Google Ads (formerly called Google Adwords) is a digital advertising platform where businesses can bid money on relevant keywords to display advertisements for their products and services on online channels. The online advertisements appear as sponsored results on Google search engine result pages or display ads on websites and mobile apps in Google’s Network. The platform assigns each ad a page position based on the bid's size combined with the advertisement’s quality (determined by Google’s Quality Score metric). The business then pays via a Cost Per Click (CPC) model for the number of clicks the ad receives. Within the Google Ads platform, businesses can view their online ads' metrics and performance, set goals for their advertising efforts, and set audience targeting parameters.

Google Ads can work well for small businesses when optimizing keywords and targeting relevant online audiences. Since millions of consumers use Google every day to search for products and services, advertising through Google Ads can be a great way for a business to get in front of consumers searching for similar offerings. The success of Google Ads for a small business often depends on the nature of the products and services, the keywords the business chooses to bid on, and their methods for targeting the right customers online. Google Ads is a good fit for small businesses that operate primarily or entirely online, businesses with a high customer lifetime value (LTV), and businesses that can benefit from targeting their customers geographically or by online search interest.

With the right advertising strategy, Google Ads can be very successful in helping a brand get its products and services in front of more consumers online. The success of Google Ads often depends on a business’ strategy for targeting the right audience and the quality of its ad content. Google Ads are more likely to be successful for businesses that conduct keyword research to optimize their bids on relevant keywords that they can rank highly for within their budget; and those that produce high-quality ad content, including graphics and landing pages that offer real value to their audiences.