Zach Heller
No single blog post can teach you everything you need to know about Google Adwords. And I won’t attempt to do that here. This post is for those out there that do not know anything about Google Adwords. It’s an introduction. At the end of the post, I’ll include some links for further learning and more advanced tips.
What is Google Adwords?
We’re all familiar with Google Search. When you use search, whether it’s on a desktop or mobile device, you end up on the Search Results page. This page includes both paid links and organic links. The paid links appear most often at the top and on the right-hand side of the organic links. They are currently marked by a small yellow “Ad” icon.
Those results are ads. They’re the primary way Google makes money.
In order to get your company to show up there, you will use Google’s advertising platform, called Google Adwords.
Why Should I Use Google Adwords?
If you are trying to drive people to your website or sell products online, Google Adwords is one of the best ways to do it. You can show your ads to anyone searching for what you offer, at the very top of the search results page.
It’s easy to set up, manage and track on any budget. The user is already expressing interest by doing the search, and your ad will ensure that your company gets exposed to them at the right time, in the right place.
How Does Google Adwords Work?
The entire thing works on a bidding system. You will end up with a list of keywords you want to target, each one associated with your bid, or what you’re willing to pay when someone clicks on your ad. You are only charged when someone clicks on your ad.
Multiple advertisers will be bidding on the same keywords, in most cases. The more popular the keywords, the more competition, and the more expensive those keywords will be. Your bid will be put up against all the other bids for that keyword, and Google will decide who’s ads to show, and where, based on your bid and several other factors.
You have complete control over your daily budget, the content of your ad, and the page someone gets to when they click on your ad. And the Google Adwords platform offers detailed reporting that allows you to track very effectively how your ads are performing.
How Do I Get Started?
To sign up, go to https://www.google.com/adwords/. Everything is free right up until you publish your campaign and someone clicks on an ad.
There are simple tools available to help you research your keywords, build out your keyword lists, create your ads, and set your bids.
If you don’t want to take the time to learn or manage the system yourself, there are thousands of companies and consultants out there who can do it for you, at a fee. And Google also offers their own account management team to assist you if you have questions.
Where Do I Go From Here?
If you want to learn more about Google Adwords, try to following resources:
- The Google Adwords Site
- 7 Common Mistakes Companies Make with Google Adwords
- How to Use Google Adwords
- Adwords Tutorial (Youtube Video)
- Google Adwords for Beginners (Online Course)
(177)
