When to Use Google Ads in 2025 for Best Results

When to use Google Ads in 2025 is one of the most important questions every business owner and marketer should consider. With digital competition growing rapidly, knowing the right time to launch campaigns can determine whether you maximize ROI or waste your budget. 

For beginners, understanding when and how to leverage Google Ads helps ensure that every click counts toward real business growth. Let’s explore the details in the following article with On Digitals.

Quick Overview Google Ads for Beginners

Google Ads is known as Google’s advertising platform, allowing businesses to display their products or services right when users search for related keywords. It operates on a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) model—meaning you only pay when someone clicks on your ad.

For beginners in 2025, Google Ads is an effective tool to quickly reach customers that you should include in your marketing strategy.

Key Formats Of Google Ads You Must Know

Your marketing strategy will likely have multiple goals, so it’s important to choose the right campaign type and ad format that works best for you.

 

Overview of Google Ads Types

Here are 9 popular ad formats you need to know when entering this ecosystem:

• Search Ads: Text-based ads that appear on Google search results when users enter specific keywords. Perfect for capturing high-intent traffic.
• Display Ads: Visual ads (images or banners) shown across Google’s Display Network of websites and apps. Best for increasing brand awareness.
• Video Ads (YouTube Ads): Engaging video ads that run before, during, or after YouTube videos. Ideal for storytelling and product demos.
• Shopping Ads: The one that showcases your product image, price, and store details directly in Google Search. Perfect for eCommerce businesses.
• App Campaigns: Ads designed to promote mobile apps across Google Search, Play Store, YouTube, and Display Network. Helps drive downloads and engagement.
• Local Ads: Ads that highlight your physical store location, driving visits from nearby customers. Great for local businesses.Smart Campaigns: Simplified, automated campaigns tailored for beginners and small businesses with limited time or resources.
• Discovery Ads:Visual, personalized ads that appear in YouTube, Gmail, and the Discover feed. Great for reaching new audiences.
• Performance Max (PMax) Campaigns: AI-powered campaigns that run across all Google channels (Search, Display, YouTube, Maps, Gmail). Best for maximizing reach with automation.

For beginners in 2025, understanding when to use Google Ads is all about starting simple. Begin with Search Ads and Smart Campaigns, then gradually expand to Display, Video, or Performance Max once you feel more confident. 

This step-by-step approach helps you learn faster while still driving results. Next, let’s look at some benefits of Google Ads and why it should play a key role in your marketing strategy.

Benefits Of Google Ads For Your Marketing Campaign

Investing in Google Ads is undeniably a crucial step in any successful marketing strategy. The platform delivers unique benefits that are hard to match, making it an indispensable tool for achieving digital growth. To fully realize its value, it’s important to understand when to use Google Ads for maximum impact. 

Here are the concise advantages that highlight why you should prioritize Google Ads:

• Reach the right one at the right time

Google Ads harnesses the power of Search Intent. You connect with users who are actively searching for your product or service at that exact moment, leading to much higher conversion potential than passive advertising. 

 

Connect with the right audience íntantly

Through precise keyword and audience targeting, you eliminate wasted spend and ensure your message only reaches highly qualified leads. By understanding when to use Google Ads, your business is instantly available at the exact moment customers need it most.

• Full Control Of Your Budget

The platform gives you complete budgetary control. You are never locked into a minimum spend and can start or stop campaigns instantly. The Pay-Per-Click (PPC) model means you only pay when a user clicks on your ad, ensuring a cost-effective return on investment. 

Furthermore, advanced bidding strategies allow for granular optimization, giving you the power to maximize conversions while maintaining strict control over your spending limits.

• Fast and Measurable Results

Forget waiting months for visibility; Google Ads delivers instant traffic and leads within minutes after ad approval. Crucially, every aspect is perfectly measurable, and knowing when to use Google Ads ensures those results drive real business growth.

The platform’s robust analytics track everything from clicks and impressions to Conversion Rate and ROAS. These clear, actionable metrics enable rapid, data-driven optimization, allowing you to identify underperformers and adjust campaigns for immediate improvement.

• Flexible Ad Formats For Every Goals

Google Ads provides a versatile toolkit of ad formats to suit any marketing objective. You can use Search Ads for direct intent capture, Display Ads for broad visual awareness and retargeting, or Video Ads (YouTube) for impactful storytelling. 

For e-commerce, Shopping Ads display products directly in results. This flexibility ensures that whether you aim for sales, branding, or app downloads, there is an effective format to meet your goal.

• Boost Overall Marketing Strategy

Google Ads operates as a synergistic tool. Data generated from your paid campaigns (like high-converting keywords) directly informs and accelerates your SEO strategy. More importantly, knowing when to use Google Ads allows you to combine these insights with market intelligence on consumer behavior and competitor activity, strengthening all your marketing decisions.

 

Turn Google Ads results into real growth

By utilizing Google Ads, you establish a solid Brand Presence, protecting your searches and maximizing your overall digital market share

These benefits prove that Google Ads is an essential tool for business growth in 2025. To fully leverage its power, you must understand the right timing and stages within your campaigns, knowing exactly when to use Google Ads will help you invest smarter and achieve maximum performance.

When To Use Google Ads In 2025?

Identifying the right when to use Google Ads is an important step to maximize your budget and achieve effective results in your campaigns. 

You don’t always need to advertise, but at specific business stages or key moments, Google Ads can become the leverage that helps you quickly reach customers.

• Product or Service Launch: 

The launch of a new product or service is when you need to build awareness quickly. A startup releasing a fitness app wants downloads in the first week, running App Campaigns across Google Play, YouTube, and Display.

 

Promote your new product with Google Ads

• Seasonal Campaigns or Promotions: 

Special events, promotions, or peak shopping seasons are also crucial times to start running ads. Here, you can use Search Ads or Shopping Ads to directly address users’ instant buying needs.

• Growth and Expansion Stage: 

Once your business is stable and you want to expand or reach new audiences, consider applying Performance Max Campaigns to run across multiple channels, boosting your overall reach.

• Competitive Market: 

It’s not always about timing, but about the industry you’re in. If your business operates in a highly competitive market, this is exactly when to consider Google Ads, because your competitors are very likely using it too.

• Testing and Optimization Stage: 

For projects with smaller budgets, you can still run ads to test whether a new product or idea will be well-received. Smart Campaigns are a smart choice here to measure customer interest efficiently.

In conclusion, when to use Google Ads depends on your business stage and campaign goals. If you choose the right moment, you’ll optimize costs and quickly achieve the results you want.

How To Get Started For Beginners: Step by Step

After understanding the key when to use Google Ads in 2025, you’re almost ready to start running your own advertising campaigns.
Below are the specific steps to set up your first basic marketing campaign:

Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account

Of course, you’ll need an account to access Google Ads before setting up any campaign. It’s simple, you just need a Gmail account to register and fill in your business details.

Step 2: Define Your Campaign Goal

You must choose the right goal for your campaign, whether it’s Website Traffic, Online Sales, or Leads, to determine the most suitable ad format.

Best recommended ad formats for each goal:

• App Promotion: App Campaigns
• Website Traffic: Search Ads
• E-Commerce Sales: Shopping Ads
• Brand Awareness: Display Ads or Video Ads

Step 3: Select the Right Campaign Type

Pick the campaign type that best matches your goal and your level of experience so you can manage it effectively and achieve strong performance.

 

Pick the best ad type for your goal 

• For beginners, it’s recommended to start with Search Ads (text ads that appear on Google Search) or Smart Campaigns (automated campaigns that Google optimizes for you).
• As you gain confidence, you can explore more advanced formats like Display Ads, Shopping Ads, or Performance Max.

Step 4: Set Your Budget & Bidding Strategy 

The next step is to set your budget on a daily or monthly basis. For beginners, a good starting point is usually $5–10 per day. You can always adjust later based on results.

Tip: Start small, test, then scale up once you know which ads work best.

Bidding Strategies for Beginners:

• Maximize Clicks → good for driving traffic.
• Maximize Conversions → better when you want leads or sales.

Based on statistics from WordStream, Google Ads costs in 2025 depend on factors such as your industry, competition, and chosen keywords. On average:

 

Budget wisely, bid smarter on Google Ads (Source: WordStream)

• Search Ads: Around $1 –  $5 per click in most industries.
• Smart Campaigns: flexible, usually good for small businesses with lower daily budgets.

Step 5: Choose Keyword and Targeting

Use the Keyword Planner tool to research relevant keywords your customers are searching for. Once you have a keyword list, define your target audience by location, language, or device.For example, a café shop in Hanoi uses the keyword “coffee shop near me” and sets targeting to a 5 km radius around the shop.

 

Aim right to optimize your ad targeting

• Tip: Start with long-tail keywords (more specific phrases) to reduce cost and attract higher-quality traffic.

Step 6: Set Up Tracking And Launch

Before going live, set up conversion tracking with tools like Google Tag Manager or Google Analytics. This allows you to measure key actions such as purchases, sign-ups, or app installs.

• Note: Without tracking, you can’t know which ads are working, so this step is critical.

Step 7: Testing, Optimize and Scale

Once your campaign is live, don’t simply let it run on autopilot. Continuously test different elements such as headlines, ad copy, and keywords to see what resonates best with your audience. Use the data to optimize targeting, adjust bids, and refine your creatives for better performance. 

When you identify campaigns that deliver a positive ROI, scale them gradually by increasing the budget, ensuring steady growth without overspending.

By following these seven steps, beginners can confidently set up and run their first Google Ads campaign in 2025. From creating an account to testing and scaling, each stage builds the foundation for smarter advertising decisions. Once you understand the basics and know when to use Google Ads, you’ll be ready to maximize its potential.

FAQ: When to Use Google Ads in 2025 for Best Results

1. When should I use Google Ads in 2025 for the best results?

You should use Google Ads when launching a new product, running seasonal promotions, testing ideas, or competing in a crowded market. Knowing when to use Google Ads ensures you maximize ROI.

2. How much does Google Ads cost in 2025?

Google Ads cost depends on industry and competition. On average, Search Ads range around $1 – $5 per click. Smart Campaigns offer flexible budgets for beginners.

3. What is the best Google Ads campaign type for beginners?

For beginners in 2025, start simple with Search Ads for website traffic or Smart Campaigns for automated optimization. As you grow, explore Display Ads, Shopping Ads, or Performance Max.

4. How do I choose the right keywords and targeting in Google Ads?

Use the Keyword Planner to find terms your customers are searching for. Then target by location, device, and language. For example, a café in Hanoi might target “coffee shop near me” with a 5km radius.

5. Why is tracking and optimization important in Google Ads?

Without tracking, you can’t know which ads are performing. In 2025, setting up conversion tracking and continuously optimizing campaigns is critical. This ensures every click contributes to real growth.

 

Data-driven optimization for better result 

Your Google Ads Journey with On Digitals

Understanding when to use Google Ads in 2025 is the key to running effective campaigns and maximizing your marketing ROI. From product launches and seasonal promotions to testing and scaling, the right timing and ad format will help businesses capture valuable opportunities, control costs, and achieve sustainable growth.

At On Digitals, we specialize in helping businesses unlock the full potential of Google Ads. Whether you are a beginner starting with Smart Campaigns or an established brand scaling with Performance Max, our team provides tailored strategies, keyword targeting, and budget optimization to ensure every click counts. Partner with On Digitals to transform your Google Ads campaigns into measurable business success.