Marketing

Prime Real Estate: How to Advertise on Google’s Homepage Given the Chance

Google AdWordsBecause Google sites saw more than 190 million unique visitors in July, according to Gizmodo, it is no secret that Google owns some of the most prime advertising real estate on the Internet. With the majority of these visitors starting at Google’s homepage first, it is no surprise that CNET considers this page an enviable spot for any advertiser to be. The problem is that Google wants to keep the page clean for its visitors and rarely uses it for advertising.

That is, until now. Google used its homepage in August to help launch their new Nexus 7 tablet. Considering Apple just released its new iPad Mini, it is smart for Google to take advantage of their prime advertising space. After all, every customer they garner for the Nexus 7 is one less Apple customer.

Always Be Prepared

Unfortunately, Google does not offer homepage advertising spots for anybody else, but could you imagine what that could do for a business? If you had the opportunity, that kind of advertising would catapult your business into a realm you never thought possible. But never say never.

You should have a strong email-marketing client on lockdown before the ad goes live to translate new leads into sales. In addition to email marketing, advertise on other sites so that not all of your eggs are in one basket.

To find other good-quality sites, consider the content they have, how many other advertisers there are, and if the focus of the site is similar to what your target market would desire. But before getting ahead of yourself, create a stellar ad for the Google homepage. So how exactly do you do that?

Establish a Goal

Before designing any ad, figure out what you want to accomplish. Most ads have one of three goals: actual sales, leads or brand awareness. Design your ad based around what goal you have. For example, if you want the ad to result in actual sales, the ad should encourage viewers to click on it so to link back to your ecommerce site. If your goal is brand awareness, an eye-catching ad clearly demonstrating what your business does would be the way to go.

Focus on Your Target Demographic

Another key factor of a successful ad is whether it attracts the target market. If you are not sure who your target market is, invest in market research before moving forward with your Google ad. Once your target market is narrowed down, properly create an advertising campaign. For example, if small-business owners are your target market, the ad should look professional and possibly even link back to your LinkedIn account.

On the other hand, if your target market is teenagers, the ad should be simple, bright, and link back to your Facebook page. Properly targeting the correct demographic will help your business capitalize on the unique advertising opportunity that Google’s homepage offers.

Remember, any ad needs to be straight to the point and eye-catching. Too many words or boring pictures will not attract anybody and will be a waste of time and money. Once your ad is placed on Google’s homepage, buckle up and hold on tight — it’s going to be a wild ride.

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Paul Tomaszewski is a science & tech writer as well as a programmer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of CosmoBC. He has a degree in computer science from John Abbott College, a bachelor's degree in technology from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and completed some business and economics classes at Concordia University in Montreal. While in college he was the vice-president of the Astronomy Club. In his spare time he is an amateur astronomer and enjoys reading or watching science-fiction. You can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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