Google Ads
What is Google Ads?
Google Ads is Google’s online advertising platform. It lets businesses promote their products or services across Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, and millions of partner websites. Originally called Google AdWords, it was rebranded to Google Ads in 2018.
How does Google Ads work?
Google Ads runs on a pay-per-click (PPC) model. You choose keywords and set a maximum bid-the most you’re willing to pay for a click. If your bid and ad quality are high enough, your ad can appear when someone searches for those keywords.
You can also set a daily budget, which limits how much you spend per day.
There are three common pricing models:
- CPC (Cost per Click) – Pay when someone clicks your ad
- CPM (Cost per Thousand Impressions) – Pay for every 1,000 views
- CPE (Cost per Engagement) – Pay when someone interacts with your ad
Google ranks your ad based on Ad Rank, a score that combines your bid with your Quality Score-a rating from 1 to 10 based on the relevance and quality of your ad, keywords, and landing page. Higher quality = better rankings and lower costs.
Types of Google Ads campaigns
You can choose from several campaign types:
- Search ads – Text ads shown in Google search results
- Display ads – Image/banner ads across Google’s partner sites
- Shopping ads – Product-based ads shown in search results
- Video ads – Ads shown on YouTube
- App ads – Ads promoting mobile apps
Using Google Keyword Planner
Google’s Keyword Planner is a free tool for researching search terms. It shows:
- Search volume
- Suggested bid ranges
- Keyword competition levels
This helps you pick the right keywords and set smart bids.
To access it:
- Sign into Google Ads
- Go to Tools & Settings > Keyword Planner
- Choose to discover new keywords or get search volume and forecasts
How to create a Google Ads campaign
- Go to ads.google.com and click Start Now
- Choose your goal and campaign type
- Enter your business name and ad destination (URL)
- Pick your keyword themes
- Set your location targeting
- Write your ad headline and description
- Add your billing info and launch the campaign
Google Ads vs SEO
- SEO helps you earn organic traffic over time by improving your site and content
- Google Ads gives you instant visibility by paying for top ad placements
SEO builds long-term value. Google Ads delivers quick results. The best strategy often combines both.
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