Welcome to our Google Ads tutorial. With this blog, we will guide you through everything you need to know about Google Ads. If you are interested in learning how to launch a Google Ads campaign that brings in traffic and converts leads into loyal customers, then you are in the right place.
Step 1: Switch to Expert Mode
Preparation is key
Begin by going to ads. Google. Then, follow the steps to set up your account by writing to come and set up your account. You will also be prompted for your primary advertising objective, but ignore that and change to Expert Mode. This gives you complete control over campaign settings.
The Expert Mode might sound intimidating, but this guide will make it a breeze and even more accessible!
Step 2: Select the type of your campaign
Choose Your Advertising ‘Menu’’
Google has different types of campaigns that cater to specific goals:
- Search Ads: This is used to target specific keywords.
- Display Ads → Visual ads on the Google Display Network.
- Video Ads: Get in front of people who are watching YouTube.
- Shopping Ads: Best for eCom businesses
- Local Ads: Advertise local stores to customers in the vicinity.
- App Ads: Drive app downloads.
- Performance Max: Works across every Google channel, depending on your goals.
Search Ads can be a good starting point for most businesses, particularly if your primary goal is to drive traffic to your website.
Tip: Once your account matures, test different types of campaigns to reach your customers from various channels.
Step 3: Set Up Your Campaign
Configure Core Settings
After selecting your campaign type, make a name for it to keep track of it. After that, set up these important settings:
- Networks: Your ads will automatically display to Google Partners and Search Network by default. Modify based on your preferences (mainly you want the ads to appear only on Google Search). These are for remarketing purposes which are good for returning visitors.
- Audiences: Choose audiences by interests or website visit
Tip: Watch campaign details like a hawk To target better create more than one campaign with different campaign names and networks.
Step 4: Set Your Ad Schedule
Select the Time that Works for Your “Service Hours”
Indicate what days/times your ads should be shown. Schedule your ads during the peak time of your audience if you know when they browse the most so that they can get maximum impressions and conversions.
Tip: Google Ads defaults to your account’s time zone. If you target multiple regions, align scheduling to ensure ads reach each audience at the right time.
Step 5: Select Location & Language
Advertise to the Right People
Start with specific locations/languages to refine your reach:
- Place: Country, City, or you can choose based on your target market.
- Language: Choose languages relevant to your audience.
Tip: Use the “Presence” option to make sure you’ll only show ads to users physically located in your location, not to those “interested” to avoid irrelevant clicks.
Step 6: Get Your Daily Allowance
Get Your Finances Just Right
Calculate a daily budget based on your monthly spending, divided by 30.4. Factor in average cost-per-click (CPC) to stay within budget while generating enough impressions to meet your campaign goals.
Pro Tips: You can use the budget report in Google Ads to understand how your spending is trending.
Do not make maximum campaign budgets too low, which will inhibit hard campaign excess growth. Instead, it should be adapted gradually, as per performance data.
Step 7: Choose a Bid Strategy
Keep a Lid on Costs and Achieve Optimal ROI
What your bid strategy does is decide how Google is going to use your budget:
- Manual Cpc: Set max cpc bids at the individual level. Good if you want tight control over expenditure
- Automated Bidding: This is when Google takes the responsibility of setting bids according to their idea of how likely the user is to convert. Good for new campaigns with little data.
Tip: If you are a new advertiser then start with automated bidding, later you can switch to manual once you have learned what is the ideal CPC.
Step 8: Set Up Keywords
Add the Right Ingredients
When a user types in terms relevant to your business, it triggers your ads, exactly because of the keywords you used. Group these into ad groups to maintain the structure of the campaigns. It works best for purchase-based keywords that use specific words reflecting the intent.
- Broad match: Wider reach, lowest precision. For example;
- Phrase Match: displays ads for your keywords in a variety of forms.
- Exact: Only target searches that exactly match your keywords.
Pro Tips: Google has tools like Keyword Planner that allow you to find terms that perform well. Do not put an excess no of keywords into each ad group to avoid overlap and divide the budget efficiently.
Step 9: Create Your Ad
Craft an Eye-Catching Ad that Converts
Each ad has three main elements: the headline, description, and URL. Write clear, engaging copy to draw users in.
- Headline: Capture attention within the first few words.
- Description: Highlight key benefits and a clear call-to-action (CTA).
- URL: Create a path that aligns with your ad to improve relevance.
Pro Tips:
- Use numbers or promotions in headlines for higher click-through rates (CTR).
- Test multiple versions of your ad to determine which copy performs best.
Step 10: Add Ad Extensions
Provide Extra Info to Improve CTR
Ad extensions add valuable information like phone numbers, site links, or promotions. These can increase visibility and improve CTR by providing additional options for engagement.
Popular extensions:
- Sitelink Extensions: Add links to specific pages.
- Call Extensions: Display a contact number.
- Location Extensions: Show your business address.
Pro Tip: Using multiple extensions maximizes your ad’s real estate, which can boost clicks and conversions.
Step 11: Device Targeting
Change Device Preferences with Campaign Adjustment
You know your audience loves to act on mobile? So bid higher for mobile placements. Likewise, if your desktop conversion rates are better, put that in the top spot.
Step 12: Create a Landing Page
Design for Conversions
Direct traffic to a landing page that aligns with your ad’s promise. A well-optimized landing page enhances user experience and conversion rates. Ensure it is mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and features a clear CTA.
Pro Tips:
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to verify usability on smartphones.
- Run A/B tests to refine your landing page’s design and messaging.
Step 13: Set Your Campaign Live
Launch and Monitor Performance
Finally, set your campaign live! But don’t just sit back—monitor metrics like CTR, conversion rate, and cost-per-conversion to identify what’s working and what isn’t.
Pro Tips for Managing Your Google Ads
- Leverage Analytics: Use Google Analytics to understand user behavior post-click.
- Experiment with Retargeting: Reach users who’ve interacted with your site but didn’t convert.
- Use Dynamic Search Ads: Automatically target relevant search queries without heavy keyword research.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a Google Ads campaign that is as effective as it is engaging. For more details and to go through all the steps , you can check here.
