Let’s face it, we are all guilty of reaching for our smartphones first thing in the morning, bleary eyed and half asleep, to check our emails. Many of us then go on to check our phones for personal emails repeatedly throughout the course of the day (even at work) – it’s a habit we can’t seem to shake.
If you are doing this, your customers are too. So how could you take advantage of this opportunity to calve out a little time to promote your own business?
Gmail ads could be just the tool you’ve been looking for. They are a fantastic way to target the HUGE global network of 1.2 billion active Gmail users who log in every day to check their emails.
The basics
New to Gmail ads? They’ve been around in beta testing for several years. However, it wasn’t until September 2015 when Google integrated them with AdWords that they became available to all advertisers.
Gmail ads are part of the Google AdWords toolbox. They are unobtrusive interactive pop ups that appear at the top of Gmail inboxes.
The ads can include visual elements, such as videos and embedded forms, which appear when people interact with the ad and click to expand it. You are only charged once (when people click to expand the ad) and won’t be charged when people watch your video, click a website link, or fill in a form.
Will Gmail ads work for my business?
If you put the work in, yes, you could see a significant upturn in engagement and conversions by using a Gmail ad campaign.
The key to a successful campaign is to set your targeting appropriately and think about the logistics of your campaign. For example, what are you trying to achieve? Reduced campaign costs? Additional exposure to your target market? Brand exposure?
The possibilities of AdWords campaigns and Gmail ads are virtually endless, so it’s important to have a clear idea of your goals before you rush into setting up your Gmail ad.
Getting started
- You’ll need to set up a Google AdWords account to get started. Sign up is free.
- Choose a budget and bidding strategy to get you started. If you want to save time, automatic bidding might be the best choice initially.
- Decide how to target and design your ad. Experiment with ad formats to see which work best for you. If in doubt, keep it simple initially.
What to remember
A successful Gmail ad could do wonders for your business. However, you’ll need to constantly evaluate and reassess your approach if you hope to get the best results.
Experiment with ad templates, targeting, and analyse your key metrics like cost per click (CPC) and your click through rate (CTR). With a little time and effort your Gmail ad campaign could be the key to unlocking your business’s online sales potential.
Want to give Gmail ads a whirl? If you don’t have the time to invest in setting up, tracking, and monitoring a Google AdWords campaign, Fluid Digital’s PPC experts can help. Get in touch today to find out more about our flexible PPC management services.
