Ever wondered how Google decides which ads to show first? It's not just about how much you bid. A key factor is your Quality Score, a metric that assesses the quality of your ads and landing pages. If you are new to PPC - have a quick read of our guide to PPC Marketing beforehand.
Understanding Google Ads Quality Score
A higher Quality Score can lead to lower costs, better ad positions, and improved overall campaign performance. So, how can you improve your Quality Score? Let's break it down into simple steps.
Keyword Relevance is Key
Google wants to show users the most relevant ads possible. That's why keyword relevance is a vital component of your Quality Score.
Choose the Right Keywords
Think carefully about the words and phrases your target audience is using to search for products or services like yours. Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to identify relevant keywords with decent search volume.
Organise Keywords into Tightly Themed Groups
Don't lump all your keywords together into one big campaign. Instead, create separate ad groups for tightly themed keywords. This allows you to create more targeted ads and landing pages.
Use Keywords in Your Ad Copy
Incorporate your keywords naturally into your ad headlines and descriptions. This helps Google understand what your ad is about and improves its relevance to user searches.
Create Compelling Ads
Your ads are the first thing potential customers see. They need to be engaging and persuasive to encourage clicks.
Write Clear and Concise Ad Copy
Get straight to the point and highlight the benefits of your product or service. Use strong verbs and persuasive language.
Include a Strong Call to Action
Tell users what you want them to do, "Shop Now", "Learn More", or "Get a Quote".
Match Your Ad to Your Landing Page
Ensure your ad copy and landing page content are aligned. If your ad promotes a specific product, your landing page should feature that product prominently.
Optimise Your Landing Pages
Your landing page is where users arrive after clicking your ad. It needs to provide a positive user experience and encourage conversions.
Relevance is Key
Ensure your landing page content is relevant to your ad and the user's search query. If there's a mismatch, users are likely to bounce back to the search results.
Fast Loading Speed
Optimise your landing pages for fast loading speeds. Users are impatient, and a slow-loading page can lead to lost conversions.
Clear Call to Action
Include a clear and prominent call to action on your landing page to guide users towards the desired action.
Easy Navigation
Make it easy for users to find what they're looking for on your landing page. Use clear headings, bullet points, and images to break up text and make the page easy to scan.
Improve Your Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Your CTR is the percentage of people who see your ad and click on it. A high CTR indicates that your ad is relevant and engaging.
Write Compelling Ad Headlines
Your headline is the first thing people see. Make it count by using strong words and highlighting your unique selling points.
Use Ad Extensions
Ad extensions provide additional information and call to actions in your ads. They can make your ads more prominent and encourage users to click.
A/B Test Your Ads
Experiment with different ad variations to see what works best. Test different headlines, descriptions, and call to actions.
Use Negative Keywords
Negative keywords are keywords that you don't want your ads to show for. They help you refine your targeting and avoid wasting your budget on irrelevant clicks.
Identify Irrelevant Search Terms
Look at your search terms report in Google Ads to see what people are searching for when your ads are shown. Identify any irrelevant terms and add them as negative keywords.
Refine Your Targeting
Negative keywords help you refine your targeting and ensure your ads are shown to the most relevant audience.
Reduce Wasted Spend
By avoiding irrelevant clicks, negative keywords can help you reduce wasted spend and improve your return on investment.
Monitor Your Quality Score Regularly
Keep a close eye on your Quality Score and track its progress over time.
Identify Areas for Improvement
If your Quality Score is low, look for areas where you can make improvements. Is your ad relevance low? Are your landing pages not performing well?
Make Data-Driven Decisions
Use the data from your Quality Score and campaign performance to make informed decisions about how to optimise your campaigns.
Don't Overlook Mobile
More and more people are using their mobile devices to search online. Ensure your ads and landing pages are optimised for mobile users.
Mobile-Friendly Landing Pages
Make sure your landing pages are responsive and provide a seamless experience on all devices.
Mobile-Specific Ads
Consider creating mobile-specific ads with shorter headlines and descriptions.
Use Mobile Ad Extensions
Utilise mobile-specific ad extensions, such as call extensions and location extensions.
Structure Your Campaigns Effectively
A well-structured Google Ads account can help you improve your Quality Score and overall campaign performance.
Organise Your Campaigns into Relevant Ad Groups
Group your keywords into tightly themed ad groups. This allows you to create more targeted ads and landing pages.
Use a Clear Naming Convention
Use a clear and consistent naming convention for your campaigns, ad groups, and ads. This makes it easier to manage your account and track your performance.
Regularly Review Your Account Structure
Periodically review your account structure to ensure it's still relevant and effective.
By following these simple steps, you can improve your Google Ads Quality Score, lower your costs, and achieve better ad positions.
To discuss how Childsey can help you improve your Quality Score and achieve Google Ads success, get in touch with us for a chat.