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Search Ads

Text-based advertisements that appear in search engine results pages.

Definition

Search ads are text-based advertisements that appear at the top and bottom of search engine results pages (SERPs) when users search for specific keywords. They capture high-intent users who are actively looking for products, services, or information.

How They Work

  • Advertisers bid on keywords relevant to their business
  • When a user searches that keyword, an auction determines which ads show
  • Quality Score and bid amount together determine ad rank
  • Advertisers pay per click (CPC)

Why Search Ads Are Powerful

Search ads capture users with clear purchase intent. Someone searching "buy running shoes online" is much closer to converting than someone scrolling their social feed. This makes search ads ideal for direct response campaigns.

Examples

  • An e-commerce store bidding on "buy wireless headphones" showing a product-focused ad
  • A local plumber bidding on "emergency plumber near me" with a call extension

Common Mistakes

  • Bidding on overly broad keywords that waste budget on irrelevant traffic
  • Not using negative keywords to filter out unwanted searches