Google Ads in 2023 – What You Need to Know and What Type is Best for You

Google Ads offers a comprehensive suite of advertising solutions that cater to different business needs and objectives. From promoting apps and driving online sales to increase brand visibility, Google Ads provides a range of options to suit various industries and marketing goals. In this blog post, we will delve into the nine different types of Google Ads and discuss how each type benefits specific types of businesses.

1. App ads: Ideal for Mobile app developers and businesses with mobile applications.

App Ads on Google are a type of advertising that allows businesses to promote their mobile applications across various Google platforms and networks. These ads are designed to drive app installations and engagement, making them ideal for businesses that rely on mobile apps to deliver their products or services. With App Ads, businesses can reach a vast audience of potential users on Google Play, Google Search, YouTube, and other partner sites. These ads typically include app previews, compelling descriptions, ratings, and a call-to-action button to encourage users to install or engage with the advertised app. App Ads on Google provide businesses with a powerful way to increase app visibility, attract new users, and drive app adoption and usage.

2. Display ads: ideal for Businesses seeking brand exposure and wider audience reach.

Display Ads on Google are a form of online advertising that utilizes visually appealing graphics, images, and interactive elements to promote businesses, products, or services. These ads are displayed across the Google Display Network, which comprises millions of websites, blogs, and apps that partner with Google to display advertising content. Display Ads offer businesses an opportunity to create brand awareness, engage with their target audience, and drive traffic to their websites. They can be static or dynamic, incorporating images, videos, animations, or interactive elements to capture the attention of users. With advanced targeting options, businesses can select specific demographics, interests, and website placements to ensure their ads are displayed to the most relevant audience. Display Ads on Google provide businesses with a visually impactful way to showcase their offerings, expand their reach, and reinforce their brand presence across the digital landscape.

3. Discovery Ads: Ideal for: Businesses looking to expand their reach and drive product or service discovery.

Google Discovery Ads are a type of advertising format that allows businesses to reach potential customers across Google’s Discovery feed, YouTube home feed, and Gmail promotions tab. Discovery Ads are visually captivating and appear seamlessly in users’ feeds alongside organic content, providing a native and non-intrusive advertising experience. These ads leverage machine learning algorithms to display relevant and personalized content based on user’s interests, behaviors, and search history. By leveraging the power of discovery, businesses can engage with users who are in the early stages of their customer journey, sparking interest and driving consideration for their products or services. Google Discovery Ads offer businesses an effective way to expand their reach, increase brand visibility, and connect with potential customers in a more immersive and interactive manner.

4. local ads: Ideal for Brick-and-mortar businesses targeting local customers.

Google Local Ads are a specialized form of advertising that enables businesses to reach local customers in their specific geographical area. These ads appear on Google Search and Google Maps when users search for products or services in their local vicinity. Local Ads allow businesses to showcase their location, contact information, website link, and other relevant details to attract potential customers who are actively seeking local businesses. With Google Local Ads, businesses can enhance their visibility, stand out among competitors, and drive foot traffic to their physical stores or service areas. These ads are particularly valuable for brick-and-mortar businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, salons, or service providers that rely on local customers. Google Local Ads offers businesses a targeted and effective means to connect with their local audience and drive real-world conversions.

5. Performance Max Ads: Ideal for Businesses seeking maximum reach and optimizing ad performance.

Google Performance Max Ads is an advanced advertising solution that allows businesses to maximize their reach and optimize performance across multiple channels. Performance Max Ads utilize machine learning and automation to deliver highly relevant and personalized ads to potential customers. These ads can appear on various Google platforms, including Search, Display, YouTube, and Discover. With Performance Max Ads, businesses can reach a wider audience and drive conversions by leveraging Google’s extensive network and powerful targeting capabilities. The machine learning algorithms analyze user behavior, preferences, and intent to optimize ad delivery and maximize performance. This type of ad empowers businesses to achieve their advertising goals efficiently and effectively, ensuring that their message reaches the right audience at the right time, ultimately driving results and maximizing return on investment.

6. Search Ads: Ideal for Businesses aiming to capture high-intent search traffic.

Google Search Ads are a popular form of online advertising where businesses can display their ads at the top of Google search results pages. These ads are text-based and appear when users enter relevant search queries. With Google Search Ads, businesses can target specific keywords related to their products or services, ensuring their ad is shown to users actively searching for those offerings. The ads typically consist of a headline, a brief description, and a visible URL. Google Search Ads provide businesses with a prominent position in search results, allowing them to increase visibility, drive qualified traffic to their website, and capture the attention of potential customers at the moment of intent. By leveraging search ads, businesses can effectively reach their target audience, generate leads, and boost conversions by connecting with users who are actively seeking what they have to offer.

7. Smart Ads: Ideal for Businesses seeking simplified ad management and automation.

Google Smart Ads, powered by advanced machine learning algorithms, are an automated advertising solution designed to simplify the ad creation and optimization process for businesses. With Smart Ads, businesses can easily create effective and dynamic ads that adapt to various platforms and formats, including search, display, and YouTube. These ads leverage machine learning to analyze user behavior, interests, and performance data to optimize ad delivery and achieve the desired outcomes. Smart Ads automatically generate headlines, descriptions, and images based on the business information provided, ensuring that the ads are highly relevant to the target audience. By automating the ad creation and optimization process, Smart Ads save businesses time and effort while maximizing their advertising performance. They provide an accessible option for small businesses or those new to advertising, allowing them to benefit from Google’s expertise and AI-driven optimizations without the need for extensive campaign management.

8. Shopping Ads: Ideal for E-commerce businesses aiming to drive online sales.

Google Shopping Ads are a specialized advertising format that allows businesses to promote their products directly within Google search results. These ads feature product images, titles, prices, and the name of the retailer, providing users with a quick and visually appealing snapshot of what is available. Google Shopping Ads are highly effective for e-commerce businesses as they allow potential customers to compare products and make purchasing decisions directly from the search results page. By showcasing relevant products to users actively searching for them, Google Shopping Ads help businesses drive qualified traffic to their online stores, increase visibility, and boost sales. With advanced targeting options, businesses can refine their ads based on factors such as location, product attributes, and customer demographics, ensuring that their products are displayed to the most relevant audience. Google Shopping Ads provides businesses with an effective way to showcase their products, improve online visibility, and drive conversions.

9. Video Ads: Ideal for Businesses using video content to engage and inform their audience.

Google Video Ads are a powerful advertising format that allows businesses to engage with their audience through captivating video content on YouTube and the Google Display Network. These ads enable businesses to deliver their brand message, showcase products or services, and connect with users in a visually compelling and impactful manner. With Google Video Ads, businesses can reach a massive audience on YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, as well as other partner sites and apps. Video Ads can take different formats, such as skippable ads, non-skippable ads, bumper ads, or video discovery ads. They offer businesses the opportunity to target specific demographics, interests, or placements to ensure their ads reach the right audience. Google Video Ads provide businesses with an immersive storytelling platform, helping them build brand awareness, drive engagement, and influence customer behavior by harnessing the power of video content.