This infographics by Wordstream clearly shows all pros and cons of Facebook ads and Google AdWords:
http://www.wordstream.com/articles/facebook-vs-google-display-network
Generally, Facebook sessions last much longer than a normal Google search session, which would make Facebook preferred for building brand awareness or sending a specific message. Also, the social network allows advertisers some unique targeting options (e.g. creating a message specifically crafted for certain groups of fans).
As for Google, it is the better choice for display advertising because it has superior CPC performance, advanced ad targeting options, and (which is the most important point) an huge array of ad formats that Facebook can't boast of.
Ideally, you should try both and discover which is better for your product and niche.
http://www.wordstream.com/articles/facebook-vs-google-display-network
Generally, Facebook sessions last much longer than a normal Google search session, which would make Facebook preferred for building brand awareness or sending a specific message. Also, the social network allows advertisers some unique targeting options (e.g. creating a message specifically crafted for certain groups of fans).
As for Google, it is the better choice for display advertising because it has superior CPC performance, advanced ad targeting options, and (which is the most important point) an huge array of ad formats that Facebook can't boast of.
Ideally, you should try both and discover which is better for your product and niche.
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matt.chatterley
- Original Poster
- #10
Stupid answer: "Sometimes they convert better, sometimes they convert worse."
Proper answer: Which is best? It depends on what you're trying to sell and who - and as fisicx observed above, the only way to do that is to measure the ROI - you might get a lot of likes/shares/comments, but did you sell product(s) to those people you've engaged with?
Ditto for Adwords - lots of hits, fabulous - but how many sales as a result?
FB ads are really, really good for advertising things on Facebook (e.g. Pages) in particular - and are a powerful tool to help you boost your following there, but I've not found them to surpass Adwords in terms of directly selling a product/service. Always interesting to hear other views, though!
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seoswat
- Original Poster
- #11
It depends what you are wanting to get out of it.
If its actually sending someone straight to a moneypage then Adwords.
If its for generating a lead, maybe email address and name, then both are very competitive when your niche is one of the few that facebook have a lot of filtering abilities on for inital setup.
My advice, add a third option and try Bing
If its actually sending someone straight to a moneypage then Adwords.
If its for generating a lead, maybe email address and name, then both are very competitive when your niche is one of the few that facebook have a lot of filtering abilities on for inital setup.
My advice, add a third option and try Bing
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Am finding Adwords converting at a better rate and cost per conversion in most instances, but the rates vary based on type of product, supporting campaigns and more.
However, Bing has consistently outperformed Google on cost per conversion, keeping in mind the available pool of clicks is much less. Higher conversion rates, lower CPC and cheaper cost per conversion make it worth a test or two.
However, Bing has consistently outperformed Google on cost per conversion, keeping in mind the available pool of clicks is much less. Higher conversion rates, lower CPC and cheaper cost per conversion make it worth a test or two.
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The only problem with Bing is that there is hardly any traffic, I'm talking about the UK. I believe Google has over 83% of the search market in the UK. I've run campaigns on Bing and though they are cheaper on the CPC, there is not much traffic (targeted) which I need.
Just my experience with Bing.
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Watfordleaflets
- Original Poster
- #15
I used to use adwords back in the day... Now we are Facebook advertisers all the way, Adwords seem to punish users for not breaking any rules, Also there "customer service" is awful. I am not saying Facebook have brilliant support, but adwords are very poor. I have been in a hold&redirect phonecall for hours with adwords...
Facebook are introducing very smart ways to target new customers, remember 99.9% of people have a Facebook account, BUT Not all of them use Google, So Facebook has a wider customer range if i am not right?
Never the less, Be very careful with Facebook as the ads you run may empty your bank unless you set it up correctly
Facebook are introducing very smart ways to target new customers, remember 99.9% of people have a Facebook account, BUT Not all of them use Google, So Facebook has a wider customer range if i am not right?
Never the less, Be very careful with Facebook as the ads you run may empty your bank unless you set it up correctly
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I agree.
I have run both Facebook and Adwords campaigns, and have had a mixed response with both. We had a few leads from both platforms, but so far none of them evolved into a project (only started using both last month).
Facebook is much cheaper and I can see how if you're a B2C business, then it would work brilliantly. We got a fair few likes and people talking about our page, but no concrete business from it.
Adwords, we had a phone call over the month we ran the campaign for, but it was pretty costly for the key words we went for. Still trying to close out the lead at the moment.
With Facebook I do like how specific you can get with the targeting, I just think the downside is that you don't know how in "business mode" the user is going to be when they see your ad. Typically people are on Facebook to chat to friends or be nosy and see what their friends have been up to!
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Spot on, thats what I tell people you don't know where people are in the 'buying cycle'; i.e. researching, comparing, evaluating, ready to buy etc.
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Thanks!
Yeah, at least with Adwords, you know the user is actually looking for what you offer.
Once you get the click the next battle is optimising your landing page or website to make sure it converts. We do a fair bit of testing on our site to see what works and what doesn't.
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Michael Nguyen
- Original Poster
- #21
No right or wrong answer. Test the market and see what you get back. Marketing is part science part art. We do marketing for IT support and anyone that searches on Google for services is a motivated searcher compared to a user on Facebook that is browsing. Different audiences require different approaches.
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The way I look at it is this: if this was the pre-internet days, how would you be selling?
If you'd have had a shop, or advertising in the yellow pages, then Adwords is probably a better fit.
If you'd have been using direct mail or B2B telemarketing, then Facebook ads are probably better for you.
Steve
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Billmccallum
- Original Poster
- #25
Personally, I think much hype is given to campaigns and not to the business proposition.
Your site looks like it has less than 40 products available, all of which seem over-priced.
An optics rack can be bought for less than £15; Coors light glasses from 99p.
It may mean that all the targeted advertising in the world won't result in sales.
Your site looks like it has less than 40 products available, all of which seem over-priced.
An optics rack can be bought for less than £15; Coors light glasses from 99p.
It may mean that all the targeted advertising in the world won't result in sales.
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With my first business I was using primarily Google Adwords to drive leads and it worked really well. It was a high ticket service and so I could afford to spend quite a lot to acquire a customer and the leads produced by Adwords were targeted.
I find Facebook Ads work well if you can really dial in who your customer is. The amount of demographic information available is impressive but you need to know who to market to.
I find Facebook Ads work well if you can really dial in who your customer is. The amount of demographic information available is impressive but you need to know who to market to.
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As mentioned above - it all depends on who you are selling to.
Either way... you have to put your nose to the grind and focus on one, once you decide.
You'll also need to have at least a few hundred pounds that you can afford to lose.
It will take some trial and error until you find the right combination.
Either way... you have to put your nose to the grind and focus on one, once you decide.
You'll also need to have at least a few hundred pounds that you can afford to lose.
It will take some trial and error until you find the right combination.
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Facebook is less costly for a reason. People do not go on Facebook to buy, they go there to moan or brag about where they are currently on holiday.
People use Google to search for products that they want to buy.
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