5 Ways Google Ads Can Complement Your Digital Marketing Strategy

It’s not easy to grab the spotlight in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. To truly stand out, businesses need more than just a single tool, they need a strategic approach that blends multiple marketing efforts. That’s where Google Ads shines. As a proven method for driving targeted traffic, generating quality leads, and increasing revenue, Google Ads has earned its place as a must-have tool.^1,2 As many as 70% of mobile searchers tend to call a business directly from Google Ads.³ Google Ads can even increase brand awareness by as much as 80%.⁴

While incredibly effective, it’s when Google Ads is part of a broader, well-rounded digital marketing strategy that businesses see the best results. If you combine it with other key marketing efforts, you can maximize its impact, take your brand to new heights, and get the biggest bang for your buck.^1,2 Let’s explore the advantages of Google Ads and learn about the five powerful ways they can enhance your digital marketing strategy and unlock new opportunities for your business.

Do Google Ads make a difference?

Google Ads are worth it on their own, but their true potential comes when paired with other strategies like SEO and content marketing. SEO is key to building long-term digital success, gradually increasing your organic visibility by boosting your ranking in search engine results over time. Meanwhile, Google Ads provide an immediate boost, putting your business right at the top of search engine results for specific, high-intent keywords. In this way, SEO acts as the foundation for lasting growth, while Google Ads deliver the quick, targeted visibility you need to capture attention right away. Together, they ensure you reach both short-term goals and long-term growth.^1,2,5

The strength of this combination can’t be overstated. While SEO builds authority and trust with your audience over time, it generally takes a little time to take off. This is where Google Ads come in to fill the gap by offering immediate exposure while your SEO efforts are still developing. Think of it as a dual-speed strategy: Google Ads generate immediate traffic, while SEO works in the background to nurture sustainable growth. This balanced approach helps your business thrive both now and in the future.^1,2,5

Relying solely on paid ads may seem appealing because of the immediate traffic they generate, but this approach can be limiting. While Google Ads deliver quick visibility and traffic, once the ad spend stops, the traffic stops too, which makes this a short-term solution. Relying solely on PPC can limit your long-term success​. Google Ads deliver quick results, but without the ongoing, organic growth that SEO brings, you’re missing out on consistent, sustainable success.^1,2,5  

In general, to make the most out of these tools, it’s best to rely on trained experts who’ll calibrate all of your campaigns and make sure your ad investment pays off big time.

What are the benefits of using Google Ads?

It’s time to take a deep dive into the various benefits of Google Ads:

1. Immediate visibility

When launching a new product, service, or campaign, it’s very important to make it visible immediately. Google Ads allows your business to appear at the top of search results almost instantly after your campaign is activated. This fast visibility is vital in competitive industries where organic rankings can take months to improve.⁶ Google Ads gives you a head start by placing your business in front of the right audience right away.¹ In fact, research shows that the top three paid ads on Google’s search results receive 41% of all clicks, which clearly demonstrates the power of Google Ads to drive immediate visibility for businesses.⁷ This is especially useful for businesses trying to promote time-sensitive offers or seasonal products.¹

2. Highly targeted audience reach

Google Ads allows businesses to target specific audiences based on a wide range of factors such as location, demographics, interests, and even search intent. This high degree of precision ensures that your marketing budget is directed toward those most likely to engage with your business.⁸ Unlike traditional advertising methods, which may cast a wide net without guaranteeing engagement, Google Ads enables businesses to reach potential customers who are already searching for related products or services.⁹ Google ads also need to be industry-specific if you want to reap the benefits. The average CTR for Google Ads across industries was 3-5% in 2023, but this can vary significantly. For example, industries like law with high competition tend to have a higher cost per click, so their highest cost per click was $9.21 in 2023, while it was only $1.55 for real estate and arts and entertainment.¹⁰

This ability to control who sees your ads enhances what you can achieve with Google Ads, as it allows businesses to create highly tailored campaigns and ensures a better return on investment. For example, a local business can target users in a specific geographical area, ensuring that its budget is spent on attracting nearby customers.¹¹ Similarly, e-commerce stores can refine their audience by focusing on users who have shown an interest in similar products.¹² This customization is where ads experts excel, and it’s advisable to rely on a specialist so you don’t throw your hard-earned money to the wind.

3. Cost control and ROI

Google Ads operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, meaning you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. This gives businesses complete control over their ad spend. This flexibility ensures that every dollar is being used effectively, and you can adjust your budget based on the performance of each campaign.¹³  In fact, businesses that use Google Ads see an average return of $8 for every $1 spent, making it a highly cost-effective option.¹⁴

Beyond controlling costs, Google Ads’ advanced bidding strategies allow businesses to optimize campaigns for specific goals, such as maximizing conversions, impressions, or clicks. This customization is what makes Google Ads so effective and allows companies to stretch their budget further.¹⁵

4. Measurable results

Another one of the advantages of Google Ads is the ability to measure the performance of your campaigns in real time. Google Ads provides detailed reports on metrics such as clicks, impressions, conversion rates, and more, allowing you to track the effectiveness of your ads. This transparency is vital for making informed decisions on how to improve your campaigns, and it stands out compared to other advertising platforms where performance data may be more limited.¹⁶

With access to this data, businesses can perform A/B testing, experimenting with different ad copy, targeting options, and keywords to determine what works best. Over time, this level of optimization can lead to better results, lower costs, and higher returns on investment.¹⁷

5. Complementary to SEO

SEO is a long-term strategy designed to increase organic traffic to your site. It’s highly effective, but it can take months for changes in SEO strategy to have a noticeable impact. Google Ads fills this gap by driving immediate traffic and helping your reap benefits while your organic rankings are still developing. In this way, the two strategies work hand in hand. Google Ads allows you to target keywords you may want to rank for organically, giving you the opportunity to test their performance before incorporating them into your SEO strategy.^1,2

For example, if you’re unsure whether a particular keyword is worth optimizing for organically, you can run a Google Ads campaign targeting that keyword and evaluate the traffic and conversions it generates. This data can help inform your SEO efforts and ensure that your long-term strategy is built on insights gained from real-world performance.¹

Do Google Ads generate revenue?

One of the most common questions is: “Do Google Ads increase sales?” The answer is a resounding yes. Google Ads is specifically designed to drive conversions, whether through product purchases, lead generation, or other actions.¹⁸ According to a recent survey, 65% of small to medium-sized businesses report that paid ads like Google Ads have significantly contributed to their revenue growth.⁷ Google Ads ensures that your advertising budget is being used effectively by targeting people who are actively searching for products or services similar to what you offer.⁹

Furthermore, remarketing campaigns can further boost your sales by re-engaging users who have previously interacted with your site but did not complete a purchase. When you show your ads to these users as they browse other websites, you have another opportunity to convert them into paying customers.¹⁹

Ready to reap the advantages of Google Ads & skyrocket your sales?

Are you struggling to get noticed in a cutthroat industry? One Click Marketing is here to supercharge your online visibility and drive targeted traffic to your site. With our extensive experience in SEO and Google Ads, we’ll come up with a customized strategy to attract qualified leads and boost your bottom line. You’ll finally get the answer to the question of “Why are Google Ads so effective?”. Our reliable team will use data-driven insights and proven techniques to make your brand stand out and show you exactly why Google Ads are worth it.

Your business deserves to be seen. Partner with us and experience the transformative power of SEO and Google Ads. Reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation and take your business to the next level!

Sources:

• Semrush. (2023). SEO vs. Google Ads: Which is Better?
• Semrush. (2023). The power of PPC and SEO working together
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). About “All conversions”
• Think With Google. (n.d.). New research shows search ads drive brand awareness
• Ahrefs. (2024). 4 Ways PPC and SEO Can Work Together (And When They Can’t) 
• Ahrefs. (2021). PPC Marketing: Beginner’s Guide to Pay-Per-Click Ads
• WebFX. (2024). 50 Google Ads Statistics to Know in 2024 and Beyond
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). About audience segments.
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). About Targeting Your Ads
• Search Engine Journal. (2023). What Are Good Google Ads Benchmarks In 2023? [STUDY]
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). Location Targeting
• Ahrefs. (2023). E-commerce Marketing 101: How to Maximize Sales
• Google Ads. (n.d.). What is paid search?
• Google Economic Impact. (n.d.). Methodology.
• Google Ads. (n.d.). About smart bidding
• Google Ads. (n.d.). How to analyze Google Ads successfully
• Semrush. (2024). What Is A/B Testing? A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). How Google Ads tracks website conversions
• Google Ads Help. (n.d.). About dynamic remarketing: show ads tailored to your site and app visitors