How Do I Create a Responsive Ad on Google?
Short Answer: To create a responsive ad on Google, begin by setting up a campaign without using the goals guidance. Choose the campaign type as “search,” then review and select from your existing conversion actions before continuing.
Full Explanation
Creating a responsive ad on Google starts with initiating a new campaign where you bypass the typical goals guidance system. This approach gives you more control over the campaign settings tailored to your specific needs. Next, within the campaign creation process, select “search” as your campaign type. This is essential because it defines the nature of your ads and how they will appear in Google’s search results.
After choosing the search campaign type, the system will prompt you to review all the existing conversion types you have set up. These conversions represent specific actions users take that are valuable to your business, such as submitting a lead form or making a call. These conversion actions are typically preconfigured—as shown in previous examples where CallRail was set up to track phone calls or where a lead form submission was tracked through a thank you page on your website.
Once you select the appropriate conversions to focus on, you proceed by clicking continue, moving to the next stage of your ad creation.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Start by creating a new campaign without using goals guidance. This ensures you set up the campaign manually.
- Select “search” as your campaign type, which optimizes your ad placement for Google search results.
- Review your available conversion actions, which you have previously configured (such as CallRail phone call tracking or lead form completions tracked via thank you pages).
- Select the relevant conversion goals that you want to track for your campaign.
- Click “continue” to proceed to the next steps in building your responsive ad.
Real Examples
In prior setups, conversion tracking was established through tools such as CallRail for phone calls and through lead forms on websites that direct users to a thank you page. These conversion actions are crucial because when creating responsive ads, the selected conversions guide Google Ads in optimizing the campaign for the outcome you desire.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to create a campaign by relying solely on goals guidance, which might limit customization.
- Not selecting the correct campaign type, such as missing out on choosing “search,” which is necessary for responsive search ads.
- Ignoring previously set up conversion actions, leading to poorly tracked or unoptimized campaigns.
FAQs
Q: Why should I avoid using goals guidance when creating a responsive ad?
A: Avoiding goals guidance lets you manually select campaign settings like conversion actions, giving you finer control over your search campaign’s structure and tracking.
Q: What are conversion actions?
A: Conversion actions are specific behaviors you track to measure the success of your ad campaigns, such as form submissions or phone calls, which you may have already set up using tools like CallRail or thanks pages on your website.
Key Takeaways
- Always start with a campaign creation process that allows you to customize without goals guidance.
- Select the “search” campaign type for responsive search ads.
- Use your preconfigured conversion actions to guide ad optimization and accurate performance tracking.
- Click continue after selecting conversions to move forward smoothly in your ad setup.