Why Googling Your Business is Not an Effective Way to Gauge Google Ads Performance
Don't Google your business name. I mean it. It’s common for business owners to turn to Google to check their online presence and visibility. However, it's essential to understand that searching for your business on Google is not an effective way to evaluate your Google Ads performance. The results you see may not accurately reflect the actual state of your ads and can lead to misguided decision-making. Read on for additional reasons and alternatives to google yourself:
Personalized Search Results
Google customizes search results to you. They are created based on your search history, location, device, and other factors. By tailoring the content to your preferences, Google aims to provide a better user experience, however, they can also lead to a skewed perception of your Google Ads performance. The ads you see likely aren't the ones seen by your target audience, making it an unreliable way to evaluate their effectiveness.
Ad Frequency Capping
Google implements ad frequency capping to prevent users from seeing the same ads repeatedly. This means that if you have already seen your ad a certain number of times, Google will stop showing it to you. As a result, when you search for your business on Google, you might not see your ads even if they are running successfully. This can lead you to believe that your ads are not performing well when, in fact, they are.
Competitive Landscape
Your ads' performance is impacted by the competitive landscape in your industry. Google Ads uses an auction system to determine ad placements, and the competition among advertisers can fluctuate throughout the day. Simply Googling your business name at a random time may not provide an accurate representation of your ad performance or its position relative to competitors. Moreover, it may not give you insights into how your ads are performing during peak hours or specific days of the week.
Better Alternatives to Gauge Google Ads Performance
Instead of relying on Google searches to evaluate your Google Ads performance, consider the following alternatives:
Google Ads Dashboard:
Your Google Ads account dashboard is the most reliable source of information regarding your dealership's ad performance. It provides detailed metrics, such as impressions, clicks, cost-per-click, and conversions, that can help you understand how your ads are performing and make data-driven decisions.
Google Analytics:
Google Analytics is another powerful tool that allows you to track user behavior and interactions with your website. By integrating it with your Google Ads account, you can gain insights into how users engage with your site after clicking on your ads, helping you optimize your ad campaigns and improve overall performance.
A/B Testing:
Regularly test different ad variations, targeting options, and bidding strategies to optimize your Google Ads campaigns. Analyzing the results of these tests will give you a more accurate understanding of your ads' performance and the best practices to follow.
Don't Google Your Business Name
Googling your business may provide a quick snapshot of your online presence, but it is not an accurate or reliable way to gauge your Google Ads performance. Instead, focus on using the available tools and resources, like the Google Ads dashboard and Google Analytics, to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights. By doing so, you will be able to optimize your ad campaigns and improve your return on investment.