Okay so first off, let’s just be honest – Google Ads sounds scary at first. If you’re new to it, you probably thinking, “Do I need to be some marketing genius or like, know coding or analytics and all that stuff?” But honestly, it’s not that complicated. You just gotta understand how it works.
If you’ve ever searched for something like “best pizza near me” and saw those links at the top marked as “Ad”, then congrats, you’ve already seen Google Ads in action.
In this post, we’re gonna break it down real simple. No fancy talk. Just straight info about what Google Ads is, how it works, why it matters, and how you can use it (even if you’re a complete beginner). Ready? Let’s go.
So Wait… What is Google Ads Exactly?
Okay, Google Ads (used to be called Google AdWords) is basically Google’s advertising platform. It lets businesses pay money to show their ads on Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, apps, websites, and other places online.
Like when someone types something in Google, and the top few results say “Ad” — those companies paid to be there. They didn’t just show up magically.
It’s kind of like renting a billboard, but online. And way smarter. You can target exactly who sees your ad – by location, age, interest, even time of day.
How Does It Work? (Not as complicated as it seems tbh)
Here’s a simplified version:
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You pick keywords – Words or phrases that people might search on Google. Like “cheap running shoes” or “dog groomer in Delhi”.
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You write your ad – A short, catchy headline + description + link to your website.
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You set your budget – You choose how much you’re willing to pay per click. Yup, you only pay when someone actually clicks your ad (called Pay Per Click or PPC).
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Google runs your ad – It competes with other ads, and if your ad is relevant and bid is good enough, boom! it shows up.
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You get clicks (hopefully) – And those clicks come to your website, where hopefully they buy, sign up or whatever your goal is.
Example Time: Let’s Say You Sell Cakes
You’re a bakery in Bangalore. You create a Google ad that targets people searching “birthday cakes near me”. You bid ₹20 per click. Someone searches, your ad shows, they click it, they land on your site and order a cake. You just made a sale by spending ₹20. Pretty cool right?
Of course, not every click becomes a sale. But that’s where optimizing comes in (more on that later).
Types of Google Ads (Coz there’s more than one)
Google Ads isn’t just one kind of ad. There’s a bunch of types, depending on what you’re trying to do.
1. Search Ads
These are the text ads that appear on top of Google search results. Simple, effective, great for people who are already searching for something specific.
2. Display Ads
These are image or banner ads that appear on other websites (not Google itself). Like when you’re reading news and see an ad for something you Googled last night – yup, that’s a display ad.
3. Shopping Ads
If you’re selling products online, Shopping Ads are . They show product image, price, store name, right at the top of Google. People can see what you offer even before clicking.
4. Video Ads (YouTube)
You know those YouTube ads that come before or during videos? Those are also part of Google Ads. Good for brand awareness and engagement.
5. App Promotion Ads
If you have an app, you can promote it across Google Play, YouTube, and other places. Helps get more installs.
How Much Does Google Ads Cost?
Tricky question. There’s no fixed price. You set your budget, so you can start with ₹100 a day or ₹10,000 a day, totally up to you.
The cost per click (CPC) depends on your industry, competition, and keywords. Some industries like insurance, finance, etc have super high CPCs (₹200+ per click ), while others are cheaper.
But the cool thing is, you only pay when someone clicks, not when the ad is shown.
What’s a Good Ad? (And What’s a Trash One)
Not all ads perform well. Some get ignored, some get hella clicks. What makes the diff?
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Good Keywords – Make sure people are actually searching them. Use tools like Keyword Planner.
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Nice Headline – Needs to grab attention.
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Clear CTA – Tell people what to do (Buy Now, Learn More, Book Appointment, etc).
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Landing Page – Don’t just dump them on your homepage. Send them to a page that matches the ad.
Example: If your ad says “Buy chocolate cake online” – take them directly to chocolate cake page, not main page.
Quality Score: The Hidden Magic ♂️
Google gives your ad a “Quality Score” from 1 to 10 based on:
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Relevance of your ad
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Quality of landing page
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Expected click-through rate
Better score = lower cost + better ad position. So it’s not just about money. Google rewards “good” ads.
Mistakes People Make (Don’t Do These)
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Choosing wrong keywords – Like, too broad or unrelated
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Ignoring negative keywords – These help filter out unwanted traffic
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Bad landing pages – If your site is slow or messy, people leave
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Not tracking anything – If you don’t measure, how will you improve?
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Set and forget – You need to check and tweak ads regularly
Tracking and Optimizing (Yes, You Need to Do This)
Use Google Analytics and Google Ads dashboard to track:
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Clicks
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Impressions
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Conversions
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Cost per conversion
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Return on ad spend (ROAS)
Once you know what’s working, you double down on it. If something’s not working, pause it. Simple.
Is Google Ads Worth It?
Well… depends.
If you do it right – yes, 100%. It brings fast results, targeted traffic, and can grow your business fast.
BUT — if you just throw money without understanding, you can waste a lot. So take time to learn, start small, and test stuff.
Also, sometimes SEO is better long-term, but takes more time. Google Ads gives quick boost.
Final Thoughts
So yeah, Google Ads is not rocket science, but it’s not pure luck either. You gotta learn the basics, understand your audience, write good ads, and keep testing.
Start small, learn from your results, and slowly build your way up. It’s one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing if used properly.
Also, Google keeps changing things, so don’t stop learning. Watch tutorials, read blogs, test new things.
And most importantly: don’t get discouraged if your first campaign flops. Happens to everyone.