Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads: Which is Right for Your Business?"

Lately, I talked to a lot of business owners and many of them don’t seem to be clear about the difference between Google Ads and Facebook Ads. If you run a Marketing Department, own your own business, or simply have a tight marketing budget, you may wonder at times how to better allocate your marketing budget. There is not simple answer to this, but I hope this edition helps you

In this article, I'll break down the differences between Google Ads and Facebook Ads and give you real-life examples to help you make the right choice. Even more established companies can benefit from understanding real differences, let’s say are you “re-branding” your product or service? Are you targeting a new audience? The Marketing Department can benefit from a defined digital strategy to achieve any of the above.

This articles states: “choosing between Facebook Ads and Google Ads will come down to your company’s audience, industry, and business goals. Typically, Google Ads are better for making sales, while Facebook Ads are better for building brand awareness and connecting with customers.

As many of you know (many people I meet daily actually don’t) Google Ads, previously known as Google AdWords, is an advertising platform that allows businesses to display their ads on Google search engine results pages (SERPs). You bid on keywords related to your business, and when someone searches for those keywords, your ad will appear at the top or bottom of the search results. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad.

Let me give you an example. Suppose you own a pet store and want to advertise your new line of dog food. You could bid on keywords like "best dog food" or "organic dog food." When someone searches for those keywords, your ad will appear at the top or bottom of the search results, and if they click on it, you pay Google a fee.

One of the advantages of Google Ads is that it allows you to target users who are actively searching for your product or service. This means that they are already interested in what you have to offer, and your ad is more likely to convert them into customers. However, Google Ads can be expensive, and the competition for popular keywords can be fierce, making it challenging for small businesses with limited budgets to compete.

Facebook Ads, on the other hand, allows businesses to display their ads on the Facebook platform, including Instagram. You can target users based on their demographics, interests, behaviors, and more. For example, you could target people who like dogs, live in your local area, and have shown an interest in pet stores.

Let's go back to the example of the pet store. You could create a Facebook ad that targets dog lovers in your local area and promotes your new line of dog food. You could even include a discount code to entice them to visit your store.

One of the advantages of Facebook Ads is that it allows you to target users based on specific characteristics, such as age, gender, location, and interests. This means that your ads are more likely to be relevant to your target audience and result in higher engagement rates. Additionally, Facebook Ads are often more cost-effective than Google Ads, making them a great option for businesses on a budget.

Which one is right for you or your marketing department? As I mentioned earlier, it depends on your goals and budget.

If you want to target users who are actively searching for your product or service and have a larger advertising budget, Google Ads may be the better option. On the other hand, if you want to target users based on specific characteristics and have a smaller budget, Facebook Ads may be the better option.

Of course, you can always use both platforms to reach a wider audience. For example, you could use Google Ads to target users who are actively searching for your product or service and use Facebook Ads to retarget users who have visited your website or engaged with your content.

In conclusion, both Google Ads and Facebook Ads have their strengths and weaknesses. It's essential to evaluate your advertising goals and budget to determine which platform is right for you. Remember, you don't have to choose just one. By using a combination of both platforms, you can create a comprehensive advertising strategy that reaches users at every stage of the buying funnel.