Three are three ways to get listed on the first page of Google (and that’s where you want to be, since 90% of people never search beyond that page):
- A high ranking in the free (AKA organic or natural) results; this is the focus of traditional SEO and link-building.
- A Google Places listing (available to local – i.e. geographically targeted businesses) – it’s possible to have a Google Places page even if you don’t have a website.
- A paid ad – also called a Sponsored Ad or Sponsored Listing, using Google’s Adwords program. These listings are also called pay-per-click (or PPC) ads, because you pay every time someone clicks on the ad.
Why – and When – PPC Advertising Is a Good Idea
These Sponsored Ads have two main disadvantages. First, a lot of people ignore them, in favor of the natural search engine results. Second, when you stop paying, your advertising stops – and if that’s the only way people were finding your site, that means site traffic stops.
However, there are solid reasons to use PPC ads, too.
- You can get on the first page of Google, IMMEDIATELY.
No waiting and hoping your site will show up. If your site is too new to get ranked, PPC ads can get you traffic in the meantime. If you have a new product or a sale you want to promote, this is the fastest way to do it on Google. - You control which page people see.
Maybe a page on your site does rank in Google, but it’s not the main one, or the one that features your most profitable service. With Adwords you can specifiy the exact page that shows up – even create a special “landing page” that’s designed to encourage a response. - You can dramatically expand your reach.
Using Adwords, you can rank on the first page for any search term you want. - You can dominate the first page of Google.
Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a top listing, organically. Maybe you also have a Google Places page that shows up too. If you ADD a Sponsored Ad, you’ll completely dominate that page – especially since the top Sponsored Ad usually shows up on the top of the page, ABOVE the natural results. - Quickly research new products, headlines, offers.
You can put up a special offer or headline on your site, and send traffic to it using PPC. It’s a fast way to see how people respond – before you blow a lot of money on a larger ad campaign. - Control your budget.
With Adwords, you set a daily or monthly “spend” limit, allowing you to control your online advertising costs.
I offer Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Adwords Campaign Management. I’ll make sure we target the right keywords, I’ll create focused ads, design custom landing pages, and monitor ad performance, to make sure the best-converting ads are the ones we use.
Contact me today about pay-per-click advertising, and get on the first page of Google, immediately!
