It is no secret that Google is the biggest online advertiser in the world. Termed Google Ads, is an online advertising service provided by Google that can be used by advertisers all around the world to advertise products, services, and much more. These advertisements are displayed on Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, etc. In addition to these platforms, ads can also be displayed on multiple websites run by Google, videos, mobile apps, etc. Advertisers pay for these advertisements through a pay-per-click model. For most businesses, using Google Ads to advertise their product is crucial.
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In today’s busy marketplace, any new starting business has to face severe competition from all around the globe. The rise of globalization has eliminated the barriers that once restricted most businesses to their local areas. Statistics show that nearly 500,000 new businesses open annually in the US alone. This makes it difficult for most businesses to stand out from the crowd and make their mark. As a consequence of this competition, marketing has become a necessary evil to put more eyes on the product. Marketing brings exposure to your business and helps it remain relevant in the public eye. The amount of exposure Google can bring to a brand can’t be denied due to its massive reach.
Types of Google Ads
The following are some ad types you can see on Google and its affiliated sites:
Search ads
These ads are displayed at the top of the search results when using the Google search engine. People encounter these ads based on the type of search they are conducting. These ads are tied to certain keywords, which when searched display ads relevant to the search keywords. These are usually differentiated by the word Ad written next to the URL of the search result.
Gmail ads
As the name suggests, Gmail ads are exclusive to your Gmail account. These ads can be viewed by clicking on the promotions and social tabs of your Gmail account. These ads are usually based on your search and browsing history.
Google Maps ads
Google Maps ads are displayed when searching for certain locations in a local area on Google Maps. For example, searching for a restaurant will display a list of restaurants available in the local area. The top search results mostly constitute ads. Unlike Google Search (where ads are differentiated by the use of the word Ad written next to the URL) Google Map ads are differentiated by the use of a purple ad label. The searched place also appears on your map marked as purple pins.
YouTube ads
These ads are exclusive to the YouTube platform. YouTube ads are displayed mostly before a video is played. These ads could be of varying lengths (from 6-15 seconds or more). These ads can also be displayed during the duration of a video. Ads can also pop up in image form, which occupies the bottom portion of the video player.
Shopping ads
Shopping ads are displayed when the user searches for a certain product. The paid advertisements for the searched products are displayed first, followed by other results. Most of the time these ads are displayed in form of rows featuring multiple items from different vendors.
What are Google Personalized ads?
Google collects a lot of data from a large number of people around the world daily. This data can range from things you have searched for or products you have bought, among others. Google then uses this data to display ads that are relevant to its users. Such ads are personalized ads. Personalized ads are one of the most effective ads in generating sales and attracting new customers. For those not in the know, personalized ads automatically change the content of the ads based on individual activity.
This means that each customer sees the ads which are relevant to their needs. Such ads track the individual’s behavioral data and browsing activity to deliver them a personalized ads experience. Personalized ads display products that were viewed, added to the cart, or purchased by the customer. They are also a great way to bring back customers that might not have completed their purchase due to certain reasons (hesitation, reluctance to try new products, etc.).
How to turn off personalized ads
Some people might not feel comfortable with Google collecting user information without their consent. The good news is that you can turn off Google personalized ads if you don’t want to get bombarded with such ads. If you want to turn off personalized ads, you can do so by following the steps below:
- To do so, you will have to navigate to your Google account page first.
- From here you can access multiple tabs from the sidebar on the left. Click on it and select the Data and Privacy tab.
- Here you will come across Ad settings. Open your Ad settings and select Ad personalization.
- Find Ad personalization is on and simply turn it off. This will give you a prompt warning of the features you might lose by turning it off. Click on turn off to complete the process.
Conclusion
By following the above steps, you can get rid of personalized ads while browsing the internet. Keep in mind that the ads you receive will still be based on certain aspects of your online activity. But you can say goodbye to the constant bombardment of personalized ads by Google.
