Facebook Ads or Google Ads: Which is more effective?

Business owners use online advertising to increase sales and find new customers. Google ads and Facebook ads are the two giants of online advertising; Both can be important drivers for your business.

Many business owners use Google ads and Facebook ads at the same time. Meanwhile, according to research, Google ads and Facebook ads do not have the same results. Each of these platforms has its advantages and disadvantages. Definitely, the right choice between Google Ads and Facebook Ads can help your business grow.

In this article, we will review Google ads and Facebook ads and show you the advantages and disadvantages of each. This information will help you invest in the right place and increase the efficiency of your online advertising.

What is Google Ads and how does it work?

Google Ads is a platform that businesses can use to display their ads in Google search, YouTube, Gmail, websites, apps. Google ads are pay-per-click (PPC) and pay-per-impression (CPM) targeted ads. By choosing the CPC model, the advertiser pays for every click on the ad. By choosing the CPM model, the advertiser pays for every 1,000 ad impressions.

Google Ads algorithms are complex yet helpful in displaying ads. This platform helps you to precisely target those who are most likely to be interested in your products or services. For example, if you are a glass seller, you can determine that your ad will be displayed to those who search for the word “buy sunglasses” on Google.

What is Facebook Ads and how does it work?

Facebook Ads is a platform that allows businesses to show their ads to users on Facebook and Instagram. Like Google ads, Facebook ads are targeted pay-per-click (CPC) and pay-per-impression (CPM) ads. With this platform, you can display your ads on Facebook feed, Facebook Messenger, and non-Facebook apps and websites that work with the Meta ecosystem.

Facebook ads come in different formats, including single images, videos, and slideshows, and can target specific audiences. Facebook Ads allow advertisers to target users based on criteria such as age, gender, geographic location, interests, and user behaviors.

What is the difference between Facebook ads and Google ads?

Google Ads and Facebook Ads are two completely different platforms in terms of the services they offer, so it is essential to understand what their differences are.

Access

Google ads appear in Google Search results, Google Display Network (Adsense, Admob), YouTube, Gmail, and other Google products. Google’s search engine has about 4.3 billion active users monthly, YouTube has 2 billion active users monthly, and Gmail has 1.8 billion active users monthly. Also, more than 10 million websites use the Adsense platform, and 1 million active applications use Admob to display ads. This statistic shows that you can reach a huge target community of users by using Google ads.

While with Google Ads, you can show ads on different platforms and reach a larger audience; Facebook ads are limited to users of Facebook and Instagram platforms. However, with more than 2 billion monthly users, Facebook’s traffic is not something that can be easily passed over. As the most popular social media platform, Facebook has a lot of potential to generate new customers through advertising.

Targeting

Usually, those who intend to buy or get information about a product/service first search for it on Google. Therefore, by using Google Ads, your chances of attracting those who intend to buy immediately are higher.

As mentioned, a person who is looking for a specific product will search on Google first, but what if he doesn’t? In this case, Facebook ads seem to be a more appropriate choice because it allows you to target audiences based on precise criteria such as age, gender, geographic location, behaviors, and even their occupation. In other words, you can turn potential customers into actual ones.

Cost

The advertising cost in Google is based on an auction system, and costs can vary according to keywords, the level of competition in your industry, and the quality of your ads and landing page. In highly competitive industries such as insurance, finance, and legal, the cost of advertising is higher. Still, in return, it also brings a higher conversion rate because users often intend to buy or get detailed information.

In Facebook Ads, the cost of advertising is based on an auction system, but on average, the cost of advertising in Facebook is usually cheaper than Google Ads, which can be a better option for small or newly established businesses. Having very detailed information about users, Facebook allows for the most accurate targeting, which can reduce costs.

Which should I choose between Google ads or Facebook ads?

Choosing between these ad networks depends on various factors such as targeting, budget, type of business, and target audience.

If you are looking to attract people who want to make an immediate purchase or conversion rate is more important to you, Google Ads is a better option for you because, with the help of this platform, you can display ads to people exactly when they are looking for your products or services.

Facebook Ads will be more effective if your goal is to build brand awareness and engage more with your audience. Google ads focus primarily on conversions and may not be as effective as Facebook for brands looking to increase brand awareness. In addition, with Facebook Ads, you can target audiences based on precise criteria such as age, gender, geographic location, behaviors, and occupation. For example, you can schedule ads to be shown only to Harvard students.

The cost of advertising with Facebook Ads and Google Ads is based on an auction system. It can vary according to the level of competition in your industry and some other factors. However, because Facebook allows for more precise targeting by having very detailed information about users, Facebook ads are usually cheaper than Google ads and are a more suitable option for small businesses.