Making Every Click Count with Google’s Responsive Search Ads

So, you might have heard that Google Ads has released a brand new guide on Responsive Search Ads (RSA). Or maybe you’ve been living under a rock. Either way, you’re in for a treat, as we dive into the ocean of RSAs! Let’s get started, shall we?

The End of An Era: Goodbye, Expanded Text Ads!

From 30 June 2022, our beloved expanded text ads (ETAs) bid us adieu. They’ll still roam around, but Google is sending pretty strong “move to RSAs” vibes. A kind of relationship status change from “It’s complicated with ETAs” to “In a committed relationship with RSAs.”

Why the Fuss About Responsive Search Ads?

Responsive search ads are like the Swiss Army knives of Google Ads. They’re versatile, adaptable, and, dare we say, pretty damn cool! So, how do they work? You feed the system with multiple headlines and descriptions, and voilà! Google Ads will test and find out which combinations win the hearts of your audience. It’s like digital matchmaking but for ads.

Why We Love RSAa:

If you’re still clinging to those old-school expanded text ads, it’s time to embrace the future. Not convinced yet? Let us dazzle you with a few RSA perks!

Flexibility on Fleek

RSAs strut their stuff by adapting to different device widths. No more second-guessing whether your ad will look good on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. With RSAs, they automatically stretch, shrink, and shimmy their way into your audience’s good books, ensuring your message always gets the spotlight it deserves.

Time is Money, Honey!

Enter the age of smart automation! Just feed Google multiple headlines and descriptions and sit back as the magic happens. Google’s digital wizards (aka algorithms) will play matchmaker, selecting the best combos to dazzle your customers. And the result? More time for you to sip on that fancy latte or, you know, strategise your next business move.

Superior Personalisation

RSAs don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk! They customise according to customer location, giving you a real chance to whisper sweet nothings tailored to each customer’s ear. 

Play the Numbers Game (and Win!)

RSAs are like that friend who never misses a party. They compete in more auctions and match more queries. The mantra? The more, the merrier, right? And guess what? This means your ads could pop up in places you never even thought of before, attracting those clicks and conversions you might’ve been missing out on. Score!

Boosted Performance (Mic Drop Moment)

Finally, the real showstopper: improved performance! RSAs have this awesome ability to learn from their experiences, optimising over time for better results. Think of them as the self-improving robots of the advertising world, ensuring better clickthrough rates and, fingers crossed, more conversions for you.“But Why Fix What Isn’t Broken?”, You Ask

So, why did Google move from Expanded Text Ads to RSAs as the default? A couple of reasons:

Google’s Love Affair with Machine Learning

Google’s trust in machine learning is kind of like our faith in coffee on a Monday morning. Google believes that machine learning can amp up campaign performance when it comes to flexibility, those sweet clicks, and conversions. What’s more, is that machine learning and AI will only get better over time!

Consumer Behaviour: The Ever-Changing Tide

You know how people changed their minds about those bell-bottom jeans in the ’70s? Similarly, consumer needs and preferences are always evolving, especially in our post-pandemic world. RSAs allow advertisers to adapt swiftly to market fluctuations without crafting a brand-new static ad for every mood swing the market throws at them.

Simpler, Streamlined Account Management

Google’s not just thinking about themselves; they’re thinking about us, especially the newbies in the advertising world. By nudging more advertisers towards RSAs, their machine-learning tools get more data toys to play with. This helps in churning out better performance recommendations and provides a smoother account management ride.

Responsive Search Ads (RSAs) vs. Expanded Text Ads (ETAs): A A Delicious Showdown!

Remember those good old days when ordering pizza was straightforward? ETAs are like that – your classic Margherita. Tasty, reliable, you know exactly what you’re biting into every single time. Now, in comes RSA, like that gourmet joint down the street that lets you mix and match 15 toppings and gives you 4 different cheese options. Every bite? A surprise!

Introduced in 2018, RSAs came strutting onto the scene, claiming their space on Google’s menu. They’re the digital equivalent of a ‘Chef’s Special’ pizza. Google’s oven (a.k.a. machine learning) tosses and tests multiple combinations of headlines and descriptions, ensuring each served slice (or ad) tantalises those taste buds (clicks and conversions). It’s like nature’s survival of the fittest, but for ads. Hungry yet?

Stirring the Sauce

So, how do these two tasty treats compare? ETAs, tried and true, are those manual text ads where you get three headlines, two descriptions, and a crispy display URL. They’ve been a favourite for businesses, delivering delectable click-through rates and conversions. They’re like your trusty pepperoni slice.

RSAs, on the other hand, are the innovators, the game-changers. They automatically serve up the best headline and description combos, offering a set of up to 15 headlines and 4 descriptions supplied by the advertiser. They’re dynamic, they’re unpredictable, and Google’s A/B testing on steroids. They’re like that experimental BBQ chicken and pineapple slice (Don’t knock it till you try it!).

But here’s the extra cheese on the pizza: with RSAs, you can ‘pin’ specific headlines and descriptions. It’s like ensuring that your favourite topping (say, olives?) always ends up on your slice.

The Doughy Details

While RSAs may sometimes outbid ETAs in broader auctions (like that rich dude at a pizza auction… if that was a thing), making them a tad more expensive, they come with their own set of perks. RSAs’ ability to quickly and smartly test a plethora of content variations is like having a pizza buffet at your disposal. You can quickly figure out which slices (ads) aren’t getting gobbled up (clicked on) and adjust your toppings (content) accordingly.

So, it’s not about which is the supreme pizza, but how you use them in tandem to create the ultimate pizza party (ad strategy). 

Unleash Your Google Ads Potential With First Page

Navigating the ever-changing world of digital advertising requires marketers and businesses to adapt or risk falling behind. For example, Expanded Text Ads (ETAs) had their moment, but now, thanks to Google’s cool machine learning skills, Responsive Search Ads (RSAs) bring the potential for real-time ad makeovers. This can lead to more clicks and conversions – and, yes, more money in your pocket.

But hey, tackling these dynamic ad formats can be a bit like mastering a new dance routine…daunting, right? Enter First Page! Our Google Ads agency has got the moves to navigate these changes and make your business shine in the spotlight. 

While ETAs are tried and tested, RSAs combined with human creativity and optimisation can deliver potentially better results. And with an expert marketing team like ours backing you up, your business will be in a great position to succeed. 

Contact us today – you might find your best-performing ad yet!