Running a Google Ads campaign can be an excellent way to drive visitors to your website and generate sales. If you want to make sure your efforts are a success, however, you must keep a close eye on your analytics. It is crucial to monitor your click-through rate (CTR).
What is Click-Through Rate?
Your click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of users who saw your ad and clicked on your link. Google calculates your CTR using this formula:
(Total Clicks / Total Impressions) x 100 = CTR
If your ad reached 1,000 people and caused 10 of them to click through to your website, Google would calculate your CTR in the following way:
(10 Clicks / 1,000 Impressions) x 100 = 1.00% CTR
The average Google Ads CTR is about 2.00%. If yours is a little lower than that, you may wish to take some steps to increase it.
How to Improve Your Click-Through Rate
There are a variety of ways for organizations like yours to boost your CTR on Google Ads. These ones are among the best
Write Compelling Ad Copy
The text in your ad is one of the first things Google users will look at when deciding whether they should click on your link. To entice people to follow through, you must ensure your copy is as compelling as possible.
The FZA Digital team recommends following these tips when writing copy for your Google Ads:
- Be direct. Tell people how you can help them accomplish their goals or fix their problems.
- Use numbers and statistics to help users understand what sets you apart from the competition.
- Keep it short. It rarely makes sense to exceed 140 characters when writing Google Ads copy.
- Use emotional language. People who feel an emotional connection to an ad are much more likely to click on it.
Don’t forget to review your ad copy for spelling or grammar errors before you go live. Ads that are filled with mistakes are unappealing to Google users.
Use Ad Extensions
Google provides a lot of real estate on its PPC ads. You would be smart to use all of it if you want to boost your CTR. Ad extensions can help you achieve that goal.
These extensions allow you to include more detail about your organization in your ads. Many companies use extensions to highlight information such as:
- Product features
- Service offerings
- Contact details
- Special pricing
Ad extensions don’t just give you the ability to provide people with details that may entice them to click on your link. They also make your ad appear bigger and help them stand out on the page.
You can add extensions to your ads by following these easy steps:
- Log into your Google Ads account
- Open your campaign
- Click on the “Ads & Extensions” tab
- Hit the “Extensions” button
- Choose your extension type
- Follow the on-screen prompts to finalize the process
There is no additional cost for including extensions in your PPC ads.
Add Negative Keywords
Ensuring your ads don’t appear for users who are not currently interested in buying your products or services is one of the best ways to boost your CTR. How can you accomplish this feat? By adding negative keywords to your campaign.
When you include a negative keyword in your ad, Google will make sure it does not appear for people who use that term in their search.
If, for example, you operate a used car dealership, you may want to add new and service as negative keywords. Doing so will stop your ad from showing up for people looking for new cars or vehicle servicing in your city.
To include negative keywords in your Google Ads campaign, follow these steps:
- Log into your Google Ads account
- Open your campaign
- Click on the “Keywords and Targeting” tab
- Hit “Keywords, Negative”
- Click “Add Negative Keyword”
- Select “Campaign Negative Keyword”
- Enter the negative keyword in the panel
By taking these steps and ensuring your ads only appear for users with an interest in your services, you will quickly increase your overall CTR.
Test Multiple Ads
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” This adage is as true in advertising as it is in everyday life.
As you strive to boost your Google Ads CTR, it is rarely advisable to focus all your resources on one advertisement. Instead, it generally makes more sense to test multiple ads at the same time to see which ones perform the best.
Once you find a formula that works for you and your organization, you can start to narrow your focus. Shift your time and money away from the ads that deliver a poor CTR and toward their more successful counterparts.
Need a Little More Help? Contact the Experts at FZA Digital Today!
Managing a Google Ads campaign can be complex and time-consuming. If you need a little help along the way, please do not hesitate to contact the skilled and experienced marketers here at FZA Digital. You can reach us by filling in our contact form or giving us a call at (424) 229-2923.