The Importance of PPC for Your Business: A Guide to Ads and AdWords

 

Google PPC advertising is a key part of any digital marketing strategy. It can be intimidating to dive right in and begin setting up your ads, but it’s also an incredibly effective way to reach potential customers and drive traffic to your site or blog. Whether you’re launching a new business or growing an established brand, it’s important to have a solid understanding of how PPC advertising can benefit your company. In this guide, we’ll explain what Google AdWords is, why it matters for your business, the different types of ads you can create with AdWords, and the steps involved in creating and managing an effective PPC campaign.

What is Google AdWords?

AdWords is Google’s advertising platform that lets businesses promote their products and services through “search engine ads” (or “paid search”). It is one of the most important and effective digital marketing channels, with billions of ad impressions served each day. When people search for products or services related to your business, your ads appear next to the corresponding search results. Google charges you based on how many people click on your ad and visit your website. These ads are a form of paid marketing, which means you pay for a “click” from your customer. The ads are triggered by a search query that includes one of your keywords. This is known as “search engine marketing” (SEM), and AdWords is the biggest player in the industry.

Why is PPC Important for Businesses? 

Search engine advertising is one of the most popular and effective ways to drive new traffic to your website. The ads show up at the top of the search engine results page (SERP) as well as on other pages throughout the internet - wherever people are searching for products and services related to your business. a PPC agency in NYC are helpful because they appear right on the SERPs in front of your target customer. Display ads, on the other hand, are shown in places like social media feeds and websites outside of Google. When people click on your PPC ads, they’re taken directly to your website or landing page where they can make a purchase. This is different from organic search results, where people have to click through multiple pages to get to your site. By investing in paid search marketing, you’re able to show up on the SERPs and capture the attention of your target customers - no matter what search term they’re using or where they’re located.

What are the Different Types of Ads in Google AdWords?

Google AdWords lets you create multiple types of ads for different stages of the buying process. There are five types of ads in AdWords: - Sponsored search ads: These are the standard ads you see at the top of the SERPs. They can appear on the right-hand side of the page as well as above the organic results. - Display network ads: These ads show up on websites outside of Google, including sites like YouTube, Instagram, and Yahoo. - Gmail ads: These ads are sent as emails directly to your customer’s inboxes. - Shopping ads: These ads show up on product-specific SERPs like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. - Google home page promotion: These ads appear on the Google homepage. 

How to Set Up an AdWords Campaign

Setting up an AdWords campaign is the first step in getting your PPC ads up and running. If you already have an AdWords account, skip to the “key steps when running a PPC campaign” section. If you don’t yet have an account set up, follow these steps: - Choose your business goal: AdWords lets you choose a business goal for your campaign: - Pick a location: Depending on where your customers are located, you can choose to run your campaign throughout the United States or only in specific regions: - Select your ad format: There are five different ad formats you can choose from: - Choose your keywords: Your keywords are essential for getting your ads noticed - they’re what triggers your ad to show up in the first place. - Choose your budget: This is how much you’re willing to spend per day to run your ads. - Add negative keywords: These are the opposite of your main keywords - they’re what keeps your ad from showing up when it shouldn’t.

Key Steps When Running a PPC Campaign

After you’ve set up your AdWords account and chosen the type of campaign you want to run, it’s time to create your first ad. Here are the key steps: - Create your first ad: You can choose from the five different types of ads and write a catchy, concise ad that entices your target customers and generates clicks. - Set your bid: This is how much you’re willing to pay for each click on your ad. - Create a landing page: A landing page is where your customers will go when they click on your ad. It’s important that your website is designed to convert and that your landing page is designed to convert even more. - Test and re-evaluate: No ad or campaign works for everyone. Be willing to test and re-evaluate your ads to find out what works for your business and your customers. 

Summing up

 

There are many advantages to using Google AdWords to drive traffic to your website, including the fact that it works for almost any business, across all industries and types of products and services. Even though it’s the most popular and effective PPC method, it can be an overwhelming process, especially if you’re new to digital marketing. However, all marketers need to understand the fundamentals of how AdWords works and how to set up a successful campaign - it is the backbone of many digital marketing strategies. If you’re not sure where to start, Google provides useful guides and tips to kick-start your AdWords knowledge and get your first campaign running.