Hello I'm Joe O'Donnell

Why Choose Search Engine Advertising?

Google and Bing process about 14.6 billion searches per day. Google Ads and Bing Ads allow advertisers to show ads in Google and Bing search results pages (SERPs). As you can probably imagine, advertising in SERPs can be extremely effective.

• Intent-Driven: Google and Bing users are searching with intent. This means that when they see your ad they are already looking for the product or service that you are advertising. Consequently, search engine ads often have a very high conversion rate and a low cost per conversion compared to other forms of advertising.
• Cost Efficiency: Google Ads and Bing Ads use a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) pricing model. This means exactly what it sounds like - you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. If no one clicks on your ad, you are not charged a penny! As a result, PPC advertising is an extremely cost-efficient method for acquiring new business.
• Lookalike Audiences: Lookalike Audiences is a targeting option offered by Google Ads and Bing Ads whereby advertisers target users with similar characteristics and behaviours to their existing customer base. Lookalike audiences is useful because it helps to expand your reach without compromising on quality.
• Remarketing: Remarketing (or retargeting) is a targeting option offered by Google Ads and Bing Ads that targets people who have previously visited your website. By doing this, you ensure that you are targeting users that are already familiar with your brand with messaging that encourages them to take an action that they did not complete on their last visit (for example, completing a purchase or submitting a contact form).
• Demographic Targeting: Google Ads and Bing Ads offer a wide variety of targeting options that are unavailable in traditional forms of marketing. For example, you can target users based on location, age, gender, parental status, household income, education, employment status, home ownership, marital status and much more.
• Measurable Results: Search engine advertising allows advertisers to accurately track how much revenue their ads are generating whereas with traditional forms of advertising such as TV, radio and print, it is a guessing game.
• Speed and Flexibility: You can launch, pause and tweak campaigns in real-time - try asking a magazine to update your ad once it's already been printed!

What Sort of Businesses Benefit the Most from Search Engine Advertising?

In general, if people are actively searching for what you sell - whether it's "emergency AC repair" or "best yoga classes online" - then search engine advertising is perfect for your business!

Local Service Businesses: Local services like plumbers, electricians, and dentists use ads to appear at the top of search results when people need them most (e.g. searches like "plumber near me" or "electrician near me").

E-Commerce Businesses: E-commerce brands benefit from search engine advertising by targeting people actively searching for specific products. This helps drive immediate sales and capture high-intent traffic.

Private Healthcare: When looking for private healthcare, people's first port of call is usually a search engine. Users will search things like: "private dentist near me", "chiropractor near me", "trt near me", etc., and search engine advertising is an excellent way of ensuring that your practice maintains visibility on high intent searches such as these.

Professional Services: Accountants, law firms, and real estate agents benefit from reaching local prospects actively looking for professional help. Ads build credibility and drive consultations or inquiries.

Finance and Insurance Services: Financial advisors, banks, and insurers can promote tailored offers to people researching financial help or insurance. Ads build trust and improve the conversion rate of enquiries.

Travel and Hospitality: Hotels, travel agencies, and tours use search ads to capture travellers planning trips. Ads highlight special offers, amenities, and experiences to boost bookings.

Food and Beverage: Food and beverage businesses like restaurants and cafes can use Google Maps ads to promote their location to people nearby who are actively searching for places to eat. This local targeting helps drive foot traffic and boosts real-time conversions when customers are ready to dine in or order.

Google Ads vs. Bing Ads

There are some stark differences between advertising on Google and advertising on Bing which may influence your decision as to which platform to advertise on.

Search Volume: Google Ads dominates the search engine market with ~90% of global search traffic, while Bing Ads receives ~4% of global searches. For this reason, Bing sometimes does not have sufficient search volume for businesses with very large budgets.

Affluence and Age: Bing users are more affluent and are also older. Studies indicate that approximately 38% of Bing users have a household income exceeding £75,000, while over 70% are aged 35 or older. This demographic profile can be advantageous for businesses targeting higher-income and/or older audiences.

Advertising Cost: The Cost Per Click (CPC) on Google is higher than on Bing which often means a better Return On Investment (ROI). According to studies, Bing Ads CPCs are approximately 33% lower than Google's on average. This is because there are more advertisers on Google which drives the price of advertising up. Additionally, less competition means your ads will show in a higher percentage of searches offering greater visibility.

B2B (Business-To-Business) Targeting: Bing is often the default browser on most work-related desktop computers. Consequently, Bing Ads often outperforms Google Ads for advertisers that are interested in targeting users while they are at work making it perfect for B2B advertisers. Additionally, since Bing and LinkedIn are both owned by Microsoft, Bing Ads integrates with LinkedIn, allowing advertisers to target users based on industry, company, job title, and seniority level. This precision is not available on Google Ads and is invaluable for B2B campaigns aiming to reach specific decision-makers.

Why Choose Meta Ads?

Meta is a conglomerate tech company comprised of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads and has 3 billion daily active users.

Visually Rich Formats: Meta Ads come in an array of visually appealing formats, including videos, carousels, stories, and reels. These formats capture attention, drive engagement and are designed to blend seamlessly into users’ feeds, making ads feel natural while delivering messaging effectively.

Multi-Platform Reach: Meta Ads provide multi-platform reach by allowing businesses to run ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network. This extends their visibility far beyond one platform, tapping into different audiences and placements to maximize exposure. It’s a cost-effective way to unify messaging and reach potential customers wherever they are online.

Lookalike Audiences: Lookalike Audiences is a targeting option offered by Google Ads and Bing Ads whereby advertisers target users with similar characteristics and behaviours to their existing customer base. Lookalike audiences is useful because it helps to expand your reach without compromising on quality.

Remarketing: Remarketing (or retargeting) is a targeting option offered by Google Ads and Bing Ads that targets people who have previously visited your website. By doing this, you ensure that you are targeting users that are already familiar with your brand with messaging that encourages them to take an action that they did not complete on their last visit (for example, completing a purchase or submitting a contact form).

Demographic Targeting: Google Ads and Bing Ads offer a wide variety of targeting options that are unavailable in traditional forms of marketing. For example, you can target users based on location, age, gender, parental status, household income, education, employment status, home ownership, marital status and much more.

Measurable Results: Search engine advertising allows advertisers to accurately track how much revenue their ads are generating whereas with traditional forms of advertising such as TV, radio and print, it is a guessing game.

Speed and Flexibility: You can launch, pause and tweak campaigns in real-time. Try asking a magazine to update your ad once it's already been printed!

What Sort of Businesses Benefit the Most from Meta Ads?

Meta Ads are highly versatile and can benefit most businesses. However, they are especially effective for businesses with high-quality visual assets. If your business sells products or services that inspire people's imaginations then Meta Ads could be perfect for your business!

E-commerce Businesses: Visual ad formats and dynamic product catalogs make Meta ideal for showcasing products, retargeting shoppers, and driving direct sales.

Local Businesses: Local businesses such as salons, gyms and cafés can benefit from hyper-local targeting options.

Events, Entertainment and Hospitality: Whether promoting a concert, hotel, or travel package, Meta’s rich media formats and event tools help businesses engage potential customers and drive conversions.

Real Estate: Leveraging carousel ads to showcase real estate portfolios coupled with local targeting can be highly effective for real estate agents.

Education Providers: Due to the demographics of Meta's user base (particularly Facebook), Meta can be extremely effective in targeting mothers looking for private schools or personal tutors.

Food and Beverage: Food and beverage businesses, like restaurants and cafes, use image and video content to showcase their dishes, highlight seasonal promotions, and attract hungry customers. They also benefit from location-based targeting to reach people nearby who are ready to order or dine in.

Facebook Ads Vs. Instagram Ads

Audience: Facebook Ads reach a broader, older audience (25–65+), making them ideal for diverse demographics and longer-form content like articles and events. Instagram Ads target a younger, visually-driven crowd (18–34), focusing on eye-catching images, short videos, and influencer marketing, which is perfect for e-commerce and brand storytelling.

Content Style: Facebook is ideal for longer-form content like articles, videos, and discussions, making it great for community engagement and sharing detailed information. Instagram, on the other hand, is a visual-first platform that thrives on eye-catching images, short videos, and influencer or lifestyle content, making it perfect for brand storytelling and creating strong visual impact.

Ad Placements: Facebook ads appear in the News Feed, Marketplace, right column on desktop, and across the Facebook Audience Network, offering diverse placement options suited for various ad formats. Instagram ads are shown in immersive, full-screen placements like the Feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore tabs, focusing heavily on visual engagement and mobile-first experiences. These differences affect how ads capture attention, with Facebook providing broader placement diversity and Instagram emphasising highly visual, immersive content.

Use Cases: Facebook ads excel at driving website traffic, generating leads, promoting events, and fostering community engagement, making them versatile for various marketing goals. Instagram ads shine in e-commerce, product showcases, influencer collaborations, and brand awareness through visually compelling storytelling.

Why Choose LinkedIn Ads?

LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform that connects people for career development, job searching, and business networking. LinkedIn Ads are immensely useful because they precisely target professionals and decision-makers, making it ideal for B2B marketing.

Professional Targeting: LinkedIn Ads offer highly specific targeting options based on job title, company name, industry, seniority, skills, and more. This precision is perfect for B2B marketers who want to reach the right decision-makers or professionals within niche industries, ensuring that your advertising budget focuses on the most relevant audience and increasing your chances of success.

High-Quality Leads: LinkedIn users are typically in a professional mindset, making them more likely to engage with business-focused content. Because the platform is designed for networking, sharing insights, and exploring career opportunities, you’re more likely to capture valuable leads that are genuinely interested in your B2B products or services, resulting in higher conversion rates compared to broader social media.

Engaged Professional Audience: With over 900 million members globally, LinkedIn provides access to a highly engaged and professional audience. It’s a hub for business leaders, decision-makers, and influencers, making it the perfect place to promote B2B services or position your company as a thought leader in your industry. The professional context increases credibility and receptivity to business-focused ads.

Diverse Ad Formats: LinkedIn offers multiple ad formats, including Sponsored Content, Sponsored InMail, Text Ads, Dynamic Ads, and Video Ads, giving you flexibility in how you reach your audience. Whether you’re building awareness, generating leads, or driving traffic to your website, you can choose the best format to suit your marketing goals and create engaging campaigns that resonate.

ABM and Niche Targeting: LinkedIn’s advanced Account-Based Marketing (ABM) capabilities and niche targeting options allow you to create highly personalized campaigns. You can tailor your outreach to specific companies or roles, making it easier to reach decision-makers and build strong B2B relationships. This targeted approach reduces wasted ad spend and improves your return on investment.

Thought Leadership: LinkedIn Ads are a great tool for establishing thought leadership and building your professional brand. Share valuable insights, case studies, or expert opinions to position your business as a trusted source of information. This type of content resonates with professionals looking to stay ahead in their field, creating trust and fostering long-term relationships.

Lookalike Audiences: Lookalike audiences are a type of targeting in online advertising where you reach new people who share similar characteristics and behaviours with your existing customers. They’re useful because they help expand your reach to potential customers who are more likely to be interested in your products or services, improving ad efficiency and conversion rates while keeping your targeting precise and relevant.

Remarketing: Remarketing (or retargeting) is an advertising technique that targets people who have previously visited your website or interacted with your content. It’s cost-effective and highly effective for converting these warm audiences because it keeps your brand top of mind and brings them back to complete actions like purchases or sign-ups they didn’t finish on their initial visit.

Demographic Targeting: Online advertising channels (including Google Ads and Bing Ads) offer a wide variety of targeting options that are unavailable in traditional forms of marketing such as newspaper ads and posters. For example, you can target users based on location, age, gender, parental status, household income, education, employment status, home ownership, marital status and much more.

Measurable Results: Online advertising allows advertisers to accurately track how much revenue their ads are generating whereas with traditional forms of advertising such as TV, radio and print it is a guessing game.

Speed and Flexibility: You can launch, pause and tweak campaigns in real-time. Try asking a magazine to update your ad once it's already been printed!

What Sort of Businesses Benefit the Most from LinkedIn Ads?

LinkedIn Ads are particularly effective for B2B businesses aiming to reach decision-makers and generate quality leads.

SaaS Companies and B2B Software Providers: SaaS and B2B software businesses use LinkedIn Ads to reach decision-makers and IT managers who are evaluating software solutions. LinkedIn’s professional context makes it ideal for demonstrating how their platform or tool can solve business challenges.

Professional Services Firms: Professional services firms (e.g. accounting, legal, consulting, etc.) tap into LinkedIn to build trust and showcase thought leadership. Their ads often highlight their expertise in solving complex business problems for corporate clients.

HR and Recruiting Services: HR firms and recruiters use LinkedIn to target HR directors, hiring managers, and talent leaders. They advertise services like executive search, talent acquisition, or workforce solutions.

Corporate Event Organisers: Companies hosting trade shows, conferences, or webinars use LinkedIn to attract professionals within specific industries. They often promote early-bird discounts or highlight top speakers to drive registrations.

B2B E-Commerce: Suppliers and wholesale platforms target purchasing managers and procurement professionals to sell products or services in bulk. LinkedIn’s targeting by company size and industry ensures they reach the right buyers.

Commercial Real Estate: Commercial real estate brokers and property managers use LinkedIn to reach business owners and corporate decision-makers seeking office or industrial spaces. Ads often highlight available properties or lease benefits to attract inquiries.

Why Choose YouTube Ads?

YouTube Ads is a very useful marketing platform as it reaches a vast and engaged audience with powerful video storytelling.

Huge and Diverse Audience: YouTube reaches over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the largest digital platforms globally. This enormous reach means your ads can connect with people from all backgrounds and interests.

Video-First Format: YouTube’s video-first format is perfect for impactful storytelling, whether it’s sharing brand stories, product demos, or emotional narratives. This visual and immersive experience drives better engagement and brand recall than static ads.

Cost-Effective Flexibility: YouTube offers skippable and non-skippable ad formats, giving you control over your budget and how you pay for views. This flexibility makes it cost-effective to reach large or niche audiences without overspending.

Integration With Google Ads: Since YouTube is a part of Google Ads, you get powerful tracking, optimisation tools, and performance data. This makes it easy to refine campaigns and understand exactly what’s working.

Lookalike Audiences: Lookalike audiences are a type of targeting in online advertising where you reach new people who share similar characteristics and behaviours with your existing customers. They’re useful because they help expand your reach to potential customers who are more likely to be interested in your products or services, improving ad efficiency and conversion rates while keeping your targeting precise and relevant.

Remarketing: Remarketing (or retargeting) is an advertising technique that targets people who have previously visited your website or interacted with your content. It’s cost-effective and highly effective for converting these warm audiences because it keeps your brand top of mind and brings them back to complete actions like purchases or sign-ups they didn’t finish on their initial visit.

Demographic Targeting: Online advertising channels (including Google Ads and Bing Ads) offer a wide variety of targeting options that are unavailable in traditional forms of marketing such as newspaper ads and posters. For example, you can target users based on location, age, gender, parental status, household income, education, employment status, home ownership, marital status and much more.

Measurable Results: Online advertising allows advertisers to accurately track how much revenue their ads are generating whereas with traditional forms of advertising such as TV, radio and print it is a guessing game.

Speed and Flexibility: You can launch, pause and tweak campaigns in real-time. Try asking a magazine to update your ad once it's already been printed!

What Sort of Businesses Benefit the Most from YouTube Ads?

YouTube Ads works best for businesses that have strong visuals or storytelling elements. It is an ideal platform for creating brand awareness, visually explaining complex products, and forming emotional connections with viewers.

E-Commerce: E-Commerce businesses (especially beauty, fashion and home goods) can showcase their products through video demos, tutorials and testimonials. YouTube’s visual focus helps build brand trust and encourages impulse buying.

Fitness and Wellness: Businesses promoting workouts or health products can utilise YouTube to demonstrate workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.

SaaS Companies: SaaS companies use YouTube to explain how their software works and highlight key features. This helps demystify complex tech products and improves lead quality.

Online Learning Platforms: Online educational course providers can promote course previews, student testimonials, or free mini-lessons to attract new learners. Video-based learning aligns perfectly with YouTube’s format.

Travel and Tourism: Businesses in the travel and tourism sector can use video ads to highlight stunning scenery, cultural experiences, and travel tips. Immersive visuals inspire people and capture their imagination.

Food and Beverage Brands: Cooking tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos and brand stories are great for engaging foodies. YouTube makes it easy to inspire viewers and build brand loyalty.

Fintechs: Fintechs can use YouTube to break down complicated financial concepts with engaging visuals. This approach builds trust and improves lead quality.