Google Ad Grants can give your marketing and fundraising a superb boost. This program was designed to help nonprofits spread the word about their most important content and effectively reach larger pools of donors, volunteers, and advocates for their local events. Here’s what you need to know if your nonprofit wants to get started with Google Ad Grants.
What is Google Ad Grants?
Fundraising is one of the most important aspects of any non-profit organization. That’s why Google Ad Grants provides an incredible opportunity to promote your fundraiser and get your message out to wider audiences. With a Google Ad Grant, you can gain access to up to $10,000 per month in free search engine advertising on Google Ads (formerly known as Google AdWords).
According to data from Google, Google Ad Grants has given over $9 billion in free advertising to over 115,000 nonprofits in more than 50 countries since 2003.
Through this program, you can reach new potential donors and volunteers who are looking to make a difference.
How does Google Ad Grants work?
With Google Ad Grants, nonprofits can set up targeted campaigns that will be displayed on the top of search results pages when people search-relevant keywords. This program also allows organizations to track their campaigns and adjust their budgets according to performance.
Your organization can use Google Ad Grants to promote specific fundraisers, highlight volunteer opportunities, or even drive traffic to your website and social media platforms. You’ll be able to target users based on location and other demographics for the most effective results.
Who is eligible for Google Ad Grants?
The Google Ad Grant eligibility varies between countries. Be sure to do your research on the guidelines in your specific country before taking the time to apply. In the United States, nonprofits must be registered as a 501(c)(3) in order to qualify for the program.
You must also have an active website and be willing to comply with all Google Ad Grant program guidelines. As long as you maintain this status, the $10,000 Google Ads donation will renew each month for your non-profit.
How to get started with Google Ad Grants
If your non-profit organization is interested in taking advantage of Google Ad Grants, the first step is to get signed up for Google For Nonprofits. Once you have done that, you can start the Google Ad Grant application process. Applications take two to four weeks to process, so it’s best to get started as soon as possible. Make sure to read all of the eligibility criteria and follow all instructions carefully.
What is involved in the Google Ad Grants application?
The application process is fairly straightforward. You will need to submit a brief description of your organization, the URL for your main website, and a short statement outlining how you plan to use the grant to promote your fundraising event or other causes that are important to your organization.
Once you have submitted the application form and it has been reviewed, Google will then review your website to determine if it meets their eligibility criteria. If your nonprofit is approved, you’ll receive a welcome email that provides instructions for setting up and activating your Google Ad Grants account.
Through this account, you can track your campaigns, adjust budgets, and create targeted ads to reach potential donors and volunteers.
7 tips to help you get the most out of Google Ad Grants
If you follow these tips, you should get the most out of your Google Ad Grant account and maximize its potential. Good luck!
1. Set up a promotion strategy for Google Ad Grants
Once your ad grant account is approved, it’s time to start crafting your promotion strategy. You can use the grant to target potential donors, volunteers, or advocates with relevant messages and ads.
Make sure to take advantage of all the features available through Google Ads such as keyword research and display targeting. Utilize remarketing lists, geo-targeting, ad extensions, and other tactics to ensure your ads are seen by the right people at the right time.
2. Create well-crafted ads
Create well-crafted ads that link to specific web pages or landing pages. Make sure to use appropriate keywords and phrases so that your ads appear in the right search results. Also, be sure to include a call-to-action (CTA) that captures attention. Keep your sentences short, non-repetitive, and compelling.
3. Use Google Analytics tools to track Google Ad Grants success
One of the great features of Google Ad Grants is that it comes with access to Google Analytics. This will help you monitor your campaign performance and track metrics such as impressions, clicks, conversions, page views, and time spent on your website.
By tracking these metrics over time, you can identify trends and make changes to your promotion strategy in order to get the most out of your Ad Grants account.
4. Diversify your advertising efforts
Don’t forget to spread the word about your fundraiser. Use traditional advertising tactics such as press releases, social media, email marketing, and local events to get the word out and make sure people know about your cause.
Google Ad Grants is a great resource for advertising your nonprofit fundraiser, but it shouldn’t be your only source! Remember, you can always supplement your Google Ad Grants with paid Google ads to help boost traffic.
5. Keep your content fresh
As your fundraiser continues, don’t forget to update your ads. This will help keep them relevant and effective and will increase clicks and traffic. Make sure to check in on your account regularly and adjust your ad campaigns as needed.
6. Optimize your ads for mobile devices
As mentioned earlier, mobile devices are more important than ever when it comes to online advertising. Make sure your ads are optimized for different types of phones and tablets.
To do this, use smaller text sizes and shorter ad copy, that is easier to read on small screens. By optimizing your ad campaigns for mobile, you’ll be able to reach more people and increase the effectiveness of your Google Ad Grants account.
7. Make your website a priority
Finally, remember that Google Ad Grants is ultimately a way to drive traffic to your website. Make sure it’s optimized for mobile devices and up-to-date with the latest information about your fundraiser.
Keep in mind that people are more likely to click on ads if they lead to relevant content and an easy-to-navigate website. Make sure visitors can quickly find what they’re looking for and take action, whether that’s donating, signing up to volunteer, buying a ticket to your event, or simply learning more about your cause.
By following these tips, you should be able to maximize the effectiveness of Google Ad Grants. But before you start gathering interest in your non-profit fundraising event, you need powerful software in place to sell tickets, collect donations, and keep everything organized. Contact MaxGiving today to start your free demo and see how we can help you make the most of your Google Ad Grants!