While Google Ads is a meaty platform brimming with countless features, starting out doesn’t need to be complicated.

When starting a campaign, you’ll be asked what goal you want to target. Your options are:

  • Sales
  • Leads
  • Website traffic
  • Product and brand consideration
  • Brand awareness and reach
  • App promotion
  • Local store visits and promotions
  • Or, none at all

Once selected, you will then be able to select which campaign type. Here’s a brief overview of what’s on offer.

Search

Search Ads appear above and below search results, and look like any other search result (other than the bold ‘Ad’ to the left of the page title). They provide an alternative to exhaustive SEO, wherein advertisers can simply pay for the top spot in Google.

Display

These are image-focused ads that are displayed around the Google Display Network. In other words, the banner ads, pop-ups, and ads that run alongside articles are all display ads.

Shopping

These allow you to showcase specific products with some limited specs in search results.

Video

Video ads play before Youtube videos and throughout the web.

Smart

Within a smart campaign, advanced machine learning automates ad creation, bidding, and audience targeting. This is the least hands-on of each campaign option, ideal for beginners although less lucrative and flexible.

Online advertising is becoming more and more “beginner-friendly” as the process becomes increasingly automated. Yet, don’t be fooled. It’s easy to blow valuable time and money on campaigns that fail if you start using Google Ads without:

  • A clear idea of your goals
  • Solid metrics for success
  • A robust idea of what you’re selling and who you’re selling to
  • The time and patience to engage in some long-term trial and error

Starting out in Google Ads is as difficult as you want it to be. Yet, any formula for success in this field involves dedication and patience.

Are you a business owner that likes the sound of advertising through Google Ads, yet lacks the time or energy to make a full go of it?

If yes, you might want to contact the team here at Meta Digital.

We provide full-service Google Ads support and consultation. Contact us today for a no-obligation first meeting.