Google Adwords – Advertising Handmade with Google

The handmade seller behind Etsy’s OnARoll and this informative blog, recently blogged about her experience with Etsy advertising.

“I’ve been trying to figure out better ways to advertise my Etsy shop online,” she wrote.  “Project Wonderful has beenquite good, but I thought it was time to try Google AdWords.”

According to Google, Google AdWords allows advertisers to create and run ads for their business in a quick, easy, and simple way.  Google promises that “matter what your budget, you’ll only pay when people click your ads.”

AdWords ads are displayed along with search results when someone searches Google using one of your keywords.  This makes it easy for advertisers to advertise to an audience that’s already interested in a seller’s handmade items.

In addition, advertisers can choose to display ads on content sites, i.e. blogs and websites, in the growing Google Network.  This is a great way to advertise to potential buyers using contextual targeting.  For example, if a potential buyer is reading a blog post about how to find vintage, they may see a Google ad about your vintage Etsy shop.

The seller behind OnARoll explains why she likes the idea of Google ads.  “It’s a small text ad on the right side bar and you pick the keywords that will trigger your ad being shown. You “bid” on the space and pay per click – more popular search terms like “iPod” come with a hefty price per click. I’ve limited my campaign to 5 cents per click and $1 a day to start.”

The Etsy seller says that her first ad didn’t seem to be working at all.  “Then I figured out it was active but not approved yet,” she wrote.  “My best guess is that I shouldn’t have used “iPod” in the ad. So I reworded it with “MP3 player” instead, and that one was approved right away. I also have an ad directed at people searching for coffee cup cozies.”

The Etsy seller from OnARoll noted that the tracking tools offered by Google are a little confusing at first.  “They seem to update at different times,” she wrote.  “It seems that my billing summary is the most accurate about current clicks.”

The seller included an image of her tracking snap shot:

Before advertising, Google recommends sellers look at the Google Keywords Tool.  The Google Keyword Tool is explained in this previous HandmadeMarketing.org article.  By researching the top keywords for your handmade shop, creating Google ads will become much easier and have more effect.

This seller agrees.  “I’m going to work on refining my keywords and trying out different wording in the ads, but I’m pretty pleased so far,” she wrotes.  “I’m not sure how to figure out exactly how many (if any) sales I’m getting from it though. I figure that if my sales seem to increase, especially if I get an increase in customers who signed up to Etsy the day they ordered, it must be working.”

For more information on utilizing Google for your handmade business, have a look at the articles below:

Google AdWords – Top Keywords For Your Shop

Google Analytics – How To Use The Data

Handmade Shop Advertising – Google Adsense

Do you utilize Google’s tools to help increase sales at your online shop?  What web tools do you use for your craft business?  Have you advertised with Google before?  Was it effective?

Share your thoughts with HandmadeMarketing.org!  Tell us what you think of advertising with Google by clicking on our “Join” tab at the top of the page.  If we publish your tips, we’ll link to your shop, blog, or website as the source.