How to Advertise on Google (Google Ads for Beginners)

Short answer

Go to ads.google.com, create a Search campaign, choose keywords your customers search for, write 3–5 ad headlines, set your budget, and launch. Start with a small budget ($20–$30/day) and optimize based on results.

Step-by-step: your first Google Ads campaign

Step 1: Set up your account

Go to ads.google.com and sign in. Create a new account with your business Gmail.

Step 2: Choose "Search" campaign type

Search ads appear when people actively search for your keywords — highest intent of any ad format.

Step 3: Set your goal

Choose "Get more website sales or sign-ups" or "Get more calls" (for local businesses).

Step 4: Choose your keywords

Think about what your customers type into Google when looking for your service. Use exact match [keyword] or phrase match "keyword" rather than broad match — broad match burns budgets on irrelevant searches.

Add negative keywords to exclude irrelevant searches (e.g., "free", "DIY", competitor names if you don't want to appear there).

Step 5: Write your ads

Each ad needs:

3 headlines (30 characters max each)
2 descriptions (90 characters max each)
Your landing page URL

Tips: Include your keyword in at least one headline. Include a specific benefit or number. Use a clear CTA ("Book now", "Get a free quote").

Step 6: Set your budget

Start with $20–$30/day. That's $600–$900/month — enough data to optimize without risking too much.

Step 7: Set up conversion tracking

This is critical. Without tracking which clicks become customers, you're flying blind. Install Google's conversion tag on your thank-you page or use Google Tag Manager.

What to watch in your first 30 days

Click-through rate (CTR): Aim for 3%+ on search ads
Cost per click (CPC): Varies wildly by industry ($1–$50)
Conversion rate: How many clicks become leads/sales
Search terms report: What people actually searched when they saw your ad