One of the most common questions companies ask when considering a paid search program is: “What is Google Ads?” To understand if Google Ads might be right for your business, we’ll break down exactly what it is and discuss how it can help increase your website traffic and conversions.
What is Google Ads?
Imagine being able to reach a shopper the minute they go online and search for your products or services.
Enter Google Ads. Google Ads is an advertising service created by Google which allows advertisers to show clickable ads (called “sponsored links”) in Google’s search results. Using a “pay-per-click” (PPC) payment system, advertisers bid on specific “keywords” for which they want to show up for in the paid search results. When users perform a search containing those particular keywords, Google displays the advertisers’ ads in the paid search results. Since advertisers are charged on a pay-per-click basis, they will only pay if a user clicks on their ad.
What are the Benefits of Google Ads?
Have you ever used Google to find information about a product or service? If you answered “yes,” then you’re not alone. In fact, most shoppers go online to find information, compare products/services, and read reviews before ever contacting a business.
Have you ever searched for products or services online from you smartphone? With over 160 Million smartphone owners in the U.S., little to no exposure on mobile devices can mean your business is losing out on potential customers. If people can’t find you online, it will be even harder to generate revenue.
Google Ads provides a variety of benefits to advertisers and is just one of the many essential digital marketing techniques companies are using to maintain a competitive edge. A few of the benefits of Google Ads include:
- Immediate exposure – Your ad can show in the top 5 results on a Google search results page
- Reach – Show your potential customers relevant, targeted ads in a timely manner when they search Google for your products, services or business
- Geotargeting – Ensure you are targeting your ads to the right geographic locations
- Reporting – Google Ads reporting lets you determine which keywords are or are not working, the click-through-rate of your ads and much more
- Budgeting – Google Ads works well for all budget types and gives you the ability to manage your bids and budgets
Does Google Ads Work?
Without getting too technical about the specific way in which Google Ads works, let’s discuss the elephant in the room: “Does Google Ads work?”
In order to determine if Google Ads will work for your business, it is important that you clearly define and understand your business goals heading into a paid search program. For example, if your goal is to increase conversions from your website, then Google Ads may be a good fit for you.
If aren’t ready to manage your own Google Ads campaigns then consider hiring a digital marketing agency or PPC firm that has an experienced team who can set up, manage, and optimize your Ads campaigns to ensure you’re getting the optimal return on your advertising budget.
The effectiveness of a Google Ads campaign can be subjective based on your company needs, goals, and specific industry. Your success in Google Ads can be determined by a number of factors, including (but not limited to):
- How competitive the keywords you’re bidding on are
- If the keywords you’re bidding on lead to conversions for your business
- The quality of your ad copy and calls to action
- The amount of money you’re spending and the bidding strategies in place
- The quality of your website and the landing pages your ads are directing to
Getting Started with Google Ads
Google Ads can be a complex system to master, especially if you’re a busy business owner or marketer trying to achieve the maximum return on paid search. Make sure you understand all the facts before spending any money with Google Ads. If you would like to learn more about how Google Ads can help your business, contact us today to schedule a call with our digital marketing specialists!
