7 Reasons Why You Should Use Google Ads

Though Meta and TikTok Ads may have the shiny new object phenomenon going for them—thanks to Instagram Reels ads and TikTok In-Feed Ads, when it comes to ad revenue and engagement, Google Ads still wears the global leader crown. The ad platform holds approximately 26.8% of U.S. ad revenue and a significant market share globally, approximately 39%.

Sure, Meta and TikTok are gaining traction as advertising platforms, but Google Ads reign supreme in the advertising world. In this post, we’ll explore the 7 reasons why that’s true.

Let’s start from the beginning.

What are Google Ads?

Google Ads is Google’s online advertising program. It allows advertisers to create and display online ads across Google’s extensive digital network, including Google Search, YouTube, Google Display Network, Google Maps, and partner websites. The Google Ads platform runs on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, i.e., you have to pay every time a visitor clicks your ad.

Atlassian helps teams collaborate, manage projects, and streamline workflows. The platform includes tools like Jira and Confluence that serve millions of users across 190+ countries. This is one of their Google Search Ads:

This is a Google display ad for Speroni Water Pumps, a renowned company in the water pump industry.

Whether you’re a large enterprise or a small business, operate in the ecommerce world, or specialize in B2B SaaS—Google Ads allow you to run scalable, hyper-targeted ad campaigns with measurable ROI and real-time performance tracking. The platform also gives you the ability to reach billions of users across Google Search, YouTube, and partner sites.

So, should you invest in Google Ads?

7 reasons why you should use Google Ads

Yes, investing in Google ad campaigns is worth it. The platform gives you benefits that no other ad platform can currently offer. Here are 7 reasons why you should invest in Google Ads.

1. Google’s massive reach means you get more eyeballs on your ads

Google processes approximately 8.5 billion searches per day, this equates to about 99,000 searches every second.

People use Google to look for solutions to problems that your brand offers. If they’ve ever used the internet, chances are they’ve Googled the answer to something. And if you can help them find the answer, even if it’s with an ad, they’re more likely to choose you than your competitor.

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While Google’s Google’s AI overviews have changed the way people search and how brands’ sponsored content appears on SERPs, the launch of Google AI Overview Ads brings some relief to advertisers and businesses. With this new way in place, if a user searches for something that has a commercial angle—something where a product or service could be relevant—then an ad may appear above, below, or within the response.

The ads can appear directly within AI Overviews when relevant to the query and the information provided.

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Targeted advertising

Google Ads allows businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and search behaviors.

Google Ads offers different ways of targeting, allowing advertisers to reach their ideal audience effectively through options such as:

1. Keyword targeting: Displaying ads based on specific search terms users enter.
2. Demographic targeting: Focusing on age, gender, income, and other demographic factors.
3. Location targeting: Targeting users in specific geographic areas, from countries to neighborhoods.
4. Device targeting: Customizing ads for mobile, desktop, or tablet users.
5. Audience targeting: Reaching users based on their interests, behaviors, or previous interactions with your website
6. Time-based targeting: Showing ads at specific times of the day or days of the week.
7. Content targeting: Displaying ads on websites or YouTube videos related to specific topics or industries.

3. You get results faster with Google Ads

Search engine optimization (SEO) is still the backbone of most highly visited sites. The posts and pages you see on page one of SERPs aren’t just well-written with carefully researched keywords—they’re also on websites that have amassed many backlinks over time (still a significant ranking factor for web pages).

When you get started with Google Ads, though, your chance of leapfrogging all the organic results on a search engine results page grows exponentially, and it grows much more easily, too.

There’s no endless search for links that will bump your page up just a little bit. There’s no poring over keyword density on your landing page. You just need to set up your ad campaign, start running ads, and see results.

The best way to get the most visibility and favorable results with paid ads is to make your SEO and PPC efforts work in tandem.

4. Better campaign cost control and flexibility

With Google Ads, advertisers experience better control of their budgets while having the flexibility to adapt campaigns as needed because you enjoy the following:

Total budget control

• No minimum spend: Google Ads doesn’t require a minimum investment, which means you can create ads with the platform regardless of your company size.
• Daily budget setting: Advertisers can set a daily budget for campaigns, ensuring you never overspend.
• Adjustable budgets: Campaign budgets can be adjusted at any time, so you have the flexibility to scale up or down as needed.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) model

• Pay only for results: With PPC, you’re charged only when someone clicks your ad, ensuring that your money goes toward tangible outcomes.
• Customizable bidding: Choose between manual or automated bidding strategies to optimize costs for specific goals, such as clicks, impressions, or conversions.

Campaign flexibility

• Pause or stop anytime: Campaigns can be paused, stopped, or reactivated instantly without penalties.
• Targeting adjustments: Modify targeting criteria (e.g., location, audience, keywords) as insights develop, ensuring your ads reach the right people.
• Multiple campaign types: Choose from Search, Display, Shopping, Video, and App campaigns, adapting your approach to meet your objectives.

Granular reporting and insights

• Track ROI in real-time: Google Ads provides detailed analytics, showing how your budget is being spent and the returns it generates.
• Identify high-performing segments: Shift the budget toward the most effective keywords, audiences, or ad placements.

Scalability

• Start small, scale big: Test campaigns with a small budget, then increase investment in strategies that deliver results.
• Global or local reach: Adjust your budget to target specific regions or expand globally, all within the same platform.

Automated cost optimization

• Smart bidding: Google’s AI-powered bidding strategies optimize for conversions or revenue, ensuring you get the most out of your budget.
• Performance max campaigns: Automatically allocate budget across multiple Google channels for maximum efficiency.

5. Detailed performance tracking and analytics

Google Ads offers comprehensive tools that empower businesses to monitor, analyze, and optimize their campaigns precisely. Here’s how these tools work to help advertisers understand and improve their campaigns:

Real-time performance tracking

• Instant feedback: Google Ads gives you real-time data on campaign performance so you can make timely adjustments to improve results.
• Customizable dashboards: Tailor your dashboard to focus on the metrics that matter most to your business, such as conversions, impressions, or cost-per-click (CPC).

Access to key metrics for insights

• Click-through rate (CTR): Measures the percentage of users who click on your ad after seeing it, indicating how engaging your ad copy and visuals are.
• Conversion rate: Tracks the percentage of clicks that result in desired actions (e.g., purchases, sign-ups), helping you evaluate the effectiveness of your landing pages and offers.
• Return on investment (ROI): Calculates the revenue generated compared to your ad spend, showing the profitability of your campaigns.
• Quality Score: Rates your ads’ relevance and quality, influencing your ad placement and cost-per-click.

Advanced analytics features

• Audience insights: Understand who interacts with your ads based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
• Attribution models: Analyze how different touchpoints contribute to conversions, from first-click to last-click or a combination.
• Device and location data: Identify which devices and regions drive the best results so you can allocate the budget effectively.

Reporting and customization

• Detailed reports: Generate in-depth reports that break down performance by campaign, ad group, or keyword.
• Integration with Google Analytics: Combine data from Google Ads and Google Analytics for a complete view of user behavior, from ad interaction to on-site activity.
• Custom alerts: Set up alerts to notify you of significant changes in performance metrics, ensuring you stay proactive.

Performance tracking and analytics in Google Ads go beyond basic metrics. They help you identify underperforming areas and take corrective action, allocate budgets to high-performing campaigns or segments, understand customer behavior and preferences, and continuously refine strategies to maximize ROI.

6. Geo-targeting options for local businesses

Geo-targeting ensures that local businesses can effectively compete in their area by reaching customers at the moment they’re searching for solutions near them. Whether you run a restaurant, a clothing store, or a service provider, this feature helps drive foot traffic, generate leads, and increase sales within your community.

Google Ads offers advertisers precise location targeting with a customizable radius. This means that you can target users within a specific distance from their physical location, such as 5, 10, or 50 miles.

You can also target based on city, zip code, or region targeting and have the option to add exclusion zones so you’re not wasting your ad budget on clicks that can’t convert.

Google Ads also lets you run time-based campaigns (display ads during your business hours or peak times when customers are most likely to visit) and seasonal campaigns (adjust targeting and messaging for local events, holidays, or promotions).

These features help you run local ads that result in a positive ROAS.

7. Access to versatile ad formats

Google Ads supports various ad formats. This versatility enables businesses to tailor their campaigns to fit specific goals, whether it’s brand awareness, lead generation, or sales. You can reach audiences across different platforms and touchpoints, from search results to video content.

Multiple ad formats also mean experimenting to find the most effective way to engage their target market.
Here’s a list of all the available formats you can use for your Google ad campaigns.

1. Text ads

• What they are: Simple, headline-based ads that appear on Google Search results pages.
• What they are best for: Driving traffic directly to your website or landing page from search queries.
• Customization: Includes headlines, descriptions, and URLs, optimized for keywords to match user intent.

Example:

2. Display ads

• What they Are: Visual ads featuring images, text, or both, shown across Google’s Display Network, which includes over 2 million websites and apps.
• What they best For: Building brand awareness, retargeting past visitors, or reaching new audiences through visually appealing content.
• Formats: Static images, responsive ads that adjust to different screen sizes, or rich media ads with interactive elements.

Example:

3. YouTube ads

• What they Are: Engaging video content displayed on YouTube and across Google’s partner sites.
• What are they best For: Telling your brand story, showcasing products in action, or driving engagement through compelling visuals and sound.

Formats:

• In-Stream Ads: Play before, during, or after YouTube videos (skippable or non-skippable).
• Bumper Ads: Short, 6-second non-skippable ads ideal for quick brand messaging.
• Discovery Ads: Appear on YouTube search results and video watch pages to attract viewers actively seeking related content.

Example:

4. Shopping ads

• What They Are: Product-focused ads that include an image, price, and store name, shown on Google Search and Shopping tabs.
• What are they best For: E-commerce businesses looking to showcase specific products directly to users searching for them.

Features:

1. Integration with your product feed for dynamic updates.
2. Local inventory ads to drive in-store visits.

Example:

5. App promotion ads

• What they Are: Ads designed to promote app downloads and engagement, shown across Search, Display, YouTube, and Google Play.
• What are they best for: App developers aiming to increase installs or re-engage existing users.
• Formats: Text, video, or interactive app demos.

6. Local ads

• What they are: Ads that highlight your business location and encourage local visits, appearing on Google Maps, Search, and Display.
• What are they best for: Brick-and-mortar businesses looking to drive foot traffic.
• Features: Directions, phone numbers, and business hours directly integrated into the ad.

Example:

So, should you launch Google ad campaigns? Yes, you should

If you were asking, “Why should you use Google Ads?” before, right now, you should be asking, “Why not?”
The ad platform has something for businesses of all sizes with different budgets and advertising goals. Different target audiences, most of whom have used Google at least once to find the answer to a problem.

So, in a sea of seemingly endless searches, why wouldn’t you drop a bucket to see how much revenue you could generate?
And while we’re on the topic of advertising revenue, we cannot ignore the importance of landing pages and all the conversion goodness they bring.

You will be doing your Google Ads a disservice if you aren’t connecting them to dedicated landing pages—a place where your offer takes center stage and your visitors enter your sales funnel. If you want to play around with the possibilities of what a landing page can do for your campaigns. Sign up for an Try Instapage free for 14 days.