How long does it take for Google Ads to start delivering results?

How long does it take for Google Ads to start delivering results?

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So you've published your first campaign but you haven't seen the results you are quite hoping for. Or the results that you are promised by others using Google ads. You're probably asking yourself whether it was worth it to choose Google ads, but more importantly how long is it going to take before Google ads start delivering results?

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Google ads can be a game changer for businesses of all shapes and sizes, however, understanding the timeline for results is a crucial part of the process. Let's dive into the factors influencing the time it takes for Google ads to start delivering and for you to start seeing results.

The Learning Phase

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When you press publish on a new Google ads campaign it goes into the learning phase. During this period Google's algorithm collects data to understand your campaign's goals, target audience, website engagement, and the overall effectiveness of your ad copy. This data-driven system helps Google optimise your campaign and deliver relevant ads to the right people at the right time in their purchase journey.

Factors Affecting The Learning Phase

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• Campaign Structure: Making sure your campaign is well organised, with clear targeting and ad groups can help to accelerate the learning process. Be sure to follow all the best practices, especially when starting with a new account.
• Keyword Selection: Choosing the right keywords can be tricky, make sure to use relevant and high-quality keywords, this will help Google understand your target audience and objectives more quickly.
• Ad Strength: An important part of the advertising journey is having a strong ad presence. Intriguing and informative ad copy can improve your ad strength leading to better performance.
• The Landing Page: The page on your website that users land on after clicking an ad needs to be set up in a way that is user-friendly and relevant, this enhances the overall user experience, positively impacting your campaign's performance.

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A closer look at the time frame for results

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The exact time frame cannot be pinpointed as each account is different from another. Some businesses in certain industries have the opportunity to start getting results straight away purely based on popularity, trends, and other similar factors.

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To give you a general understanding here is a breakdown that might help:

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1. Initial Results: You might start seeing initial clicks and impressions within a few days of your campaign launch, sometimes even within 48 hours. But what you will find with these early results is Google learning what not to do, and things may pivot shortly after.
2. Learning Phase Completion: The learning phase typically lasts seven days to two weeks, sometimes this can be extended to four weeks during which Google gathers sufficient data to optimise your campaign.
3. Significant Results: After the first month you should not expect to see anything significant, however, after two to three months you should start seeing more substantial results including conversions and increased website traffic.

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Tips To Accelerate Results

1. Set Clear Goals and Objectives: Define specific objectives, such as increasing website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales. These help Google make the right choices and recommendations along the way.
2. Conduct Thorough Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition. Finding the right keywords can save you so much money on irrelevant searches.
3. Create Compelling Ad Copy: Write unique and attractive ad copy that highlights the unique selling points of your product or service.
4. Optimise Landing Pages: Ensure your landing pages are user-friendly, load quickly, and provide a seamless user experience.
5. Monitor and Analyse Performance: Regularly track key metrics like clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate.
6. Test and Iterate: Experiment with different ad variations, bidding strategies, and targeting options to find the most effective approach.
7. Seek Expert Advice: Consider consulting with a Google Ads certified professional to optimise your campaign.

Common Challenges and Solutions

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Even the best of the best struggle sometimes, here are some challenges that people face on Google ads and the solution to solve them:

• Slow Start: Patience is key. As Google's algorithm learns, you might experience a slower start.
• High Cost-Per-Click (CPC): Competitive keywords can drive up costs. Consider using less competitive keywords or implementing a more aggressive bidding strategy.
• Low Conversion Rates: Ensure your landing pages are optimised for conversions and offer a clear call-to-action.
• Lack of Quality Traffic: Refine your targeting options to attract highly qualified leads.

Conclusion

Google Ads is a long-term investment, although some people see success right away most accounts take some time to learn, followed by optimisations, followed by more learning, followed by more optimizations and then possibly some results. 

But do not despair because Google ads are possibly the best investment you can make for your business, it is a way to speak directly to your target audience, it is a way for you to control where your ads are being shown, and you can make changes in real-time to suit what is working for your business.

So the short answer is you will see results within two to three weeks, but you'll only start seeing successful results in about three months. Do not stop there as you will always need to continue optimising.

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Thank you so much for reading this article. If you enjoyed it and are looking to grow your business, feel free to contact us or book a consultation with our sales team.

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At Strike Digital, the leading digital ad agency, we work with you to achieve growth and increase revenue performance.

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Have a great day!

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