What are Google Ads extensions?
Google Ads extensions are additional content that appears in search results in real-time ad positions.
It helps you provide more useful information to customers, and improve the experience and quality of advertising, thereby attracting more potential customers.
How do Google Ads extensions work?
Google Ads extensions are additional features available for free. You can use it for all ads that appear on search results in an account, campaign, or ad group.
However, Google Ads extensions don’t always appear when your ad is displayed to viewers. This depends on Google’s algorithm and impressions are influenced by many factors such as the ad’s position, other ads on the page, past performance of the extension in the past, …
How many Google Ads extensions are there?
Google Ads offers a total of 19 ad extensions, including 8 dynamic extensions and 11 other types that are manually set up.
With manual extensions, you need to take some time to set up and customize as you like. Meanwhile, dynamic extensions are automatically created by Google’s algorithm using a lot of data and information from your account and website.
11 most used Google Ads extensions today
- Sitelink extensions
- Callout extensions
- Structured snippet extensions
- Image extensions
- Call extensions
- Lead form extensions
- Location extensions
- Affiliate location extensions
- Price extensions
- App extensions
- Promotion extensions
Below is information about 11 manual Google Ads extensions you can refer to and use.
1. Sitelink extensions
Sitelink extensions are one of the most popular Google Ads extensions. It allows you to display additional links under ads on search results. You can think of this widget as a mini version of an ad because it resembles an ad headline with additional information.
Sitelink extensions provide 4 blank fields for you to fill in information.
- The first part is the Sitelink text so viewers know what content they can click on.
- The second and third parts are short description lines of about 25 characters, allowing you to add context to the link.
- Finally, add the URL to the final URL section to link to the desired website.
Who should use Sitelink extensions?
- People who want to increase the click-through rate (CTR) of their ads.
- People who want to drive traffic to their website.
- People who have different PPC goals, but still want to use Sitelink extensions to increase brand awareness and compete with competitors in search results.
- Those who have additional landing pages on their website that they want to direct visitors to such as an About page, contact page or “Testimonial” page.
How to use Sitelink extensions effectively
To apply Sitelink for advertising, you need to set up at least two Sitelink extensions at the same time, with an even number such as 2, 4,…
To avoid having your ads disapproved, you need to make sure your Sitelinks all point to the same domains. Just like in every Google Ads campaign, make sure your Sitelink extensions contain as many relevant keywords as possible.
2. Callout extensions
Callout extensions are chosen by many people because of their simplicity and appeal. It is the brief introductory text (maximum 25 characters) that appears after the ad description.
On search results, Callout extensions show up as meta descriptions. This extension makes it possible to add additional text that you may have previously had room to add, allowing you to “call out” information that you may not have previously mentioned such as BBB A+ Rated or Family Owned & Operated.
Who should use Callout extensions?
Callout extensions are suitable for all businesses, regardless of your business goals. It helps optimize your ads on search results pages and helps your ads show up for more keywords, thereby improving your ad rankings.
How to use Callout extensions effectively
Callout extensions should not be repeated too much. Since it appears immediately after the ad’s description, using the same content twice can make viewers feel bored and unengaged.
3. Structured snippet extensions
Structured snippet extensions are similar to Callout extensions, but the difference is that they provide a list or directory of the services you have available.
Structured snippet extensions appear right next to the ad description and viewers won’t see any difference.
To use this extension, you just need to select the language and category in the Header section. The sample text will automatically appear before the Structured snippet list you selected. You can then add up to 10 values, each with up to 25 characters.
Who should use Structured snippet extensions?
While you can adapt Structured snippet extensions to suit most businesses, it is often used by advertisers looking to promote the most popular products or services, due to the built-in headers. according to the sample.
Some types of Structured snippet extensions today include:
- Amenities
- Brands
- Courses
- Degree programs
- Destinations
- Featured hotels
- Insurance coverage
- Models
- Neighborhoods
- Service Catalog
- Shows
- Styles
- Types
How to use Structured snippet extensions effectively
Structured snippets need to clearly demonstrate what you offer.
4. Image extensions
Image extensions are used to display images below the ad. These images have a 1×1 square format and a maximum size of 5120KB.
Who should use Image extensions?
Businesses that provide visual products or services and meet Google’s conditions below can use Image extensions:
- The account has been open for at least 90 days.
- Comply well with Google policies.
- Have active campaigns for at least 1 month.
- The account is not in a sensitive industry category such as pornography, gambling, alcohol or healthcare.
How to use Image extensions effectively
To create attractive Image extensions, you need to keep in mind the following tips:
- Make sure images meet Google Ads quality standards.
- Avoid using business logos or other elaborate graphics.
- Images must be clear, without overlays of logos, text or blurred, poorly cropped, gifs.
Your images must be relevant and intuitive to attract the viewer’s attention.
Let’s refer to some more articles about image optimization that you may be interested in:
📌 How to optimize quality website images
📌 Image SEO: 19 techniques to get to TOP Google quickly
📌 How to distribute images in new and more effective formats
5. Call extensions
Call extensions are created to encourage users to call your business. It will add the phone number you selected to the ad.
For mobile ads, Call extensions will show below the ad.
As for the desktop version, it will appear next to the display URL.
Thanks to Call extensions, viewers can easily recognize the phone number and call your business directly without clicking on the landing page.
Who should use Call extensions?
Even if your business doesn’t rely heavily on calls, you should still use Call extensions. This will help add more elements to your ads, create higher-quality ads, and increase viewer engagement.
How to use Call extensions effectively
Call promotion has many benefits, but you need to be ready to handle incoming calls so you don’t miss any calls. However, you don’t need to worry too much because there is a system in place to monitor and answer any calls you receive from Call extensions.
6. Lead form extensions
Lead form extensions help you increase conversions effectively. Users can fill out the form directly on the ad, without having to click on the landing page.
However, to use this extension, you need to take steps such as accepting Google’s Terms of Service, setting up questions, creating notifications for completed forms, choosing a call to action ( Call to action) and how to track and/export the leads you receive.
Who should use Lead form extensions?
All businesses want to attract potential customers or collect information from users.
How to use Lead form extensions effectively
To take advantage of Lead form extensions effectively, you should:
- Take the time to set it up exactly how you want it from the start.
- Limit the number of fields in the form to as few as possible to avoid user abandonment.
- Have a CRM ready to export forms and track leads.
7. Location extensions
Location extensions show the address below the ad copy. You can’t enter addresses yourself, you have to choose from locations that are synced to your account from the business information in your settings.
Who should use Location extensions?
Location extensions are suitable for anyone who wants to increase traffic to their business. Whether or not you operate in a specific location, you can still display your business location to add a local “touch” to your ads.
How to use Location extensions effectively
Regularly check Location extensions to ensure your address is always up to date and accurate with corresponding ads. If you use location-specific targeting, periodically check to make sure Location extensions apply to your ads.
8. Affiliate location extensions
Google Ads offers Affiliate location extensions for multi-location or franchise marketing purposes. This extension allows you to choose from a list of retailers or car dealerships worldwide to attach to your ad. When viewers see your ad, Affiliate location extensions will show the location of the retail or auto chain store closest to them.
Who should use Affiliate location extensions?
Affiliate location extensions are suitable for large retailers or agents.
How to use Affiliate location extensions effectively
When using Affiliate location extensions, choose chains that you actually work with. This ensures that you always have products available in the chain at all locations.
Let’s refer to some more articles about Google Ads that you may be interested in:
📌 Summary of Google Ads metrics to pay attention to
📌 3 tips to optimize Google Adwords quality score
📌 4 types of keyword matching in Google Ads and how to use them
9. Price extensions
Google Ads price extensions focus on products and deals, allowing you to list specific items with prices and descriptions. You can use templates available from Google such as product type, currency, and pricing set. When you select these options, you can list the product name, description, price, and URL. At each setup, you can add up to 8 Price extensions.
Who should use Price extensions?
Businesses that want to list prices on items such as service packages, events, products, locations (for real estate marketing), etc. can take advantage of Price extensions. The templates that Google provides for this utility are very flexible and diverse.
How to use Price extensions effectively
To use Price extensions effectively, check regularly to avoid seasonal discounts that may expire or be inaccurate in the future.
10. App extensions
App extensions help drive app downloads under your ads. To use this utility, your application must be available on iOS or Android. You can then select that app as an extension option to show under the ad.
Who should use App extensions?
App extensions are only suitable for businesses that have applications.
How to use App extensions effectively
App extensions should be used in Search campaigns to complement your app campaigns. This helps increase the chances of app downloads across many types of Google Ads campaigns.
11. Promotion extensions
Promotion extensions are perfect for promoting limited-time offers or discounts. Similar to Price extensions, you can choose a sample of promotion types, promotion details, and currency. Then you just need to fill in the advertised item description, and URL, and choose whether to have a start and end date or run the extension indefinitely.
Who should use Promotion extensions?
Everyone who runs advertising can use Promotion extensions because they provide many options to match many different types of offers, promotions, and discounts.
How to use Promotion extensions effectively
You should take advantage of the start and end date options for short-term deals, which will help avoid forgetting to reset the price when the promotion ends. Additionally, you can choose to use price extensions or structured snippets if you need them instead.
Let’s refer to some more articles about Ads:
📌 What are Instagram Ads? How to create the most effective Instagram ads
📌 What are Native Ads? How to use it effectively for businesses
📌 How to quickly link Google Ads with Google Analytics
Google Ad extensions automatically
If you want to save time testing and managing PPC ads, you can choose to use automated Google Ad extensions because they require little supervision.
You cannot edit Google Ad extensions automatically. Google will create it based on information from the landing page, ad impression queries, historical data business settings, etc.
To enable or disable automatic Google Ad extensions, click “Automatic extensions” from the initial extensions page. Then, click on the three dots at the top right and select “Advanced Settings”.
On the next screen that appears, you can enable or disable automatic extensions individually.
The list of automatic Google Ad extensions is:
- Dynamic site links.
- Dynamic callouts.
- Dynamic structured snippets.
- Automated app extensions.
- Automated location extensions.
- Dynamic image extensions.
- Longer ad headlines.
- Seller ratings.
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Conclusion
Hopefully, the information about Google Ads extensions shared above will help you create effective ads and reach many potential customers. Don’t forget to follow Vietnix’s blog to update more useful articles about Google Ads.