Let’s get one thing out of the way, right off the bat: Google Ads is ABSOLUTELY worth every cent you spend on it.
The trick to getting the best ROI when it comes to Google Ads for tradies and contractors is how you use it. And that’s where we want to help you.
So, keep reading to learn more about this digital advertising platform, top tips and tricks for beginners and the key benefits to watch out for in your plumbing, electrical or construction business.
Google Ads are a digital lifeline for trade businesses struggling in the 21st century.
If you want to generate a healthy revenue from your investments in a digital presence, like a website, social media pages and more, then Google Ads is how you’re going to do it.
This digital advertising platform, run by the internet behemoth that is Google, allows you to be exactly where your prospects are searching for you: top of page one search results!
That’s right. If you’re using Google Ads correctly, the second your potential client hits enter when searching for a local plumber, electrician or whatever your specialty, your business name could be the very first result that greets them.
It’s the best way to get fast and effective results in the digital market today.
How does Google Ads for tradies and contractors work?
First things first, if you haven’t already, get your eyes and your mind around pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Understanding this is going to help you get a better grasp of your ROI when it comes to Google Ads.
Click the link we shared above to learn more, but if you haven’t got the time, all you need to know is that PPC means you only pay when prospects actually click on your link or advertisement in Google.
Next, you want to know what a keyword or phrase is. Again, it’s pretty easy: these are the terms that your prospects are going to be using when searching for your services online.
So, if you’re a plumber based in Canberra, your keywords or phrases could be ‘plumbing Canberra’, ‘Canberra plumber’, etc.
Now, to understand the basics of Google Ads, all you really need to do is picture yourself at an auction – you set a budget and you bid.
Except instead of bidding on a house or fancy vase, you’re bidding on the keywords and phrases you think your customers are most likely to use.
Once you’ve set your bid on keywords and phrases, your business ads are going to be the ones to show up in the Google Ads top spots, unless someone bids higher than you.
So, to put this into an example, let’s say a builder in Brisbane is setting up his Google Ads account. He’s set a budget for a total spend of $1000 and he’s bid on two keywords: ‘brisbane renovations’ and ‘brisbane builder’. His bid on each phrase is $1.50 per click. So, that means that everytime someone clicks on his ad in Google search results, $1.50 is taken out of his budget.
However, a competitor of his has also put in a bid at $2 per click. Now, unfortunately, the builder’s ad is pushed out of the top spot as a higher bid has been put in place.
Sounds pretty simple right? It can be! With practice…
It’s important to remember that all we’re doing here is giving you the base knowledge so you can get started and do your own research.
There are a lot of nuances, insider secrets and the link when it comes to Google Ads, so we definitely recommend you have a bit more of a surf on the internet before diving right in.
Here are some other links that can help you if you’re looking to learn more about how Google Ads works:
- Neil Patel’s ‘Google Adwords Made Simple‘
- Hubspot’s ‘Ultimate Guide to Google Ads‘
Here are some of the best practices when it comes to using Google Ads
We’ve scoured the Google Ads website to pull together some of the best recommendations and strategies to help you make the most of your investment into the platform. Check them out.
When it comes to creating effective ads for Google searches:
- Write creative copy that focuses on user benefits and avoids generic, buzzword language.
- Make sure to monitor your ads over time – if they’re not showing much success it’s time to make some edits.
- Avoid using specialist or professional language that’s specific to your trade.
- Focus on your headlines – take time with them as they are the defining factor in the success of your ads.
- Stay within character limits.
When it comes to picking the best keywords or phrases to bid on:
When it comes to building a list of potential keywords or phrases to bid on:
- Put yourself in the mind of the customer – you want your keywords and phrases to align with what people are actually searching, not your specialist terms.
- Monitor the success of your keywords and phrases – if they’re not getting much attention, then it might be time to cut them and look at investing in others.
- Consider using the ‘Dynamic Search Ads’ tool to limit the time you dedicate to updating your keywords or phrases list.
It Targets Consumers Most Likely To Turn Into Customers
When a consumer uses search terms like ‘plumber near me’ and ‘how to fix broken toilet,’ it shows that they have high intent; that they need this service, right now.
Google captures this high intent, ensuring your ad is placed in the top few search results – and with professional help – on the first page of their search.
When done right, this is incredibly effective because consumers searching for these results are highly likely to book the tradie they need on impulse, as well as out of necessity.
Catch The Customers Your Competitors Can’t
Having Adwords means your website and business will be front and centre when the customer performs a search, ultimately resulting in more leads!
When a potential customer searches ‘electrician NSW,’ you’re competing with a plethora of other sparkies saturating the NSW section of the ether. And competition is fierce – you can quickly end up on the third search results page (ouch).
With Google Ads, however, your website (and business) will be directly in front of these searchers, letting their high intent ensure they follow-through!
And for those competitors already using Google Ads, and take my word there will be, a digital marketing agency has the strategies required to out-bid and perform them.
Prospects Will Know Who You Are
Any potential customers that don’t click on your ad will still know your business name and are much more likely to remember your ad after seeing it first, front and centre.
This boost in brand awareness and recognition is a lot more impactful than you may know. The next time they need your services, especially if they see your ad again, they’re more likely to choose you out of familiarity!
Words can’t describe how important Google Ads is for boosting tradie businesses in a time when they need it most. But, if Google Ads is king, then the help of a tradie-focused digital marketing agency is key.
At Tradie Web Guys, we use our tradie background to offer tailored strategies developed explicitly for trade-based businesses, making them exceptionally efficient. We know the terminology, we know the clientele, and we know how to get you more of them through Google Ads for tradies.
Call us today; it’s time to thrive online!
