of promoting our online flip page travel magazine but its really difficult to distinguish the good from the bad and the downright ugly in terms of agencies to use. For example we are proposing to use an SEO agency who have come up with a long list of interesting keywords. The problem is that the degree of competitiveness which is listed alongside each keyword varies dramatically from the results I achieved by keying in the same keywords into the moz keyword tool. The agency says their results are achieved by using Google tools. Any advice on what to do would be really welcome. The website is www.eurotravelmag.com and the flip page magazine can be reached here: www.eurotravelmag.com/current Thanks David
Keyword Research | | davidgjacobs0 -
Changing your primary keyword to target seasonal demands
The industry that my 3-commerce store caters toward has seasonal demands. For example (this is not my industry but the idea applies), let's assume that I have a sporting goods store and that I sell footballs in the fall, but I sell more baseballs in the summer. Would you ever consider changing the primary keyword on the HomePage title and within the body to target different keywords (football vs baseball) during different seasons (fall vs summer)? Or would you just create individual product pages which target the keywords and link back internally to your homepage? Or is there a better way to target seasonal demands where conversions for the entire website vary greatly from season to season. Sorry for all the elementary questions.
Keyword Research | | Santaur0 -
Should I set geogrphic target to United States in webmaster tools?
Hi, Would really appreciate some input on this. My client www.dgatours.com is aiming primarily at United States in terms of audience as this is where predominately the clients come from. I set the geographic target as this is a .com site to United States in google webmaster tools, is that the right thing to do or should I have left it unassigned? I am finding it hard to see the results that I get from SEOMOZ as I am in the UK and am wondering if by setting the geographic target to the United States I am narrowing the potential search results from google. thanks very much Tracy
Keyword Research | | dashesndots0