When it comes to common misconceptions about Google Ads, I’ve really heard it all.
But today I’m going to bust these myths about Google Ads once and for all. Because there are a lot of them, and many of them come up over and over again, either in online group discussions or even with potential clients.
So let’s get stuck right into the top 10 common misconceptions about Google Ads, and the actual truth behind them.
Misconception #1 – Running Google Ads will improve my SEO
If I had a dollar for each time I’ve heard this, I’d be rich – like Kardashian rich.
Ads and organic rankings have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Running Google Ads will in no way, shape or form affect where you rank organically in the Google search results.
So if you’re thinking about running ads only to try and improve your organic rankings, don’t bother.
Misconception #2 – No-one clicks on Google Ads
LOL. Really?
If that was the case, Google would be making zero dollars.
And we all know that’s not true.
Millions and millions of people click on Google Ads every single day. Making them the perfect advertising platform to use if you want to be found online.
Misconception #3 – Google Ads cost a fortune
Well this is not entirely inaccurate, but it does come down to a few factors.
Some of these factors include what niche you’re in, how much competition you have, and what locations you are targeting.
Some industries cost more than others per click. Businesses in the legal or financial space usually pay the most per click, closely followed by trades like plumbers and electricians. If you’re in any of these spaces and haven’t got at least $2000-5000 per month to spend on Google Ads, forget about getting ROI.
But for the most part, the majority of businesses will have an average cost per click of $1-3. And that’s not a lot to pay to potentially get you a lead that could make you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of that client.
Misconception #4 – Google Ads don’t work
Well if Google Ads didn’t work, no-one would use them.
Google Ads DO work – if you set them up properly, and monitor them regularly that is.
Misconception #5 – I can set & forget your Google Ads campaigns
Nope nope nope – Google Ads is definitely not a set and forget platform. If you’re happier boosting Facebook posts and hoping they will perform well, Google Ads is not the advertising channel for you (unless you’re outsourcing this to a Google Ads specialist).
Google Ads campaigns need regularly check-ins, tweaking and sometimes even scrapping and starting whole new campaigns or ad groups from scratch.
Misconception #6 – Google Ads only works for e-commerce sites
Definitely not the case! In fact, I prefer working on Google Ads for service-based businesses.
These can be really profitable especially when you have a high-value service and/or a long client lifetime.
E-commerce businesses can in fact be some of the hardest to get ROI on when your product value is low, you need to sell a lot to simply break even, never mind make a profit.
Misconception #7 – My competitors will maliciously click on my ads & waste my budget
Yes, your competitors may be the nasty kind who might do something like this – but never fear!
Their clicks will NOT come out of your daily budget. Google Ads has really strong systems that are designed to pick up malicious clicks and these are NOT charged to your account. They don’t even get charged and are later refunded – you won’t get charged in the first place.
Even if your competitor does something super sneaky like paying a bot to randomly click on your ads, Google can still pick these up. And when they get really sneaky and malicious clicks start making up a high percentage of your real clicks, you can pay for click-fraud software like ClickCease.
This software prevents bots and competitors from seeing your ads and blocks suspicious IP addresses completely.
Misconception #8 – The more I bid the higher my visibility
This is not always the case. Bid only makes up one part of where your ads show on the search results.
Other factors include the quality of your ad itself, the context of the search, the competitiveness of the auction, search location, user device and time of day and the expected impact of your ad format or extensions.
So it’s not all about your budget and your maximum bid.
Misconception #9 – The more keywords the better
More keywords do not always equal better results.
Well-researched and chosen keywords, along with the most suitable match type, will get you results.
Just because you throw 247 keywords into an ad group does NOT mean you’re going to get leads or sales.
Misconception #10 – Google can set up my campaigns for me
Ugh, do you know how many campaigns I’ve audited where the Google Ads support team has set up the campaigns for the client and the set up is shocking?
Too many.
Getting Google to set up your campaigns is like giving your money to the casino to gamble for you.
And that’s why having a Google Ads specialist on your side is crucial to getting great results on Google Ads.
As a Google Ads specialist, I work with businesses to minimise their spend and maximise their sales or lead generation. I’m not here to help Google make more money – I’m here to help YOU make more money.
Ready to work with a Google Ads specialist who takes the time to understand your business, design well-researched campaigns, and make ongoing edits to maximise your ROI?
Get in touch with me today for a free Google Ads quote!