Optimize your ads
Your ads are the voice of your products and services. The more relevant and engaging they are to your customers, the more likely they'll generate results for you.
To quickly gauge your ad performance, you can sort by clickthrough rate or conversion statistics the same way you might with keywords. This way, you can easily see which ads:
- Get clicked on most often
- Generate the most conversions
- Have the best conversion rates
- Bring in conversions at the lowest cost
You'll want your ads to appeal to customers and accurately describe what you have to offer. Follow these best practices to make sure your ads are optimized:
Match your ads and keywords
Consumers tend to be drawn to ads that seem more relevant to their search. So make sure that your ad text (especially the headline) is closely related to your keywords. This can catch the attention of people who searched for those words, and show that your ad is related to what they want.
It's important to group your keywords by theme or product, instead of putting all your keywords in the same ad group. This way, you can write an ad that's directly tailored to that specific theme. And the more closely paired your ads and keywords are, the more likely someone will be interested.
Create different versions of your ad
It can be hard to capture everything you want to say about your business in a single text ad. That's why you'll want to write different versions of your ad.
It's a good idea to have 3 to 5 different ads in an ad group. If you have more than one ad in an ad group, Google Ads will automatically start showing the better-performing ones by default.In each ad, try using different headlines or description text. For example, you could experiment with:
- Trying different headlines or calls-to-action
- Including certain keywords or brands
- Including specific prices or promotions
Use a strong call-to-action
In your ad text, you'll want to encourage customers to perform the action that you want them to take on your site. A strong, clear call-to-action tells customers what they can expect and nudges them toward your desired action.
The more specific your call-to-action (that is, the closer it matches your keywords and landing page), the better your chances of a conversion. By choosing the right action phrase, you'll avoid having to pay for clicks that are less likely to result in business for you.
Highlight what sets you apart
If you have something special to offer, make sure your customers see it. For example, you might be offering a 10% summer discount, an instant rebate, or a free gift with purchase. Calling attention to specific prices or promotions can help influence someone's decision to click on your ad. The more you can set yourself apart from competitors, the more likely you'll appeal to potential customers.
Use ad assets
One way of attracting more customers to your ad is by using ad assets—a feature that shows extra business information with your ad, like an address, phone number, store rating, or more webpage links. Adding ad assets can help improve your ad's visibility and CTR.
Optimize your landing pages
Your landing pages play a big part in turning clicks into customers. When someone clicks on your ad, they expect to land on a page that's relevant to what they saw in your ad. If they don't immediately find what they expect, they're more likely to leave.
Make sure your landing page matches your ad and keywords
Choose a landing page that closely matches your ad and keywords. For example, if your keyword is discount shoes and your ad promises shoes at 20% off, then customers should be able to find and buy shoes at that discounted price on your landing page.
Your landing page should also mirror the call-to-action in your ad text. For example, if your ad encourages customers to sign up for a free tour, then you might prominently feature a sign-up form on your landing page.Think of it this way: The connection between your ad and landing page is the bridge between a potential customer and a purchase. The stronger they're connected (the more directly relevant they are), the better your chances of a conversion.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
Many of your customers will be visiting your website on a mobile device. On a smaller screen, it can be hard for people to find what they want.
See if the speed of your mobile site is costing you customers, and get quick fixes to improve it. Test your site.
- Keep it quick
- Make it easy to contact you
- Use simple navigation
Make sure your landing page is easy to navigate
Make it quick and easy for customers to perform the action you want them to take—order your product, call your phone number, or submit an inquiry. Don't make people hunt around for information they might need. Avoid cluttering your site with too many ads or pop-ups.
It's a good idea to put important information towards the top of the page. This way, it'll be immediately visible to customers when they arrive on the page, and they don't have to scroll down to see it.
Provide useful, unique content
Try to provide useful, original information on your landing page about whatever you're advertising. Be clear about your product or service and what it does. For example, you might consider adding reviews that show real opinions from other customers.
