You just started your business, but your sales have been flat for way too long? Or maybe they've been non-existent until now. That's a very common scenario new businesses worldwide face. In a market as competitive as it currently is, getting customers is a complex task. With this comes the need for online advertising.
The internet has evolved the way we look for products and shop around. Street billboards and ads on TV screens are still a thing, but not exactly reasonable for new businesses anymore. They have now moved on to ads over the internet. And are now able to get customers and sell more than ever.
So, if you're a rookie business owner or advertiser, online advertising is definitely a journey you should be taking. In this blog, we will cover all you need to know about online advertising and the best strategy to go about it.
Here's How Online Advertising Works
Online advertising is a part of promotional marketing, where businesses run online ads to attract the attention of people interested in their products/services. What sets it apart is its ability to reach a wide, global audience within a budget.
It uses various advertising platforms and networks to reach these users. You need to research your audiences well, create ads that will appeal to them, and run campaigns targeting these users based on their demographics, context, or custom audiences.
Think of online advertising as similar to auctions—but in the virtual world. Advertisers bid in real-time on ad spaces, and the one with the highest bid, ad quality, and relevance wins the space to display their ad. But that's just one form of online advertising, called PPC advertising. Influencer and email advertising take their own stage, but you need to figure out what works best for you before jumping on anything.
It's Taking Over The World
Some love ads, many block them. But it's safe to say that online advertising is taking over the world. Don't believe us yet? Take a look at the following statistics from Statista:
Online advertising revenue in the USA grew by 7.3% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 225 billion US dollars.
Search ads were the dominant ad format in the USA, accounting for 41.4% of digital advertising revenue.
Display ads followed, contributing to 30% of the total ad revenue.
21% was attributed to digital video ads.
Moreover, global mobile advertising spending is forecasted to surpass 400 billion US dollars- an indication that even your ads should always be optimized for mobile phone users.
These statistics are an indicator of how big the advertising market is. And while it might seem intimidating being in the same space as big competitors, there are plenty of ad networks like 7Search PPC that help your business grow big within a budget.
What Online Advertising Can Do For You
Apart from the very obvious getting customers and increasing sales, here's everything advertising online can do for you:
Spread the Word: Customers only come when they are aware of your business. Awareness campaigns can help you spread the word about your business.
Build a Reputation: Online advertising can build a reputation for your business. Whether you're reliable or not, stay true to your promises or don't; it's all about how you are perceived online by the people.
Retarget Customers: Most people will likely not purchase from your business after seeing the very first ad. You can then run retargeted ads to audiences who have shown interest in your services.
Save your Money: Online advertising targets only very specific users from which you can expect a good return. This cuts down your spending by a great deal, making it an extremely cost-effective method.
Sell ASAP: Online ads work on a short-term basis, getting you results as soon as your campaign goes live.
Create a Robust Advertising Strategy
1. Firstly, Set a Goal
Every successful strategy starts with a goal in mind and follows in its direction. This keeps you on track throughout your advertising journey. Every time you make a decision, think about whether it will positively affect the goal or not.
Follow the SMART format if you feel confused. Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Suppose you're an advertiser for a recently opened online customized sneakers store that now wants to focus on getting more orders. Your SMART goal can be: Attain 250 orders in the next month from running two PPC campaigns.
However, make sure your goals are aligned with the overall business goals and the stage where it is at. For instance, if your business is brand new, focusing on brand awareness should be your motive.
2. Keep Up With Your Target Audience
Before launching a campaign and even making your creative, ask yourself a few questions about your target audience:
Who do I need to reach with my ads?
Your audience is people who will buy from you after seeing your ad. You'll need to know everything about their demographics—age, income level, gender, education, etc, to create campaigns that feel personalized to them.
Where can I reach them?
This will include the GEOs and platforms they are usually on. For instance, the customized sneakers store could be shipped to specific areas or worldwide. You can reach them through PPC or social media ads after identifying their online behavior.
How can I convince them to buy from me?
This will include your target audience's interests, hobbies, pain points, challenges, and past experiences. Knowing all this is necessary if you wish to compel them through your ads.
3. Assign Yourself a Budget
Your budget is the pillar of your advertising strategy. One wrong move and all your finances can come crashing down. So, think about the least you want to spend, the maximum you can afford, a line you don't want to cross, and how much you can stretch.
Ultimately, it will depend on the following factors:
Prices of your products/services
Your long and short-term goals
State of market and competitors
Channel that you wish to use
Longevity of the campaign
Don't hesitate to invest more in campaigns that are winning you customers and discarding the ones that aren't.
4. Commit To A Channel
There are plenty of online advertising strategies, but not each one is right for you. The channel you choose should be based on your overall budget, audience, and campaign goals.
Paid advertising works well when you have the budget to bid on keywords and wish to reach active audiences. However, if you need to increase your social media presence, social ads will be more appropriate.
5. Create Extraordinary Ads
Once you have the channel, budget, and audience preferences, it's time to create your ads. Choose the ad formats that are supported by your advertising channel, and create multiple creatives. You'll have to write persuasive ad copies and create striking designs that can easily stand out.
Use storytelling elements and build engaging narratives to craft an unforgettable advertisement. Make sure you include an attention-grabbing CTA to invite attention and direct users where required. Remember that ads meant to educate will differ from ads that need to persuade, and so on.
6. Keep on Optimizing
The first time you launch an online advertising campaign, it won't be the most successful one. You will have to continuously test with different elements to find the best ones. But testing and optimizing won't end once you find a hit campaign. Consider it a never-ending process that requires optimization with the changes in online advertising trends, audience preferences, and platforms.
So make sure you review your dashboard either daily or weekly and make appropriate changes in:
Bidding structure
Ad copy and designs
Targeting segments
Keywords
Goals
You can also A/B test your ads by curating multiple versions of the same ad and changing a single element within it to find the one that performs the best.
Conclusion
Online advertising is similar to a bridge connecting a business with its customers. The stronger and more attractive you make it, the more people will want to cross it. Right strategy and continuous optimization will help you reach a higher audience with your ads.
Having the right goals is the beginning, but your results are not the end. They pave the way for new and better campaigns. Even the biggest players utilize online advertising throughout their business lifecycle. So, do your research, take inspiration, and start wherever you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common types of online advertising?
The most common types of online advertising are- PPC Advertising, Social Media Advertising, Email Advertising, Influencer Advertising, and Mobile Advertising.
How do online ads target audiences?
Online ads target audiences based on their demographics, location, online behavior, and interests.
Can I advertise online for free?
If you want to advertise for free, you can make use of user-generated content (UGC), email ads, or word-of-mouth advertising.
How can I reach my audience through paid ads?
You can reach your audience by bidding on appropriate long-tailed keywords and placing your ads on high traffic relevant websites.
How can I find the best ad platform?
You can find the best ad platform by matching your requirements and budget with what it has to offer.
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