Starting with Google Ads can feel scary, it is a big step. Choosing the right kind of campaign, however, is the biggest secret to success. If you want sales, one tool is best. If you just want people to know your name, you need a different tool. The main idea is growth for your business. To grow, you must pick the campaign that matches your goal.
We are going to break down all 9 essential google advertising types. We will explain exactly what each type does. We will also tell you why your business needs it. Understanding the different google advertising types is super important. It helps you stop wasting money. Each of the google advertising types helps you reach different customers. You hit them at different times. Let’s look at the power of the 9 google advertising types.
Google advertising types are the road to online sales. Knowing all google advertising types is a huge advantage. There are many google advertising types out there. We will simplify them. This guide to the google advertising types will save you time.
How Many Types of Google Ads Are There?
Many people ask, how many types of google ads campaigns exist? Google shows about seven main types. But for a full plan, most smart people use nine approaches. This count includes special ads for local shops and for new users.
Before you choose one of the google advertising types, you need a clear goal. Google Ads always works around your business objective. It is not just about getting clicks. It is about getting the best clicks. You must choose the right tool for the job you need to do.
Here are the main types of google ads objectives to consider:
- Sales and Leads: You want someone to buy now. That is the goal. It also means getting people to fill out a contact form. This objective only focuses on real purchases and sign-ups.
- Website Traffic: The goal is just to send many visitors to your website. This helps future customers see your brand. It starts the buying process (Consideration).
- Awareness: The objective is to make sure tons of people see your brand name. This is key if your company or product is new.
We picked the top nine most effective google advertising types today. We discuss the confusion around 8 types of google ads by adding two popular specialized campaign types.
Types of Google Ads with Examples
When people talk about google advertising types, they talk about two things. What does the ad look like? Where does the ad show up? This section gives you a simple look at all 9 essential google advertising types. We give clear examples. We are covering more than the usual 8 types of google ads. We include Local and Smart campaigns.
1. Search Campaigns (Simple Text Ads)
- What it is: These are text-only ads. They show up at the very top of Google search results. They look like normal results. But they have a small “Ad” label.
- When they appear: They show when someone types a specific word or phrase. This is called a keyword.
- Why use it: Search is perfect for people who are ready to buy now. They are looking for a quick fix.
- Example: A user searches for “best non-stick frying pan reviews.”
2. Display Campaigns (Visual Banners)
- What it is: These are image ads. We call them banner ads. They show up on many websites that are partners with Google. They can be still images or maybe moving text.
- When they appear: They show up based on what a user has looked up recently. They also use age and location data.
- Why use it: Display is great for reminding people who left your website (retargeting). It grabs their attention early in the buying journey.
3. Shopping Campaigns (Product Listings)
- What it is: These ads show a picture of your product. They show the price and store name. You see them in a row right at the top of search results.
- Why use it: They are necessary for any business that sells products online (e-commerce). They let customers see the product clearly before clicking. This gives you better leads.
4. Video Campaigns (YouTube Ads)
- What it is: These are video ads. They play on YouTube. They also play on other Google video sites. Formats include short ads you can skip and bumper ads.
- Why use it: Video campaigns make your brand come alive. They are great for telling your company story. They boost awareness with visual contact.
5. App Campaigns (Install Focus)
- What it is: These campaigns are only for one purpose. They want people to install a mobile app. Or they want them to act inside the app.
- Why use it: The system puts the ad everywhere. This includes Google Search, YouTube, Display, and Google Play. It works hard to get the maximum number of installs.
- Example: Running an ad for a new finance app to get people to sign up.
6. Performance Max (PMax)
- What it is: PMax is the most automated of the google advertising types. Google’s smart system (AI) runs it. You tell it your goals. You give it images and text. The system handles everything else.
- Why use it: PMax works to maximize conversions. It puts ads across all Google channels. This includes Search, YouTube, and Gmail. It finds your best customers instantly.
7. Demand Gen Campaigns (Visual Prospecting)
- What it is: These are new visual ads. They are the next step after the old Discovery Ads. They look engaging, like a social media post.
- Where they appear: They show up on YouTube Shorts. They also appear on the YouTube Feed, Gmail, and the Google Discovery Feed. This includes short and long video content.
- Why use it: Demand Gen is great for finding new people who are scrolling through feeds. It creates interest early in the customer journey. This is a core one of the google advertising types.
8. Local Campaigns
- What it is: These google advertising types are only for businesses with a physical shop. They also work for service businesses within an area.
- Why use it: The focus is on getting customers to visit the store. The ads show your address, hours, and directions on Google Maps and Search.
9. Smart Campaigns
- What it is: This is the easiest of the google advertising types. It is made for small businesses. It is perfect for beginners.
- Why use it: You only set your budget. You give very little info.Google does almost all the management for you. This makes starting ads very simple.
You can see these 9 google advertising types cover every step a customer takes. Knowing all google advertising types helps your budget. People often confuse the 8 types of google ads, but these 9 are the full list.
| Campaign Type | Best For | Ad Format | Key Benefit |
| Search | Immediate Sales & Leads | Text Ads | Captures people ready to purchase. |
| Display | Awareness & Retargeting | Banners, Images | Shows your ad across many websites. |
| Shopping | E-commerce Sales | Product Photos & Prices | High sales rates for products. |
| Video | Brand Storytelling | Video Ads | Very high visual engagement (YouTube). |
| App | Mobile App Downloads | Automated Assets | Drives app installs quickly. |
| Performance Max | Maximizing Conversions (All Channels) | Fully Automated | AI finds the best customers for you. |
| Demand Gen | Visual Prospecting | Immersive Images/Videos | Reaches people scrolling socially. |
| Local | Driving Store Visits | Location Info on Maps | Brings people to your physical door. |
| Smart | Beginners & Simplicity | Simplified, Automated Text Ads | Easiest management for small budgets. |
Types of Google Ads Objectives
It is smart to understand the types of google ads objectives. The campaign you pick must match exactly what you want your business to do. If you pick the wrong one, you will just waste your money. Picking the right one of the google advertising types is the real secret.
For example, if you just want people to know your brand, use Display or Video. These ads are built to show your brand to many people. Using Search for awareness is a bad idea. Search costs more. It finds people already looking for a solution.
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job:
- Immediate Sales: Use Search and Shopping Campaigns. These find people actively looking for what you sell. If sales are your goal, you should also test Performance Max heavily.
- Brand Awareness: Use Display and Video. These are made to increase visibility. Use them across Google’s huge network. Demand Gen campaigns are also key for visual awareness.
- App Downloads: Use App Campaigns only. This is the only one of the google advertising types built just for this job.
- In-Store Visits: Use Local Campaigns. These make sure to show maps, phone numbers, and directions to nearby customers.
You must match the goal to the tool; you must know these google advertising types.
Google Ads Campaign Types
If you plan your google ads campaign types 2025 strategy, remember one thing. Automation is king. The future of google advertising types will rely heavily on Google’s smart systems (AI). These systems will handle bidding and ad placement for you.
Performance Max is growing fast, which proves the trend. PMax is made to get you the most money from conversions. It is taking over many older types. For example, Local Ads mostly run through PMax and Search now. So, while we list 9 separate google advertising types, the technology is moving to one core system run by AI.
Demand Gen campaigns are also important. They replaced Discovery campaigns. By adding YouTube Shorts video, Google is trying to get the social media ad money. This means you need to make great creatives. You need engaging videos and images. The AI uses these assets best. The change means you must focus less on manual bid changes. You must focus more on giving the AI excellent content. The future of google advertising types will rely on AI. Understanding these Google advertising types helps you plan ahead.
Bringing It All Together
We have looked at the 9 powerful google advertising types available. Success is not just about having money. It is about choosing the right one of the google advertising types. Start small. Pick one of the google advertising types that matches your biggest need. Need sales now? Use Search. Testing is the true way to success. We covered all the major google advertising types and their objectives. Mastering these google advertising types is the first step to big digital growth.
Ready to Master Google Ads?
Do you want to start running campaigns that earn money? Enroll in the complete PW Skills Digital Marketing course here you will get real, hands-on experience. You will learn to create and manage all major google advertising types. Learn how to divide your budget and learn creative skills that drive real results. Transform your skills today also become a certified digital marketing expert now.
The main goal is to drive specific business outcomes like sales, leads, website traffic, or brand awareness. You can run campaigns across 9 essential types, including Search, Display, Video, Shopping, and Performance Max. Keywords are words or phrases used to match search ads with the terms people type when they search online. Yes, Google Ads can be highly effective for small businesses due to flexible budgets and measurable results. FAQs
What is the main goal of Google Ads?
How many types of Google Ads campaigns can I run?
What are Google Ads keywords used for?
Are Google Ads worth the money for a small business?
