One of the best ways to predict the future is to examine what’s happened in the past. Paid advertising may look different as time goes by, but the continued growth of this massive market means it will likely be around as a valuable form of marketing for a long time to come. Google Paid Search is a form of online advertising that allows businesses to place ads on Google and its partner websites. As an effective way for businesses to reach potential customers, paid search can grab the attention of those searching for products or services much faster than an organic strategy alone. Now the question becomes, can your business survive without it?
Does SEO alone produce better results than paid search?
The answer is both yes and no. It depends on what your goals are and how fast you want to achieve them. The short answer? If you’re looking to affect organic search results, it’s going to take between 6-12 months and will need to be a consistent process of improvement. However, with high-competition keywords and high domain and page authorities, it can take much longer, sometimes up to 4 years, to see strong results and good rankings. Does your business have that kind of time to produce results?
If you’re looking for a quicker way to produce the results you’re looking for, Google Paid Search is what your business is going to need to invest in. Will you still need an SEO strategy even with paid search in place? Absolutely! The two go hand in hand and both should remain part of your overall digital marketing strategy.
Why use Google Ads?
Did you know that 73% of total U.S. search ad spending goes to Google? Google Paid Search advertising is a great way to reach potential customers who are already interested in what you have to offer. Google Ads allows you to place ads on Google and its partner websites. These ads are displayed at the top or bottom of the search results page as well as the Maps section of Google. For every $1 spent with Google, you can expect a minimum of a $2 return. This is because you can target your ads to specific keywords, demographics, cities, and even your competition. Also, 50% of people are more likely to buy from PPC or Google Paid Search advertising after clicking on an ad.
Pro Tip: Pair your Google Paid Search campaign with a social media retargeting ad to create a powerful and well-rounded strategy that captures and retargets those who visited your website but didn’t take any action. Facebook makes over $80 billion/year in advertising and with such a huge focus on it, it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
How Google paid search advertising works
Your ads will be displayed as either a text ad or a Google Shopping ad. As an advertiser, you will be able to choose what type of ad you want to create, the budget for your ad, and the location and language of your ad. You will also be able to choose what keywords you would like your ad to target.
When someone searches for one of your targeted keywords, your ad will appear next to the Google search results. You will only pay when someone clicks on your ad. The cost-per-click (CPC) varies depending on the competitiveness of the keyword, your budget, and how well your ad is performing.
Your ads can also appear on Google Maps. When someone searches for a business or product near them, they may see one of your ads as they scroll through the map results. Since 2020, “near me” mobile searches have increased 500%.
Tips for using Google Ads
When creating a Google Paid Search advertising campaign, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Set a budget you’re comfortable with. Just as with any other form of advertising, you should set a budget you’re comfortable with and not go over budget. Google Ads is a great way to reach potential customers, but it’s important to stay within your budget to avoid overspending.
- Target the right keywords. As with any other form of online advertising, the key to success is targeting the right audience. When creating your Google Ads campaign, be sure to target keywords that are relevant to your business and that potential customers would be likely to search for.
- Test and track your results. Always test different versions of your ad and track the results so you can see what is and isn’t working. This will help you fine-tune your Google Paid Search advertising campaign and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your investment.
FAQs about Google Ads
What is the Google Ads budget?
The Google Ads budget is the amount of money you’re comfortable spending on your Google Paid Search advertising campaign each day. You can set a daily budget or a total budget for your campaign.
How do I target the right keywords?
When targeting keywords for your Google Ads campaign, it’s important to target keywords that are relevant to your business and that potential customers would be likely to search for. You can use Google’s Keyword Planner tool to find keywords that are related to your business and to get estimates for how much traffic those keywords could generate.
What is cost-per-click (CPC)?
The CPC is the amount you pay each time someone clicks on your Google Paid Search ad. The CPC varies depending on the competitiveness of the keyword, your budget, and how well your ad is performing.
How long will my Google Ads campaign run?
There is no set time limit for Google Ads campaigns. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Google Ads is an ongoing investment and you should continue to adjust your campaigns as needed.
If you’re looking to grow your business at an exponential rate, Google Paid Search advertising will need to be a part of your overall digital marketing strategy in order to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. Paid Search isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Simply relying on organic efforts and SEO alone will take more time to produce the results you’re looking for, especially with how Google continues to release core updates on a consistent basis. Lead Revenue has a dedicated Paid Search team ready to help you move the needle and achieve the results you’re looking for, faster. Contact us today to schedule a call with our team to discuss your paid search strategy.
