In the digital marketing realm, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns are a cornerstone. But even the most strategically planned campaign can fall flat without the right ad copy. Crafting an effective ad copy that resonates with your target audience is the linchpin for the success of your PPC campaign. In our last blog post, we discussed tips for an effective ad campaign where we mentioned the importance of ad copy; this blog post will walk you through the steps of creating ad copy that not only captures attention but also drives conversions.

We’ll also be giving good and bad examples of these techniques put into practice. Let’s begin!

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is the first and foremost step. Knowing what resonates with them will allow you to speak their language. Analyze their demographics, interests, and pain points. Create customer personas to represent different segments of your target audience. Then write to that audience, think of yourself as writing to this type of person, or these people directly when coming up with your ad copy.

Good PPC practice: A real estate agency targets families looking to buy homes. They use warm, inviting language and focus on safety and community.

Bad PPC practice: The same agency uses jargon like ‘prime ROI’ and ‘asset liquidity’. This technical language doesn’t appeal to families seeking a nurturing environment.

Write a Head-Turning Headline

The headline is the first thing your audience sees and should be attention-grabbing. Use strong, action-oriented words, and ensure it aligns with your targeted keywords. Make sure these actions address what it is that same demographic wants. What is your audiences goal? Write that same goal out as a solution with your headline!

Good PPC practice: A career development platform uses the headline, “Empower Your Career with Proven Strategies!”. It’s motivating and appeals to professionals seeking growth.

Bad PPC practice: “Career Help” is too generic, lacks energy, and doesn’t evoke motivation.

Benefit-Driven Content

Your ad copy should address how your product or service will benefit the consumer. Instead of just listing features, show them what they’ll gain. For example, instead of saying “high-quality shoes”, say “Experience unmatched comfort and style”. The first example produces an image of a product in the viewers mind, while the second evokes an experience.

Good PPC practice: A tech company selling smartwatches highlights, “Stay connected and track your health with style!”.

Bad PPC practice: “Smartwatch with Bluetooth and 4GB RAM” emphasizes features without demonstrating value.

Incorporate Keywords

Keywords are crucial in PPC campaigns. Incorporate them naturally within your ad copy. This not only improves relevancy for your target audience but also helps in achieving higher quality scores within ad platforms, which can lead to lower costs per click.  With well conceived and integrated keywords, you can achieve a very high return on investment.

Good PPC practice: A local florist bidding on “fresh flowers Chicago” uses ad copy like “Experience the fragrance of the freshest flowers in Chicago!”.

Bad PPC practice: “Buy plants and gifts.” This doesn’t include the keyword and is vague.

Add a Sense of Urgency

Creating a sense of urgency can spur users to action. Use phrases like “limited time offer” or “only a few items left” to encourage immediate action.

Good PPC practice: An e-book retailer’s ad reads, “Flash Sale! Get your favorite e-books at half price, today only!”

Bad PPC practice: “E-books available for sale.” This lacks urgency.

Utilize Ad Extensions

Ad extensions are a powerful tool in PPC advertising. They allow you to include additional information like contact numbers, address, or extra site links. This enhances your ad’s visibility and provides more avenues for potential customers to interact with your business.

Good PPC practice: A spa utilizes ad extensions to showcase customer ratings, location, and promotional offers.

Bad PPC practice: The ad only says “Visit our spa”, without providing additional information.

Optimize for Mobile

With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s imperative to optimize your ad copy for mobile viewers. Keep it concise and make sure the layout and call-to-action buttons are mobile-friendly.

Good PPC practice: A food delivery service uses short, punchy text and a clear, easy-to-click call-to-action button.

Bad PPC practice: Lengthy text and small buttons, making it unattractive and difficult to navigate on mobile.

Craft a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Guide your audience on what steps to take next. Use strong verbs such as ‘buy’, ‘register’, ‘call’, or ‘download’. Be specific, for example, “Call now for a free consultation”.

Good PPC practice: A webinar ad includes, “Unlock Industry Secrets – Register Now!”

Bad PPC practice: “Webinar available” lacks direction and urgency.

Test and Optimize

Never settle for the first draft. Create multiple versions of your ad copy and A/B test them to find out which one performs the best. Monitor your campaigns and tweak the ad copy as needed.

Good PPC practice: A furniture store A/B tests two different headlines to see which attracts more clicks.

Bad PPC practice: The store uses a single headline without exploring other options.

Address Objections

Anticipate any objections your target audience might have and address them in your ad copy. This builds trust and can tip the scales in your favor. This can kind of go hand and hand with the first thing on our list, which is why it is such an important first step. Building and advertising your services as a solution that addresses any possible questions leaves the customer feeling sure that you’re more than capable of anticipating and meeting their needs.

Good PPC practice: A software-as-a-service (SaaS) company includes, “Worried about integration? Our platform seamlessly integrates with your existing tools.”

Bad PPC practice: Ignoring potential concerns and focusing only on product features.

Conclusion:

Creating compelling ad copy is an art that requires a deep understanding of your audience and the ability to communicate value concisely. The above guidelines and examples showcase the strategies that differentiate successful PPC ad copy from typical attempts. We understand that perfecting these things can also take a substantial time investment, so if you’re looking for an award winning advertising agency more than fit for the task, consider contacting us!