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The Ultimate Guide to Pay-Per-Click Marketing

By
Josh B.
March 4, 2024
4
min read
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The Ultimate Guide to Pay-Per-Click Marketing

Ever wonder why some search results pop up right at the top when you use search engines? 

Well, those are ads shown by Google, and businesses pay to grab those top spots. It's called PPC, but why is it a big deal? Companies compete to be there because it's crucial for their visibility. 

In this article, you will learn about the importance of PPC and how it can positively affect your B2B marketing strategies. You will also learn how to master PPC models to get the best results with the least investment.

Join us as we explore the top 5 popular PPC platforms to take your business campaigns to the next level.

What is PPC?

Pay-per-click, or PPC, is a type of advertising where you pay to show your website on the search engine result page (SERP) when people search for specific words. Your ads appear, and you pay a fee only if someone clicks on them. 

When done well, PPC can bring you good-quality leads by creating a smooth user journey that can lead to a big return on investment (ROI) for your PPC efforts.

PPC ads are often seen on search engines like Google or Bing and sometimes on social media. You can spot PPC ads before and to the right of the regular search results. For example, if you search for "playing cards", check out the ad that shows up. 

What is PPC?

Importance of PPC in Digital Marketing

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is super important in digital marketing for a few cool reasons:

Targeting the Right People: With PPC, businesses can pick exactly who sees their ads. They can choose based on things like keywords, location, age, interests, and even the kind of device someone is using. This way, ads reach folks who are more likely to be interested in what's being advertised.

Controlling Costs: In PPC, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. It's like paying for real interest, not just for people looking at the ad. Plus, you can decide how much money you want to spend each day or for the whole campaign, keeping things in control.

Quick Results: Unlike some other digital marketing tricks, PPC gets things going fast. Once your campaign is a go, your ads start popping up, bringing in traffic and potential customers to your website pretty quickly.

Checking How Well It's Going: PPC platforms give you tons of info about how your ads are doing. You can see how many clicks you got, how many people saw the ad, and if they actually did what you wanted them to do (like buy something). This helps you figure out what's working and what needs tweaking.

Changing Things Up: PPC campaigns are like playdough – you can shape and change them based on what's happening in real time. Try out different ad words, switch up who you're aiming at, and see what combo gives you the best bang for your buck!

How PPC work?

PPC works similarly to an online auction. You choose certain words related to your business and bid on them. When people search for those words, your ad might show up. If someone clicks on your ad, you pay the amount you bid.

How PPC work?

It’s a shortcut to reach the top of search results, but it's not only about bidding a lot. Making ads that really connect with people is important too. The better your ad matches what someone is looking for, the more likely they are to click. That means more success and profits from your pay-per-click campaign. 

Here's a Simple Breakdown of How PPC usually goes:

  • Decide what you want to achieve with your PPC campaign.
  • Choose the type of campaign you want.
  • Figure out who you want to target.
  • Set your budget and decide how much you're willing to bid.
  • Create catchy ads with good words.
  • Start your campaign and see how well it's doing.

Setting Up a PPC Campaign

Making a PPC campaign work well can bring more people, leads, and sales to your business. To make it successful, you can follow these steps:

  • Set your Goals and Budget: Decide what you want from your campaign, and then figure out how much money you're okay spending.
  • Find the Right Keywords: Hunt for keywords that match what people are searching for and you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush to help you find these words.
Setting Up a PPC Campaign
  • Create Awesome Ads and Pages: Write catchy ads with great headlines and descriptions to make sure your webpage is just as awesome as your ads.
  • Organize your Campaign: Choose where and how your ads will appear. Group your keywords and ads by theme or category.
  • Launch and Keep an Eye on Things: Start your campaign watch how it does and keep track of important numbers like clicks and costs.
  • Make Things Better: Try different versions of your keywords, ads, and pages. Change your budget or settings to make your campaign even better.

Popular PPC Platforms

Now that you know the basics of PPC, you might be wondering, "Where should I put my ads?"

There are many places online to spend your ad money, and the smart way to decide is by checking how much you might get back on each platform. Here's a list of some popular PPC platforms, but there are even more out there!

Google Ads

Google ads

How many times do you hear people say, "Let me Google that?" A lot, right? Well, that's why Google Ads is like the superhero of paid advertising! Google Ads is a behemoth platform for paid ads. It makes sure your ads show up right at the top when people search for things. 

The cool part is, it reaches a ton of people and lets you aim your ads at the exact audience you want. So, whether you're a small bakery or a big company, Google Ads helps your brand be seen where people are searching. It's like a super useful tool that can turn searches into money for your business, which is why so many businesses love using it.

YouTube Ads

YouTube ads

YouTube Ads are a special way to use PPC with videos. You get to show interesting visuals and stories in your ads on YouTube, either before or during people's favorite videos.

Since lots of different people use YouTube, your ads can reach many types of audiences. You can connect with people who are interested in things related to what you're selling. It's a cool way to get your message out there.

Meta Ads

With Meta Ads, you can show off and sell what you offer to certain groups of people on Meta. What's cool is that Meta ads let you target specific audiences like never before. Businesses can make ads that match users' details, interests, and actions. 

You can also customize your ads on Meta based on what you want to achieve. For example, you could use lead-generation ads to gather more email addresses for your campaign.

Bing Ads

Bing ads

Choosing Bing Ads instead of Google Ads has a little bonus – it might cost a bit less for each click, but you get to reach even more people.

Instagram Ads

Instagram Ads are a cool way to tell more people about your business on Instagram. Instagram is all about pictures and videos, so if your brand has lots of cool visuals, it's a great place to show them off. Your ads can fit in with what people are already looking at on their Instagram, and you can grab their attention with awesome pictures or interesting stories.

This way, your ads will show up for folks who really like cool visuals. It's like making sure your ads are seen by the perfect audience.

Different Types of PPC Ads

Let’s explore the diverse world of PPC ads, from search ads to display banners, each designed to grab your audience's attention in unique ways.

Search Ads

Search Ads are the backbone of PPC. They pop up in search results when people search for certain keywords. What's great is that these ads lead customers to your business exactly when they're looking for what you offer. 

Unlike ads on some platforms that might bother users, search ads reach people who are actively searching for your products or services. It's a focused, timely approach and can be super helpful if you're new to pay-per-click marketing.

Display Ads

Display ads

Display Ads are the ones you see on websites and apps. They can be banners or other types. These ads use text, pictures, and sometimes animations to catch your eye.

They're great for making people remember your brand and showing ads again to those who visited before. They also reach a big audience, not just those looking for certain words but they also help you reach people who might not know they want your product yet.

Video Ads

Video Ads are a lively way to grab attention on PPC platforms. They use visual storytelling, making them great at keeping viewers interested. People enjoy watching videos, and in B2B marketing, you can use this to your advantage by creating appealing video ads. These ads are especially helpful for showing the benefits of what you're offering.

Remarketing Ads

Remarketing ads are super effective! They target people who visited your website before, giving you a second chance to impress them. These ads remind them to come back and do something, like making a purchase. 

Imagine someone visits your site, leaves without buying, and later sees your ad elsewhere—it's like a friendly reminder to come back and check things out again!

Common PPC Challenges and Solutions

PPC ads are a helpful tool for businesses, but they also bring some challenges. It's important to understand and deal with these challenges to make your PPC ads successful. Let's look at 3 common issues and how to solve them:

Common PPC Challenges and Solutions

High Competition for Keywords

Sometimes, it's hard to get your ads shown because many businesses want to place ads on the same keywords. But to show your ads you can use longer, more specific keywords related to your business. Long tail keywords might have less competition and bring in more interested visitors.

Click Fraud

Some competitors or bots might click on your ads on purpose to waste your money. For this, you can use tools like ClickCease and FraudScore to detect click fraud and check your campaigns for strange clicking patterns. You can also adjust your settings to block suspicious IP addresses.

Ad Fatigue

Over time people might start ignoring your ads, and your ads won't work. To fix this, make your ads new and exciting by changing them often and trying out different ideas. Keep your content interesting and always related so that people stay interested and pay attention.

Ad Fatigue

Conclusion

Whether you're a brand-new business or one that's been around for a long time, using PPC (pay-per-click) can give you a competitive advantage. It might help you stand out in search engine results or even get ahead of your competitors. 

Remember, PPC is not only about ads but it is also about connecting with your customers at the perfect time. As you start your PPC journey, try new things, analyze the results, and make adjustments. Cheers to your business reaching new heights with the magic of PPC! 

If you're ready to take your business even higher, check out our B2B Rocket services. Happy marketing!

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Josh B.

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