Computer-implemented method and system for managing keyword bidding prices

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining a revenue per click value associated with a keyword;

obtaining bidding information associated with the keyword;

obtaining automatic bid controls associated with the keyword, the automatic bid controls including a scaling factor for the revenue per click value, the automatic bid controls also including a gap position target value, the gap position target value representing a pre-defined position in a gap between a first next higher bid and a second next higher bid;

applying the scaling factor to the revenue per click value to produce a scaled revenue per click value; and

automatically generating a bid value for the keyword based on the scaled revenue per click value, the bidding information, and the automatic bid controls.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including submitting the bid value via an API.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bidding information is obtained via an API.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bidding information includes a last bid amount.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic bid controls include a maximum cost per click value that can be automatically bid for the keyword.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic bid controls include a bid increment factor.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic bid controls include a bid increment velocity factor.

8. An article of manufacture comprising at least one non-transitory data storage device having one or more computer programs stored thereon and operable on one or more computing systems to:

determine a revenue per click value associated with a keyword;

obtain bidding information associated with the keyword;

obtain automatic bid controls associated with the keyword, the automatic bid controls including a scaling factor for the revenue per click value, the automatic bid controls also including a gap position target value, the gap position target value representing a pre-defined position in a gap between a first next higher bid and a second next higher bid;

apply the scaling factor to the revenue per click value to produce a scaled revenue per click value; and

automatically generate a bid value for the keyword based on the scaled revenue per click value, the bidding information, and the automatic bid controls.

9. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 being further operable to submit the bid value via an API.

10. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 being further operable to obtain the bidding information via an API.

11. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bidding information includes a last bid amount.

12. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 wherein the automatic bid controls include a maximum cost per click value that can be automatically hid for the keyword.

13. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 wherein the automatic bid controls include a bid increment factor.

14. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 8 wherein the automatic bid controls include a bid increment velocity factor.

15. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor to store information related to keywords; and

an automatic keyword bidding module, operably coupled with the processor and the memory, operable to determine a revenue per click value associated with a keyword, obtain bidding information associated with the keyword, obtain automatic bid controls associated with the keyword, the automatic bid controls including a scaling factor for the revenue per click value, the automatic bid controls also including a gap position target value, the gap position target value representing a pre-defined position in a gap between a first next higher bid and a second next higher bid, apply the scaling factor to the revenue per click value to produce a scaled revenue per click value, and automatically generate a bid value for the keyword based on the scaled revenue per click value, the bidding information, and the automatic bid controls.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 being further operable to submit the bid value via an API.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15 being further operable to obtain the bidding information via an API.