How to use Google Ads for a small business

Google Ads can generate meaningful, cost-effective results for your small business. With its vast reach and precise targeting capabilities, Google Ads can help small businesses compete with larger companies. Here's how to make the most out of Google Ads for your small business.

Understanding Google Ads

Google Ads is an online advertising platform developed by Google, where advertisers bid to display brief advertisements, service offerings, product listings, or videos to web users. It can place ads both in the results of search engines like Google Search and on non-search websites, mobile apps, and videos.

Benefits of Using Google Ads for Small Businesses

1. Targeted Advertising: Google Ads allows you to target your ads to specific audiences based on keywords, location, demographics, and more.
2. Cost Control: You set your budget and bids, ensuring you never spend more than you’re comfortable with.
3. Measurable Results: Track the performance of your ads in real-time with detailed analytics.
4. Flexibility: Create ads in various formats, including text, images, and videos, to suit your marketing goals.

Steps to Get Started with Google Ads

1. Define Your Goals

Before diving into Google Ads, it’s crucial to define what you want to achieve. Clear goals will guide your campaign strategy and help measure success. 

Common goals include:

• Increasing website traffic
• Generating leads
• Boosting sales
• Building brand awareness

3. Keyword Research

Keywords are the backbone of Google Ads. Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords that potential customers might use when searching for products or services similar to yours. Focus on keywords that have a good balance between search volume and competition.

4. Set Up Your Google Ads Account

If you don’t already have a Google Ads account, you’ll need to create one. Go to the Google Ads homepage and follow the prompts to set up your account. You’ll need to provide some basic information about your business and set up billing details.

5. Create Your First Campaign

When creating a campaign, you’ll need to choose a campaign type. Google Ads offers several campaign types, including:

• Search Network Campaigns: Text ads on Google search results
• Display Network Campaigns: Image ads on websites
• Shopping Campaigns: Product listings on Google
• Video Campaigns: Video ads on YouTube
• App Campaigns: Promoting your mobile app across Google’s networks

For small businesses, Search Network campaigns are often the most effective. 

6. Write Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy should be clear, concise, and enticing. Highlight what makes your product or service unique and include a strong call-to-action (CTA). Make sure your keywords are naturally integrated into your ad text.

7. Set Your Budget and Bids

Determine how much you’re willing to spend per day and set your daily budget accordingly. Google Ads operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, so you’ll only pay when someone clicks on your ad. Set your bids based on how much you’re willing to pay for each click.

8. Use Ad Extensions

Ad extensions provide additional information about your business and can increase your ad’s visibility and click-through rate. Use extensions like site links, callouts, and structured snippets to provide more value to potential customers.

9. Monitor and Optimize Your Campaigns

Regularly check the performance of your campaigns using Google Ads’ analytics tools. Pay attention to key metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS). Use this data to make informed decisions and adjust your campaigns as needed.

Tips for Success

At Prism Digital, our team frequently experiments with Google Ads, managing our clients’ PPC campaigns directly. Here’s some best practices we’ve developed that can help your small businesses grow faster:

• Start small: Begin with a limited budget and a narrow target audience. Gradually expand as you see what works.
• Test different ad variations: A/B test different headlines, descriptions, and CTAs to find the most effective combinations.
• Use negative keywords: Exclude irrelevant keywords to prevent your ads from showing in unrelated searches.
• Leverage ad extensions: Use ad extensions to include additional information like phone numbers, locations, and links to specific pages on your site.

Conclusion

Google Ads can be a game-changer for small businesses, providing a level playing field to compete with larger companies. Start small, test diligently, and watch your small business grow with Google Ads.

If you need assistance setting up or optimizing your Google Ads campaigns, out full-stack digital marketing agency is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our paid search services and how we can help your small business success online.