Google Ads
Google Ads is Google's advertising platform for search, shopping, display, video and Performance Max campaigns.
In detail
Search campaigns capture demand people express; other campaign types create or reinforce it. Each auction weighs bid against ad quality and landing page experience.
Structure decides control: campaigns split by intent and margin can be budgeted and measured independently.
Example
Separating branded from non-branded search campaigns so the cheap brand clicks do not flatter the rest.
Why it matters
It is the fastest route to qualified search traffic, and the fastest route to wasted budget without structure and tracking.
Common mistakes
- Mixing branded and generic keywords in one campaign.
- Judging performance on clicks rather than measured conversions.
Related questions
Related articles
- Google Ads: 10 Common Mistakes That Waste Your Budget
The recurring reasons paid search budgets disappear without results — and the fix for each one.
Related guides
- The Complete Google Ads & SEA GuideGuide
Paid search from first principles: account structure, keywords and match types, ads, landing pages, bidding, tracking and profitability.
Related terms
- Ad Rank
Ad Rank is the value Google uses to decide whether your ad shows and in which position.
- Quality Score
Quality Score is Google Ads' 1–10 diagnostic of expected click-through rate, ad relevance and landing page experience.
- Conversion Tracking
Conversion tracking records the valuable actions people take after clicking an ad or visiting a page.
- Performance Max
Performance Max is a Google Ads campaign type that automatically distributes ads across Google's channels using supplied assets and goals.
Related questions
- How does Google Ads work?
You create campaigns targeting keywords, audiences or product feeds, and set a budget and bidding strategy. When someone searches, Google runs an auction.
- How much should I spend on Google Ads?
Work backwards from value, not from a benchmark. If you know what a customer is worth and roughly how many clicks it takes to win one, you know the most you can afford per click.