How to Run Social Media Ads in Google Ads For Free (Almost)

If you’re considering running social media ads, platforms like Google Ads offer powerful tools to reach your audience effectively. In this blog, we’ll explore how to publish ads on Google Ads and even get up to $500 in free advertising credits to kickstart your campaigns.

First of all, it’s essential to outline the type of ads to display, its duration, and the desired outcomes. This initial step lays the foundation for the campaign strategy. Once we’ve established clear goals and set a budget, we can then determine the optimal duration for running ads. This strategic approach ensures that our advertising efforts align with objectives and yield the desired results.

After that, let’s understand how to get $500 credit as a first-time user.

• Head to Google Ads: Sign up for a Google Ads account (it’s free!).
• Set Up Your Campaign: Choose your advertising goals (website traffic, leads, sales, etc.) and target your ideal audience.
• Activate Your Budget: Here’s the key – set a daily or campaign budget that fits your comfort zone. Google will then track your spending.
• Spend & Earn: Once you’ve spent your allocated budget (within the validity period, typically 30 days), Google will credit your account with a $500 bonus (check the “Promotions” tab to see if the code has been applied).

Technically you invest $500, and Google rewards you with an additional $500 to continue running your ads. It’s a good way to test the ads performance and metrics.

I’ve mentioned earlier that setting budget has two options, daily and campaign budget. It determines how much you’re willing to spend per day or your entire campaign. Here’s a breakdown:

• Daily Budget: This sets a maximum amount you’re willing to spend each day. Google Ads will (ideally) not exceed this amount, ensuring predictable costs.
• Campaign Budget: This sets a total amount you’re willing to spend for the entire duration of your campaign. Google Ads will pace your spending throughout the campaign to reach your budget by the end date.

As there is no one-size-fits-all answer to setting your budget. It depends on several factors:

• Campaign Goals: Are you aiming for brand awareness or immediate sales? Brand awareness campaigns can function with smaller budgets, while conversion-focused campaigns might require more investment.
• Industry Standards: Research average advertising costs in your industry to get a baseline.
• Target Audience: A broader audience might necessitate a larger budget to reach a significant segment.
• Bidding Strategy: How much are you willing to pay for each click? Higher bids often require a larger budget.

Once the budgeting is set, regularly monitor your campaign performance and adjust the budget or other options when needed. Here are some tips:

• Track Your Click-Through Rate (CTR) and Conversion Rate and ROI: These metrics show how effectively your ads convert clicks into leads or sales. Optimize your budget based on these results. And always calculate your return on investment (revenue generated vs. ad spend) to see if your campaign is profitable.
• Utilize Google Ads’ Recommendations: The platform offers suggestions based on your campaign data, potentially helping you refine your budget allocation.
• Start Small, Scale Smart: Begin with a conservative budget and gradually increase it as you gain confidence and optimize your campaigns.
• Monitor Performance: Identify which keywords, ad creatives, and targeting options are driving the best results and allocate more budget to those areas.
• Use Bidding Strategies: Take advantage of Google Ads bidding strategies such as manual CPC (cost-per-click), automated bidding, or target CPA (cost-per-acquisition) to optimize your budget and maximize conversions.

In addition to managing your campaign budget effectively, there are opportunities to run Google Ads for free and gain access to advertising credits. Below are the existing opportunities that you can take advantage of.

1. Google Ads Promotions: Google occasionally offers promotions that provide free advertising credits to new advertisers or existing users. Keep an eye out for these promotions and take advantage of them when available.
2. Google Ad Grants: If you’re a nonprofit organization, you may be eligible for Google Ad Grants, which provide free advertising credits to promote your cause on Google Ads. Apply for Google Ad Grants and unlock up to $10,000 USD in monthly ad spend to raise awareness for your organization’s mission.
3. Partner Programs: Explore partnerships with Google or other organizations that offer incentives or free advertising credits as part of their programs. By collaborating with strategic partners, you may gain access to additional resources to support your advertising efforts.

By understanding Google Ads budget settings and utilizing strategic optimization, you can ensure your campaigns are financially sustainable and deliver the desired return on investment. Worth noting that the initial $500 credit might not be entirely free, but it can be a valuable springboard for launching your Google Ads journey.

As always if your social media ads need some refinement, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to guide you through.

Some resources to look into:

• Google Ads Skillshop: https://skillshop.withgoogle.com/
• Google Ads Bid Simulator: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2470105?hl=en

Azjargal (Azaa) Gankhuyag

Azjargal (Azaa) Gankhuyag is the founder of ByteCode Digital Marketing Agency. With expertise in data-driven strategies and authentic storytelling, she helps startups and sustainability-focused brands grow through impactful digital marketing.