If you’re feeling like a complete dummy when it comes to digital advertising, don’t worry—you’re definitely not alone. Digital ads are everywhere these days, and every media company out there is peddling them. It’s easy to feel lost in a sea of technical mumbo jumbo and complicated elevator pitches. But fear not! We’ve got your ultimate Digital Advertising for Dummies guide ready to turn you from a newbie into a digital advertising aficionado.
Ready? Let’s go!
Chapter 1: What are Digital Ads?
For the first chapter of our Digital Advertising for Dummies guide, let’s start with the basics. Digital advertising is simply paid online marketing that can pop up on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Think of it like this:
- Traditional Advertising—like billboards, TV ads, or print ads—helps get your business in front of people, but it’s more static and doesn’t directly connect them to more info about your business (instead it requires extra effort, like typing in a URL or making a phone call on another device).
- Digital Advertising, on the other hand, is found online and is more dynamic as it typically includes a direct link to your web presence. So, when someone sees and clicks on your ad, it takes them right where you want them to—whether that’s your website, your location on Google Maps, your social media profile, or anywhere else you want online.
Picture this: you’re scrolling through your social media feed, and suddenly an ad for the coolest new gadget catches your eye. Or you’re browsing a website, and a flashy banner ad for a mouth-watering burger makes you want to order one right now. Sound familiar?
Digital ads come in many shapes and sizes—images, text, videos, or a fun combo of all three. They’re designed to grab attention and get you to take action, whether that’s clicking a link, making a purchase, or just learning more about a product or service.
Chapter 2: Types of Digital Ads
Let’s break down the main types of digital advertising so you can understand what’s what:
1. Display Ads
These are the big, flashy visual ads popping up on Google and on websites all over the internet and apps on your phone. They’re perfect for getting lots of “impressions” (that’s ad-speak for “people seeing your ad”) and building brand awareness. Display ads are like that friend who’s always pushing their favorite product on you—sometimes you don’t even know you need it until you see it. They’re great for showing off eye-catching visuals, like a tasty dish or a snazzy product.
2. Search Ads
Ever noticed those little “sponsored” or “ad” labels at the top of your Google search results that seem to eerily match what you were searching for? That’s search advertising – the results that pop up when people search for specific terms related to what you offer. Think of Google search advertising as the cool, collected friend who only shows up when you need them. These online advertisements are aimed at people who are already interested in a product or service you offer, making them super effective at turning maybes into real customers. If you’re surrounded by a lot of competitors, search ads can help you snag a prime spot at the top of search results.
3. Shopping Ads
Remember that time when you searched online for a product you wanted to buy and Google conveniently showed you all the places you could find it with the prices? That’s Google Shopping Ads at work. Like the friend who always knows where to get the best deals, they’re perfect for promoting your products to people who are already in “buying mode,” making it easier for them to find and choose your products over others.
Digital Advertising for Dummies tip: Not sure which one to go with? Choose them all! Google ads have an all-in-one option so there is no need to limit your success.
4. Geofencing
This type of digital advertising is all about targeting a specific location. Imagine you’re trying to attract customers who are hanging out at one location (ahem… your competitors’ place), or you want to reach people within a certain neighborhood. Geofencing ads can deliver your message to people in that precise area, just like they are in the right place at the right time! While these ads might not get as many impressions as broader digital display ads, they’re often more effective at generating quality leads.
5. Facebook Ads
Here’s where things get social. Facebook ads (which can also show up Instagram) are a fantastic way to reach social media users (beyond just who follow you) based on their interests and behaviors. Popping up as videos and images on feeds, stories, and posts, Facebook advertising lets you target your ideal customer. So, if you know your ideal customer is a dog lover who likes coffee and golfing (like some on the Tulip Tree Team!), your ad can appear before their eyes.
Chapter 3: Why Go Digital?
Where digital ads really shine are their unmatched analytics. There’s no need to gaze into a crystal ball to see if your marketing money is paying off or guess how many new customers are walking through your doors thanks to your online ads. Digital advertising comes with a treasure trove of (really rather creepy) data about who’s seeing them, what they’re doing, and how well your campaigns are performing. This means you can actually see what’s working and what’s not, so you can stop asking the universe to show you a sign if it is or not.
Digital Advertising for Dummies tip: NEVER overlook analytics – they have the answers to guide all your digital decisions.
But wait, there’s more! With digital ads, getting your clients to do exactly what you want is almost mindless. Think of your favorite infomercial showing you a must-have product in hopes that you’ll remember their brand and find them online to purchasing the product. Not too easy, is it? But digital directly links your ads to the ideal action – whether that is to the product page, your website’s home page, a social media post, or to call you directly! It’s a direct path from your ad to the sale, cutting out all the unnecessary steps.
And how do you know those paths are being followed exactly how you want them to? Analytics! (Picking up what we’re throwing down?)
Chapter 4: Ready to Dive In?
If you haven’t dipped your toes into the world of digital advertising yet, now’s the time to take the plunge. You can see from our Digital Advertising for Dummies guide, it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems, especially with the right guidance. Our online experts are here to help you navigate all things digital ads. After all, even the savviest business owners started out unsure. Let’s turn that confusion into confidence!
