Google Ads Cheat Sheet: Bidding Strategies, Ad Formats & Metrics

Google Ads stands out as one of the most effective and versatile platforms for digital marketers aiming to boost website traffic, capture valuable leads, and drive significant sales growth. Regardless of whether you are just starting out or have years of experience in online advertising, mastering the intricacies of bidding strategies, exploring various ad formats, and tracking critical performance metrics are vital steps for maximizing the success and efficiency of your campaigns.


1. Google Ads Bidding Strategies

Google Ads provides a variety of bidding strategies tailored to your campaign objectives. Selecting the appropriate strategy is crucial to optimizing ad performance and maximizing your return on investment (ROI).

Manual vs. Automated Bidding

  • Manual CPC (Cost-Per-Click) – You set the maximum bid for each click on your ad. Best for advertisers who want full control over spending.
  • Enhanced CPC (ECPC) – Google adjusts your manual bids to increase conversions.

Automated Bidding Strategies (Smart Bidding)

  • Maximize Clicks – Google automatically sets bids to get the most clicks within your budget.
  • Maximize Conversions – Google optimizes bids to get the highest number of conversions.
  • Target CPA (Cost-Per-Acquisition) – Bids are adjusted to achieve a specific cost per conversion.
  • Target ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) – Focuses on maximizing conversion value based on your set ROAS target.
  • Viewable CPM (Cost-Per-Thousand Impressions) – Used for display and video ads where you pay per 1,000 viewable impressions.

2. Google Ads Ad Formats

Choosing the ideal ad format is essential for effectively connecting with your target audience. Google Ads offers a variety of ad types tailored to meet diverse campaign goals.

Search Ads

  • Appear on Google Search results when users search for relevant keywords.
  • Best for businesses looking for high-intent customers.
  • Includes text-only ads with headlines, descriptions, and URLs.

Display Ads

  • Show on Google’s Display Network (websites, apps, YouTube).
  • Visually appealing image-based ads to drive brand awareness.

Shopping Ads

  • Ideal for eCommerce businesses selling products.
  • Includes product images, price, and store name in search results.

Video Ads

  • Play on YouTube before, during, or after videos.
  • Can be skippable, non-skippable, or bumper ads (short 6-second ads).

Performance Max (PMax) Ads

  • Automated ads that use AI to optimize performance across Google’s ad inventory (Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Discover).

App Promotion Ads

  1. Designed to drive app installs and engagement across Google’s networks.

3. Google Ads Key Metrics to Track

Tracking the appropriate metrics is crucial for optimizing ad performance and maximizing ROI.

Performance Metrics

  • CTR (Click-Through Rate) – Percentage of users who click on your ad after seeing it. A high CTR indicates ad relevance.
  • Impressions – Number of times your ad appears in search results or on the display network.
  • Quality Score – A score (1-10) based on expected CTR, ad relevance, and landing page experience. Higher scores lead to lower costs.

Conversion Metrics

  • Conversion Rate – Percentage of users who complete a desired action (purchase, signup, etc.).
  • Cost-Per-Conversion (CPA) – The average amount spent to acquire a conversion.
  • ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) – Revenue generated for every dollar spent on ads.

Engagement & Visibility Metrics

  • Ad Rank – Determines where your ad appears on Google Search. Higher bids and better quality scores improve ranking.
  • Viewability Rate – Percentage of your display or video ad that was visible on a user’s screen.
  • Bounce Rate – The percentage of users who leave your site without interacting. A high bounce rate may indicate a poor landing page experience.

Final Tips for Google Ads Success

Achieving success with Google Ads demands ongoing testing and refinement. By mastering bidding strategies, exploring various ad formats, and analyzing performance metrics, you can enhance your campaigns and drive superior results.

✅ Choose a bidding strategy aligned with your campaign goal.
✅ Optimize ad copy and landing pages to improve Quality Score.
✅ Use A/B testing to compare different ad variations.
✅ Track key metrics and adjust bids based on performance.
✅ Leverage remarketing to re-engage previous visitors.


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