Google Ads vs Facebook Ads: Which One is Better?
Digital ads (also referred to as Pay Per Click (PPC)) are a quick way to increase traffic and get leads for your business. Digital ads (usually Google Ads or Facebook Ads) are the microwave approach while SEO is the crock pot approach — meaning if you want results fast, digital ads are a better way to go.
However, you shouldn’t ignore the SEO approach as this is a marketing method that, while it takes a while to see the results, will pay off in the long run.
When it comes to digital ads, two of the leading choices are Facebook Ads and Google Ads. But which of the two choices is better and what are the benefits of each?
Google Ads vs Facebook Ads: Which One Should I Use?
As with many other things in business, the answer to that question is not as simple. A number of factors play a role in which digital advertising method will work better for you. That’s why one of the first things you should do is determine what is the main goal that you want to achieve with your ads.
Below, we’ll discuss differences between Google Ads and Facebook Ads as well as talk about different things to consider. In the end, you’ll be able to decide between Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads for your business.
Google Ads
Google estimates that for every dollar you spend on ads you earn $8 back. In other words, Google Ads can be very lucrative for businesses of any size.
When you take into consideration that Google receives over 5 billion searches every single day, it’s easy to see the potential in running paid search ads.
If you’ve ever used Google to search for something, you’ve probably seen Google Ads in action.
The way Google Ads work is that once you’ve created and started running your ad, it can show up in search results whenever someone searches for keywords that you’ve used for your ad. Once your audience clicks on the ads, they’re taken to a landing page where they can learn more about your offer and make a purchase.
Moreover, you can re-engage users across Google, YouTube, and Google’s Display network.
Reach Users with High Purchase Intent
One of the main benefits of Google Ads is that you can reach buyers with a high purchase intent because you can target certain keywords and searches that have been associated with those buyers.
For example, if you’re looking to generate more leads for your kitchen remodeling business, you can target keywords such as “kitchen remodeler near me” or “best kitchen remodeler”.
You can create ads that target those keywords and send them to a landing page that talks about your kitchen remodeling services. One of our clients, Oak Hill Building is running ads for those and similar ads and sending their target audience to this landing page:
So far, the ads have been very effective and they’re getting high quality leads for their business.
When You’re Solving a Niche Problem People Search
One of our clients has a toothpaste and mouthwash that works well against bleeding gums, gingivitis and periodontitis. They can focus on keywords related to that niche problem, like “best toothpaste for bleeding gums” or “gingivitis natural solution” and show their ads to their audience.
Once their audience clicks on an ad, they’re taken to a landing page where they can make a purchase.
Things to Consider with Google Ads
If you’re thinking about giving Google Ads a try, there are a few things you need to consider:
- You’ll pay more for clicks but users will be more likely to convert so you have a great chance of getting your money back and making a profit
- When you don’t have a lot of creative content for your ad, such as videos or photos, Google search ads are a great option as they can be entirely text-based
- If you’re targeting highly competitive keywords but your ad budget is small, cost per click will be high and the ads might not be effective
- Google Ads work well for higher cost products, re-targeting ads, and lead generation purposes so they’re great for immediate sales and leads
- You can also create and run Google Shopping Ads and YouTube Ads
- If you’re a non-profit organization that is interested in running Google Ads, you can take advantage of the Google Ads Grant program
Facebook Ads
Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms with 2.7 billion monthly active users. As such, chances of your audience being on the platform are pretty good.
Facebook Ads are paid social ads. One of the biggest advantages of Facebook Ads is that you can create lookalike audiences that match your user persona. Facebook will then show ads to the users who match your description.
Facebook also allows you to gather more demographic data about your audience which you can then use to tailor your ad copy and creative.
Brand and Product Awareness
Facebook Ads are a great way to build your brand and product awareness. They work well for customers that are near the top of your funnel who aren’t necessarily looking to make a purchase but they would like to learn more about your brand, products, and offers.
In other words, if you want to expose your product to more people, Facebook Ads are a great place to start.
Mass Appeal
Facebook Ads are also a great choice when your product can be used by anyone, when it appeals to most people. For example, I once saw a Facebook ad for Upright Go, a posture improving device.
Since I sit around the computer all day (like many people) and the price was relatively low, I decided to purchase. This is one of the few times I’ve purchased from a Facebook ad but it goes to show that Facebook ads can indeed be effective for driving sales.
Use a Variety of Creative Media for Ads
Facebook Ads also allow you to get very creative with your ads. The focus is more on making them look visually appealing. You can use photos, videos, and more to create an ad that stands out in the feed.
Things to Consider with Facebook Ads
Similarly to Google Ads, there are a few things to consider if you’re planning on running a Facebook Ad campaign:
- For starters, you can get more exposure and clicks on your ad for a lower cost
- You can target users from your existing email list or database and have your ads shown to people who are already familiar with your brand
- Thanks to Facebook Pixel, it’s very easy to re-target customers who visit your website
- Facebook also allows you to get very granular with your audience targeting
- Facebook ads work very well for low-cost products or products that have a social component built into them (courses, masterclasses, etc.)
- On the downside, Facebook’s targeting capabilities won’t help if you don’t know who to target or FB doesn’t give you a clear way to target them
- You can also run Facebook Messenger ads and ads in Instagram feed, giving you even more chances to put your product in front of as many people as possible
Don’t forget that you can always run both Facebook Ads and Google Ads at the same time, if your budget allows for it. This gives you plenty of opportunities to reach your customers and you can evaluate ad performance over time to see which ads and what type of ad copy and creative work best for your business.
Need Help with Digital Ads (Google Ads vs Facebook Ads)?
If you’re ready to generate more leads for your business, digital ads are a great way to get results fast. Contact us for help with deciding between Google Ads vs Facebook Ads. We can discuss which digital ads platform would be better for you, set them up, and manage them for you. Contact us for a free estimate today.
Are you looking for more traffic, leads and customers? We provide on-going digital marketing to help you reach more customers and grow revenue.
About Us
Johnny Flash Productions
Johnny Flash Productions is a creative agency based outside of Washington D.C. that focuses on digital strategy, web design and development, graphic design and event production that helps businesses get better results from their marketing.
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