The world is different than it was 90 days ago. The same is true of trends in Google Ads Campaigns. Consider the following traffic trends:
- 25% less mobile search. More people are at home with laptops, desktops and tablets as opposed to handhelds.
- More search is occurring late at night. More people are at home and using the internet as a source of news and entertainment.
- Some Industries Are Big Winners and Others Are Losing Traffic. If you have resources that are useful to those limited by shelter in place, you are gaining traffic, but if you have travel related services, you may wish to consider shutting paid ads down and waiting it out.
What Can Be Done?
1. Revise Your Ad Dayparting
You can easily track your own campaigns performance by day of the week and hour of the day within Google Ads. Simply click “Segment,” then “Time” within Google Ads. Even if you reviewed this recently, the performance has likely changed in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19. You may see more search volume late night and if you typically do not advertise late night, you may wish to being doing so.
2. Revise Mobile Search Bid Adjustments
Mobile search is decreasing. Review search traffic in both Google Ads and Google Analytics to better understand the search volumes of desktop and tablet vs. mobile devices. I have seen some clients actually shift from positive bid adjustments on mobile to positive bid adjustments on desktop traffic.
3. Smart Bidding May Help
Google’s smart bidding strategies may help advertisers by automatically digesting changing data and adjusting their CPC bids in real time to match their goals. This is especially helpful for those who have limited time and limited Google Ads Experience.
4. Be Open To New Platforms
More people at home may make advertising on YouTube for either keyword or affinity audiences a smart move. Also consider adding Google Search Partners to your strategy if you have not already done so. Google Display typically offers a tremendous amount of exposure for the cost involved, so consider using this platform if you are expanding services to help those in need or offering special pricing or incentives to your customers.
5. Consider Social Media Advertising
Facebook and Instagram have interesting social media advertising platforms. This may be a time to reach a different audience while more people are using social media platforms to gain information and keep in touch with friends, co-workers and family.
Bob Dylan said “The Times They Are A Changin” and he was never more right than now. This is a scary time for all, and while when it may end may be uncertain, the fact that it will end is certain. The only constant in digital marketing is change, and it is happening now, and quickly. Please contact us if you would like to consult with one of our Google Ads or Social Media ad experts. We are offering a free one hour consultation to help any business that is trying to effectively market themselves in these trying times.
More resources for online advertising and COVID-19:
- How the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Is Affecting Small Businesses & Marketers