6 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Google AdWords
Your small business can look very different from another small business in another state and in another time zone, but there are some aspects of small business life that everyone out there can relate to.
Having a brand that speaks for what you do and who you are is a top concern for small business owners. Next up on the list might be, how do you secure the necessary funds for a marketing budget? How can you leverage the power within social media, like Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Twitter, etc.?
Once you have enough funds to allocate towards marketing, you should consider the benefit of using paid media campaigns, specifically Google AdWords. Google AdWords is a smart investment option when it comes to running your small business because you'll be able to target individuals searching for your business and/or services through keywords relating to what you do. Not only does it help you market your business but also provides you with analytics to measure the results of what works.
Here are 6 major reasons why you should start marketing with Google AdWords:
1. Pay as much as you want
The operating cost to open a small business can be hefty. After you’ve celebrated your grand opening and you’ve got customers and clients who keep on coming back for more (hooray!), you want to make sure you’re cash flow is able to cover the other elements to keep you going. When it comes to Google AdWords, there is no minimum investment. So even if you’re operating with a limited budget, you pay what you can, literally.
Testing out new marketing channels may be a no-brainer for you, but for another small business owner, it could leave them shaking in their boots. Google AdWords is a safer area of middle ground. The money you spend with Google AdWords will work with whatever budget you’ve got going on.
Plus, marketing may be terrifying to some small business owners because they’re never able to determine if it’s “working” the way they want. Read more about this in #5, but Google measures your results for you, so you don’t have to be left wondering what works and what doesn’t.
2. It’s a win-win (Honestly)
The cost to use Google AdWords is quite affordable, and like we mentioned above, the money you pay can be dependent on your unique budget. The greatest part? You only pay Google once you get results. “Pay-per-click” or ppc advertising operates in just that way. When someone who is interested in your business clicks on your message (or, ad), then you pay. There are also re-marketing options within Google AdWords, so if people have clicked on your message in the past, you can keep your products and service and business in the forefront of their mind, until they patronize your services.
3. When consumers are looking...there you’ll be
Generally, when someone is typing “pizza” into Google, they’re all set to eat that pizza now, or at least make a reservation to dine and eat that pizza later. When someone types your unique keywords into Google, your message (read, ad), will show up when the consumer is already primed to make a purchase or take the leap. The work is all done for you! If there are keywords you think will work best for your business, then take advantage of how those words can start to work for you.
4. Set your location to maximize on potential business
Setting your geographic location within Google AdWords makes sense, right? Those lovebirds who searched “local engagement ring” and who are looking for a jewelry store, they don’t want to drive three and a half hours on the interstate to find the best place to look at sparkling diamonds. They’re searching for a place that is 2.3 miles away. Targeting those who are searching nearby will help you capitalize on bringing that couple straight into your store.
Though, if you’re looking for business leads all throughout the United States, or if you ship a product internationally, then you can set those parameters too. With AdWords, the choice is up to you.
5. Make advertising fun again
Ultimately, for your business to keep on growing, you want to share the right message to the right person and the right time. Sounds easy, right? Oftentimes in the world of small business, determining if your message is getting across and getting across to the right people and at the right time can be a lot to manage. Without feedback, how can you know that anything is working the way you think it is? With Google AdWords, you’re able to test a variety of messages and keywords and see what does well and which combinations perform the best.
AdWords has built-in capabilities that track reports for you like your return on investment (ROI), web form submissions, e-commerce sales, phone calls, and even sales that happened offline. Maximize the messages that give you the must ROI and tailor that throughout the year to keep your business surviving and thriving.
6. Boost your SEO
SEO. SEO. SEO. Everyone is talking about the importance of SEO in today’s world. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about getting on page one of Google. Why? Because when you’re on page one, you don’t have to pay for the clicks to your website. While AdWords may not directly improve your google ranking, it provides instant traffic to your site which will give your brand more exposure. If your content is good, those visitors will likely come back a second time or more. Solid SEO can take weeks, months, and even years to hone it to be where you want it to be, so take all the help you can get.