Step-by-Step: How to Run an AdWords Campaign (Part 1)

AdWords is Google's advertising platform that assists companies in directing more traffic to their websites through hot words.

The tool is a pay-per-click strategy, so it can also be cost-efficient for businesses looking to increase their customer appeal.

However, AdWords can be a tricky process, especially for beginners, so here's a step-by-step breakdown of how to run an AdWords campaign:

Step 1: Set Up an Account

Get ready, you're about to embark on your first AdWords experience. To begin, you must set up an account by visiting adwords.google.com.

Click "Start Now" and follow the steps to create your company's profile. Once you've finished adding in all the necessary information, it's time to begin your campaign.

Click the "Create your first campaign" option.

Step 2: Choose Campaign Type and Name

Campaigns are a compilation of ad groups that share a budget, target and location; they also are a way to organize offered goods and services.

This step asks you to choose the kind of campaign you're looking to run, so that Google can display the appropriate tools for your goals and get rid of features you won't need.

In addition, selecting the type determines where customers see your ads. The options are:

• Search Network with Display Select
• Search Network only
• Display Network only
• Shopping
• Video

Each choice is showcased in a different way through Google's websites and partners like YouTube. For new advertisers, Google recommended "Search Network with Display Select" or "Search Network Only," according to Entrepreneur.

A "Standard" subtype is also suggested for beginning users. This step also allows you to choose a name for your campaign that describes the theme of your company's strategy.

Step 3: Pick Your Settings

This action is extremely important to your AdWords campaign as it deals with some of the more vital details of your strategy, including geographic locations, your budget and your bidding methods.

First, select the region you want to target your ads to: states, cities, countries, wherever you'd like your campaign to be seen. Choose your language based on your location, as well.

That way, visitors from around the world can see what your business has to offer, even if guests don't know English.

Picking a variety of languages will allow your AdWords campaign to be translated into different dialects for people who selected that language.

Next, it's time to set your campaign's budget and bid strategy. The daily budget is the largest amount Google can charge your business each day, so make sure it's a price your company can actually pay should your company hit the limit.

Opt to manually set your bids. This option allows you to govern how you pay for the interaction of users with your ads.

You can also set a default bid, which is the highest amount you'll pay per click for your ads.

Remember: You can change these settings at any time.

Step 4: Include Ad Extensions

This is an optional step, at this point, but it's a helpful one. Ad extensions allow your company to distribute more information with your ads, including your business's phone number and location.

Step 5: Develop Your First Ad Group

Now that you've completed all the minute details of your campaign, you'll begin composing your initial ad group - consisting of bids, ads and shared targeted keywords.

Every campaign will have multiple ad groups, which allows your company to pair relevant ads when someone searches a keyword. Create different ad groups for the different products and services you offer.

The next step is to write your company's first ad. Tune in next week to learn about ad writing and the rest of the AdWords process!