According to Statcounter GlobalStats, Google is the most popular search engine, with over 80% of the market share. Again and additionally, the same media company says more than 95% of all internet traffic goes through Google's servers. You're getting these stats to make a point: Google is a huge deal and the fastest-growing advertising platform in the world.
The world of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is immense. It's a perfectly competitive market because the competition is fierce. In addition, many advertisers are trying to get their ads in front of the same set of eyeballs, and companies want to get their hands on the same budget. But with the proven stats above, you only need to accept that Google has a monopoly on the internet.
Too many talks don't boil water, and neither do they catch fish from the river. If you're a business owner who wants Google Ads, here's Claire's website to grow your business and boost your revenue. Let's dive into the article fully: a beginner's guide to google ads.
Guide To Google Ads For A Beginner
Google Ads is a PPC advertising or paid search engine marketing (SEM) platform that lets you show ads to people looking for your business, products, or services. Google Ads is a viral tool for businesses of all sizes, and it's often the first place new companies start when they want to advertise online. For small business owners, Google Ads is an effective way to get your brand in front of new customers.
The program allows businesses to set a budget, create an ad campaign, and then track the performance of those campaigns. The key to success with Google Ads is knowing how to use the platform to its fullest potential. With Google Ads, you can target your ads to specific audiences based on location and interest. It's a great way to reach customers who are most likely interested in what you have for sale.
Setting Up A Standard Google Ads: The Requirements
To have Google Ads set up for your business, you'll need the following:
1. A Google Account
As a business owner trying to maximise your business potential through Google Ads for the first time, you'll need to create a Google Account. You can set up this account with your email address or an email address specifically for your business. Either way, you'll need to verify the account before the process can continue.
For simplicity, you can sign up for your Google Adwords account. When your account is ready, you'll be logged in and can start setting up your Google Ads campaigns.
2. A Budget That You Are Willing To Spend
When starting with Google Ads, diving in and spending money can be tempting. But don't worry. Your ads manager can help you create a budget that'll allow you to test your campaigns and ensure they're effective before committing more money. Moreover, Google will permit you to set a maximum budget for your campaign and automatically stop your ads once you reach it.
For instance, if you set up a USD$100 budget for your first campaign, Google Ads will automatically stop running your ads once you've exhausted the amount. You can also create multiple budgets for different goals or campaigns and set a maximum amount to spend on each.
Google Ad Exchange gives you insights into what advertisers are willing to pay for ad space on your website or app, helping you estimate your ad inventory's return on investment (ROI). With Google Analytics integrated with Google Ad Exchange, you can optimize budget allocation across different campaigns, tracking which ad formats and placements generate the most revenue.
Choose a Google-certified publishing partner to manage your ad strategy. Google Ad Exchange resellers have techniques like header bidding, which simultaneously sends bid requests to several ad exchanges to ensure you get the highest quality ads for your business at the best price.
3. Know Your Target Locations
Geo-targeting allows you to target specific locations and find customers likely to convert. You can choose your target location based on the city, state, or country you want to advertise in. If you're looking for local businesses or customers, your ads must be visible only in their area.
For example, run an online flower shop in San Francisco and advertise to customers only in the Bay Area. You can set up a geo-targeting campaign so that your ads are only visible to people within a certain radius of San Francisco.
Don't base your targeting on assumptions. Look at your existing customer data or conduct market research to know where your potential customers are. Allocate a budget to test ad performance in new areas so you can create dedicated campaigns for those locations.
4. Know Your Target Audience
When starting with the Google Ads campaign, it's essential to know your target audience. It would give your ads a clear direction and help your ads expert create a suitable ad copy and landing page. Your ad must be relevant to your target audience; otherwise, it'll perform poorly.
For example, suppose you're advertising for a clothing store and want to sell clothes for adults. In that case, you should target people over 18. If you're selling a product meant for children, your target audience will likely be parents who have children under 18.
Within your Google Ads dashboard, navigate to the "Insights" page. This section provides valuable information about your audience segments. The Audience Insight cards highlight which audience segments have the highest conversion rates and what percentage they represent.
Look for the expandable table below the Audience Insight cards. This section offers a more detailed breakdown of your top-performing audience segments. You'll find insights into demographics, interests, and online behavior for these valuable customer groups.
5. An Active Business Website Or Landing Page
Your business must have a website or landing page actively updated with fresh content. It will make it easier for your customers to find the products they're looking for without digging through multiple pages. The landing page should also provide them with more information about their purchase.
For instance, if you're selling a product, the landing page should explain the product and how it works, followed by a 'Buy Now' CTA button.
6. Amount You're Willing To Pay Per Click
Your bid will be based on how much you're willing to pay per click. It's essential that your bid is moderate, or you end up paying more than you make on the sale. That's why it's best to set a maximum cost per click (CPC) before starting any campaign.
Conclusion
Google Ads are an effective way to reach your target audience and increase sales. If you're a business owner trying to launch your first campaign, then it's best if you supply all the requirements mentioned above to your ads expert. In addition, the more specific your ads are, the better the chance of reaching people interested in what you're offering.