My first thoughts of Google Ads

[The Bass Bagwhan]

Following on from a previous thread, I took a dive into Google Ads. Despite Tweek's excellent advice, I tried a Search advert because, by default, it doesn't require an image and allowed me to dip my toes in the process a little more easily. I also created a very tight target audience ... too tight, and it hasn't seen any success ... but again I'm fine with that, because it has let me begin the learning curve without any (financial) damage.

Next, I'll do a Display Ad that requires images.

The biggest challenge (prompting this thread) is how Google wants five images (Display ads only), "up to" five headlines and at least three descriptions (for Search Ads too), because Google Ads randomly rotates and changes the order of all the "assets". In other words, any image can be displayed with any headline, and with any description. It's randomly generated, although theoretically I suppose the best combination is discovered and shown more.

So you can't create what you might call "linear" ad copy. An image, connected to a relevant headline, with the description adding the impact. It's pretty tricky stuff to get your head around.

Anyone else had a different experience?

Cheers.

[idontknowyet]

i soo need to take a day or three to startplaying with this!

[The Bass Bagwhan]

You can just have one image, tag and description, so by default that creates a 'linear ad'.

However, I did that for a while before adding all the extra images and tags. The ad performance improved once I did that because the algos found the winning combinations, which wasn't what I had entered initially. It was quite educational as to what did well with the buyers.

Thanks Tweek, the secret is to keep experimenting, I think. I've got some ideas for images and the good news is, as I say below, trying a few things doesn't really hurt you financially.

i soo need to take a day or three to startplaying with this!

The great thing is that the GA GUI will guide you through a process, although there are a few things recommended that the experts say to avoid, and you can create an advert. Then if it doesn't work, it doesn't cost you money, because if your ad sucks no one clicks on it, so no cost. But you do gain valuable insight and knowledge on compiling the ads and the system. The worst case scenario is if you create a great ad that attracts clicks and costs you money, but no one buys your product.
You can dabble and tweak and fiddle to your heart's content and not do a lot of financial damage while you learn. 

[idontknowyet]

What are the dimensions the ads need to be?


Thank you for that i worry about wasting a ton of money like ive done learning on fb!

[LilyBLily]

Me, too. So far, Facebook ads and I have never become friends.

(Unintentional joke, but I'll leave it.) 

[LilyBLily]

I've submitted my first Google ad (it's under review), but there was no target other than the U.S. Did I forget to click somewhere for more details?

Another weird thing is there was no campaign ad set info. (It's possible I filled all that in when starting the ad weeks ago.)

I went with Google's recommendation of $6.90 budget per day, $210 max per month, and I'm supposed to get a $100 credit after the ad spends $50.

I linked the ad to my website page for that book, which is in KU, so Amazon is the second click. We'll see if that works or just leaves me with a lot of first clicks and an ad invoice.

[LilyBLily]

So...I wandered into setting up a "Smart Campaign." Not the right type at all? It only gives me a choice of location, not interests or audiences.

I can kill it immediately, I suppose.

Edited: An attempt to start another Google ad results in the same Smart Campaign, no other choice, no audiences or interests, just a physical location. Hmm. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'll cancel the first one.

[LilyBLily]

What I learned from phoning Google was you have to go into Expert Mode to access display ads. Then my computer crashed. Am I having fun yet? No.

[R. C.]

Don't use Firefox. Use Chrome. Firefox crashes...

This is too true.

R.C.

[LilyBLily]

Yes, figured that out. Now I have "policy violations" because the words Amazon and Kindle are trademarks. That's fine, except Google itself put both those words into the headlines so of course I thought they would be okay to use.

How do I dance around the idea that this is a Kindle ebook available only on Amazon? 

[R. C.]

Yes, figured that out. Now I have "policy violations" because the words Amazon and Kindle are trademarks. That's fine, except Google itself put both those words into the headlines so of course I thought they would be okay to use.

How do I dance around the idea that this is a Kindle ebook available only on Amazon? 

I called support about "Kindle" and "Kindle Unlimited" being rejected.  I received an exception. They turned off some check and now my ADs run without an issue.

R.C.