What is paid advertising and how does it work?

Paid advertising is a brilliant way of businesses marketing their products or brand. They pay to display adverts for their products or services on websites, social media and more.

What is paid advertising, and how does it work? Google displayed on a laptop.
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What is paid advertising?

Paid advertising is when businesses or individuals pay to promote their products, services, or content on various platforms. It’s a way to reach more people quickly by showing ads to specific audiences, whether through social media, search engines, websites, or even apps.

How it works

In paid advertising, you pay a platform, like Google, Facebook, or Instagram, to show your ad to users. These ads can take many forms, such as banners, videos, or even sponsored posts that appear within someone’s feed. You can choose your audience based on factors like age, location, interests, or behaviours, ensuring your ad reaches the right people.

Most platforms allow you to choose how much you want to spend, often giving you control over your daily budget and total spend. There are usually two main payment methods:

  • Pay-per-click (PPC): You pay each time someone clicks on your ad.
  • Pay-per-impression: You pay based on how many people see your ad (usually in the thousands).

Types of paid advertising

  • Search ads: These are ads that appear at the top of search results on platforms like Google or Bing when users search for specific terms.
  • Social media ads: These ads appear in social media feeds, stories, or sidebars. Popular platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
  • Display ads: Banner ads or videos that appear on various websites and apps.
  • Video ads: Short promotional videos that appear before, during, or after online videos on platforms like YouTube.

Why it’s useful

Paid advertising helps you get your message in front of a large, targeted audience quickly. It can drive traffic to your website, increase brand awareness, and generate sales. When done correctly, it’s a powerful tool to grow your business or online presence.

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