B2B Marketing: 3 simple tips for creating PPC ads
Originally published on B2B LeadBlog
When it comes to PPC ads, writing copy with limited headline and description character spaces can be tough.
Copywriting in a confined space can feel more like an art, especially when you consider crafting social media PPC messaging for a highly targeted audience versus search engines ads, in which a keyword strategy impacts your message.
Overall, one thing I’ve seen in my experiences in working with our Research Partners is the basics of copywriting are often a first casualty in PPC ad design. Here are three basic tips for creating ads that you can use to help you communicate effectively with prospects.
Tip #1. Highlight your value proposition
If your value proposition is unclear, you are missing opportunities because prospects are naturally attracted to choices that provide them with the most value.
Your PPC ads should be focused on answering the central question that is at the heart of all your marketing: “If I am your ideal prospect, why should I click on your PPC ad instead of your competitors’?”
Delivering a marketing message that communicates value in less than 100 characters is difficult, but it’s not impossible and absolutely necessary.
Also, here are a few more questions every marketer should ask themselves in regard to value proposition development when crafting PPC ads:
- What problems does our product or service solve for our prospects?
- How will our products or services improve their business?
Tip #2. Prepare prospects for what to expect after they click
It’s important to remember the job of your ad is just to get a click from a prospect. A way to help you do this is by preparing visitors for the action they will be taking once they have clicked on the ad.
Including information about what visitors can use your website for such as “browsing,” “view pricing” and “save favorites” will clue prospects into what they can do on your landing page.
Tip #3. Relevant images matter
A PPC ad is a lot easier to change than a website. As I mentioned in the last tip, your ad needs to effectively communicate what the visitor can expect on the landing page. This idea is all about relevance.
LinkedIn ads specifically let you use images as part of your advertising, which is a boon to your communication efforts given the old adage that a picture is worth 1,000 words.
The screenshot above is from a few ads on my LinkedIn page that are a good example of why using the right image in your ads is important.
Maybe green neckties are somehow relevant to email marketing, but I’m not seeing the connection.
On the other ad, an image of Cornell’s logo and the 12-week certification copy make much more sense to me as a prospect. Granted, the ad also has some room for improvement, but the image and copy work together to set the right expectations.
To learn more, you can watch the free on-demand MarketingExperiments Web clinic replay of “Optimizing PPC Ads.” Also, feel free to share any recommended tips you have for PPC ads in the comments below.
Related Resources:
Social Media: How Motorola Solutions uses Facebook to generate more engagement
Marketing Research Chart: What is the biggest B2B marketing challenge?
Categories: Lead Generation B2B LeadBlog
