Google Ads, formerly known as Google AdWords, is a "Pay-Per-Click" (PPC) advertising platform. It allows your business to appear at the very top of Google's search results and on other websites, exactly when people are looking for products or services like yours. You only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad and visits your website, making it a highly cost-effective way to get immediate, targeted visibility and drive potential customers to your door or website. For small businesses, it means you can compete with larger companies for visibility and reach local customers with precision.

The cost of Google Ads is highly flexible and depends entirely on your industry, competition, and how aggressively you want to advertise. There's no fixed minimum, but we typically recommend a starting budget that allows enough clicks to gather meaningful data and optimize your campaigns effectively. We'll work with you to determine a budget that aligns with your business goals and ensures a strong return on your investment, rather than just spending for the sake of it. You're always in control of your daily and monthly spend.

Pretty much instantly. One of the biggest advantages of Google Ads is its speed. Unlike SEO, which can take months to show results, your ads can go live almost immediately once approved by Google. You should start seeing clicks and website traffic within days. However, true optimization and significant improvements in performance (like lower cost per conversion) can take a little longer as Google's algorithm learns and we fine-tune your campaigns based on real-world data.

Both Google Ads and SEO aim to get your business found on Google, but they do it in different ways.

• Google Ads (PPC): You pay for immediate visibility at the top of search results. It's like renting prime real estate – you get traffic instantly, and you can switch it on and off.

• SEO: This focuses on earning organic (unpaid) rankings by optimizing your website content and structure over time. It's like building your own valuable property – it takes longer, but the traffic is "free" once you rank. Both are powerful, and for small businesses, a combination of the two often yields the best long-term results.

For most types of Google Ads, especially those designed to drive leads or sales, yes, a good website is essential. Your website is where potential customers land after clicking your ad, and it needs to be clear, easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and provide the information they need to take the next step.

However, if your primary goal is phone calls or driving foot traffic, Google Ads offers "Call-Only Ads" and "Local Services Ads" (for specific service industries) that allow customers to call you directly or find your business on Google Maps without needing a full website. We can discuss the best approach for your specific business goals.