In today’s competitive digital landscape, small businesses need a smart advertising strategy to stand out. Google Ads offers an effective way to reach potential customers actively searching for your products or services. But how do you set it up correctly when you’re new or working with a tight budget?

The first step is creating a Google Ads account. Once inside, choose your campaign goal—most small businesses benefit from “Leads” or “Website Traffic” as their main objectives. Selecting the right goal will help Google optimize your ads for results that matter to you.

Next, define your target audience. You can focus by location, age, gender, device type, and even household income. For small local businesses, geo-targeting within a 5-10 km radius often works best.

Set a daily budget that aligns with your goals. It’s okay to start small—even $5/day can yield data that helps you optimize over time. Choose the right keywords using Google’s Keyword Planner tool, focusing on long-tail keywords like “best pizza shop near me” or “affordable plumber in Chicago.”

Finally, write compelling ad copy that clearly communicates your offer and includes a strong call-to-action (e.g., “Call Now,” “Book Online Today”). Link to a relevant landing page that matches the ad’s message. And always install conversion tracking—this lets you know what’s working.

With just a few steps, even the smallest business can start appearing in front of the right people at the right time.