If you’re thinking about investing in some pay per click advertising, but you’re not sure if you should start with Google AdWords or Facebook Ads, then this is for you!

We can help you get it all sorted out so you’re on your way to a solid plan by the end of this blog post!

As it turns out, Google AdWords and Facebook Ads are both good, but for different things. It all depends on what you intend to do with your ad. So, the first thing you need to do is establish your goals. They’ll help you determine what the best fit will be since even though there are many similarities between the two, the web audience for Google AdWords and Facebook Ads behave differently.

But before we get into how they’re different, let’s talk about how they’re alike.

Google AdWords and Facebook: more alike than unalike

Both advertising platforms share some basic things in common. Both have massive audiences and both offer self-service pay-per-click advertising. They’ve also got free marketing tools like Google Places and Facebook Pages.  But perhaps the best thing about both of them is that they each allow you to run highly targeted ads to very specific folks based on geographic location and other demographic data that they’ve collected about their users. However, as similar as they are, they work differently.

What’s your goal?

Having a well thought out goal for your ad is super important. If you’re heading into it with a shot in the dark approach saying, “I’ll just pick one and give it a try” it’s probably not going to work the way you want it to. So, ask yourself if you’re wanting to build brand awareness or if you’re hoping to get more visits to your website.

The answer to that question will determine if you should go with Google AdWords or Facebook Ads.

When to use Facebook Ads

Let’s say your goal is to build brand awareness or to get a specific message out to a certain group. Facebook Ads are your best choice here because these ads are highly targeted to folks who may be interested in what you’re offering at some point. Facebook users are generally there to catch up with friends and look at cute kitty pictures. Nobody is really looking to buy something right then and there when they’re on Facebook. This means that fewer people are going to click on your ad since they’re on Facebook for another purpose. With Facebook Ads, the demand is created by the ad. Think of it as planting a seed. Just as it takes time for a seed to grow, it may take time to see results this way. But as people develop a need for what you have, they’ll think of you because they saw your ad.

When to use Google AdWords

With Google AdWords on the other hand, the demand is already there—the seed has already been planted and the consumer is searching for what you’re offering. This means that more people are going to click through to your site and possibly purchase something because you came up in a search at the exact time they were looking for you. Google AdWords can capture their intent right away and send them over to your site. So, if you’re trying to get some traffic, this is a good choice.

What’s easier to use?

We tend to think that Facebook has the advantage on this one since more people are accustomed to Facebook’s user interface. Google AdWords can be overwhelming because of all the fancy features and functions, so if you find yourself crying in the corner after trying to do this yourself, you can always call us. Nobody’s going to think you’re silly for needing the help because it can be tough to navigate this stuff!

The short version

If your goal is to get some business quickly, then Google AdWords is the way to go. If establishing brand awareness and visibility is what you want, then go with Facebook. Of course, nobody says you can’t choose both!  That would be ideal, but if you’d prefer to be conservative for now and just dip your toe into the waters a little bit, use your goals as your guide and see what happens. You can always try your other option later.