Paid Ads
Ad Rank
Google's formula that decides where your ad shows up.
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The Tradie Take
It's not just the biggest spender who wins. Google checks: is your ad actually relevant, do people click it, and is your landing page any good? Think of it like a quote - the tradie who shows up on time, explains the job clearly, and charges fairly gets the work, even if they're not the cheapest.
Definition
Ad Rank is Google's system for deciding which ads appear first in search results. It's not just about who pays the most. Google looks at your bid, the quality of your ad, and how relevant it is to what someone searched. A well-written ad with a lower bid can outrank a sloppy ad with a big budget.
How It Works
- 1 When someone searches, Google runs an auction in milliseconds
- 2 Your Ad Rank = Your bid x Quality Score (relevance + click-through rate + landing page)
- 3 The highest-ranking ads get the best positions, lowest cost-per-click
- 4 If your ad is irrelevant, you'll pay more and rank lower - even with a big budget
Tips for Tradies
- Match your ad copy to what people actually search for - don't be vague
- Send people to the exact page that matches your ad, not just your homepage
- Work on your click-through rate - if people don't click, your rank drops