As a marketer, you might find yourself wondering which platform you should place your ads on. You’re weighing the options between Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads … maybe both?
Google and Facebook are considered the leading platforms in the online advertising world. Put together, Google and Facebook account for 85% of the money put towards online ads.
But which one is the right one? Which one will get your business in front of more audiences and increase your ROI?
Luckily for you, that’s what we’re going to cover today!
There are several variables that you should consider based on your business' advertising needs before making your decision.
Google Ads (previously known as Google AdWords) is the most popular and largest advertising platform in the world.
Because of its status and popularity as a search engine, Google is able to offer advertisers a (literal) world of potential customers who are actively looking to buy services/products.
Here’s how it works:
Related: 9 Reasons Your Small Business Needs Google Ads
Facebook ads differ from Google Ads mainly based on the type of platform. Google is a search engine, Facebook is a social media platform.
With Facebook having the highest amount of active users versus any other social media platform, it’s easy to understand why Facebook ads have become a competitive and heavily utilized platform for many businesses.
Where advertising on Facebook and Google Ads differ is in how they find your audience.
Google Ads works by finding audiences based on keywords. Whereas Facebook Ads find audiences based on their behavior online and the topics they have shown interest in.
The first thing you should ask yourself when choosing an advertising platform is “What is the purpose behind the ad?”
It could be:
Your answer to that question determines which platform is right for you.
If you said improving brand awareness, driving engagement, or promoting events, then I would argue that Facebook Ads is the best platform for your campaign goals. Facebook Ads is more effective at these goals because of their campaign options and their versatility as an advertising platform.
If you’re looking to increase your sales and gain leads, then Google Ads would be more impactful. This is because Google Ads relies on people to search for a specific service or product. Targeting an audience who is actively looking helps you skip the step of convincing them they need your product. They’ve already reached that point, and are now looking for a solution.
On Facebook, users aren’t usually already at that stage. They’re browsing for fun or out of boredom, which means you have the added step of convincing that user that a) they have a problem and b) your product can solve that problem.
That’s why Facebook (or paid social in general) works best to increase brand awareness and engagement.
Choosing the right advertising platform also relies on who your ideal audience is.
If you have a specific audience in mind, Facebook works better because of the detailed targeting options it offers. Facebook retains detailed specifics about each user – their age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, geographical location, and specific interests.
So, if your ideal audience is single millennial mothers in the Southwest that have interests in entrepreneurship, Facebook can find that audience for you.
Google Ads, however, will show your ads to anyone who searches the magic word (aka keywords). YOu can target based on age, sex, household income, and location.
The biggest pro to using Google Ads in the reach. Google takes more than 65,000 search queries every second. This equals more than 2 trillion web searches every year. ? Think about how many users your ad could reach daily. Just that number alone makes using Google Ads worth it.
So the answer to “Which is better: Google Ads vs Facebook Ads?” is:
One isn’t necessarily better than the other ?
Both are awesome platforms, but it depends on your specific needs and expected outcomes of the campaign for which platform you choose.
Also, just throwing this out there — advertising on both platforms is never a bad idea!
While Google Ads and Facebook Ads are considered competitors, that isn’t exactly how you should look at it. Each advertising platform is really good at completing specific campaign goals, and those goals don’t necessarily overlap.
Personally, though, I love Google Ads and highly recommend using them! If you’re still not convinced and wondering why you should trust me: I’m a Google Ads partner, certified for over 10 years. I’ve seen the changes in the industry, and one thing is clear: Google Ads and paid search are more important than they’ve ever been.
If you’re planning for the future and getting your digital marketing strategy ready to ring in the new decade, consider investing in Google Ads.
Contact me today to discuss how Google Ads can help YOUR business! Make sure to download your copy of my Visibility Workbook.
Welcome! My name is Glenneth and I live in beautiful East Tennessee. I wear many hats: CEO of The Visibility Method, SEO & Google Ads Expert, content creator, and more. I love technology, social media, and weight lifting. My favorite place to hang out is the hammock in my backyard. My favorite colors are pink and orange. My favorite team is the Vols. And I LOVE to get email so please drop me a note and say hi!
