Connect with mobile users

Google's official checklist for mobile advertising.


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Consumers expect a relevant and frictionless experience when they use a mobile device to find, do or buy something. This guide outlines best practices for reaching mobile users and measuring their value to your business.

1. Connect with mobile users

Why: A compelling call to action on one device tends to be compelling on other devices as well.

Why: You can highlight any calls to action or offers that work particularly well on mobile devices, like “buy from your mobile phone” or “easy mobile booking”

  • Elevate your mobile ads with assets.

Why: Assets deliver additional info and provide alternate ways for customers to interact with you.

Use this asset... In order to...
Sitelink Give users the option of landing directly on specific pages of your site
Callout Promote what makes your business, products or services unique
Call Get users to call your business
Use call-only ads if your primary goal is driving calls
Structured snippet Highlight a specific aspect of the products and services you offer
Price Showcase your business’s core products and services along with their prices
Location Drive people to physical business locations
Affiliate location Reach consumers when they are deciding what and where to buy
Review Share positive write-ups, awards or third-party rankings
App Drive app downloads alongside clicks to your site

Tip

For call assets, use local numbers if you have them available. They indicate to users that you’re nearby, which can increase relevance and user trust.

Why: Mobile users shift from one device to another as they visit your site, visit your store, call and text - you should shift with them.

2. Deliver great mobile site and app experiences

  • Customize the experience for mobile users with mobile URLs.

Why: Mobile users have come to expect a great on-site experience. Don’t disappoint them with a desktop-specific landing page.

Why: If certain keywords tend to assist, rather than complete, mobile conversions, your landing pages should take that insight into account.

Why: Calls are an important way to connect with users across channels.

Why: These automated campaigns use machine learning to deliver a customized experience based on someone’s context.

Why: Your listing page is the landing page for your app ads. You can run experiments in Google Play to find the most effective graphics and text.

  • Set up deep links that will take folks directly to specific parts of your app.

Why: This reduces friction and increases engagement.

Tip

Google recommends using App Links for Android and Universal Links for iOS when enabling deep links for your app.

3. Measure the full value of mobile

  • Account for both the online and offline value of mobile conversions.

Why: Mobile interactions lead to offline actions. Estimates can be helpful as measurement improves.

  • Track important mobile interactions.

Why: You can update your strategy and investment based on the interactions you measure.

Mobile Interaction Way(s) to measure
Website conversions Google Ads conversion tracking
Cross-device conversions Google Ads conversion tracking
Calls (from ads or your website) Google Ads call reporting, Google Ads conversion tracking
Store visits Google Ads store visit conversion tracking
In-store purchases Conversion import, store sales conversions, Search Ads 360
App installs and in-app actions In-app conversion tracking

Why: You can optimize to a more complete picture of performance by counting mobile conversion types.

4. Set bids that drive profitable mobile traffic

Why: Automated bid strategies account for signals like device type and browser to make auction-time bid changes that save time and often deliver better results.

Tip

When using universal app campaigns, there are two bidding options. For apps with in-app actions tracked as conversions, use the second option: "Get new users who are likely to complete in-app actions that you select."Google Ads will focus on people who are most likely to complete the specific in-app actions you've set up and selected for this campaign.

Why: The automated bid strategies that work for you can be further customized to connect directly with what you know about mobile’s value.

  • If you’re using manual bidding, bid your ads to the top of search results on mobile where it’s profitable.

Why: That’s where the vast majority of clicks are generated.

Why: Device bid adjustments are intended to bring your performance in line with your goals.

Tip

Plan to consolidate your campaign management with all devices in one campaign. Use bid adjustments to manage performance between devices within those campaigns.

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