Google is one of the most powerful platforms for advertising your business, but with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. In this article, I’m going to walk you through three main ways to advertise your business on Google, break down the differences, and help you decide which method is right for you. One of these methods has become increasingly expensive, another is now nearly impossible, and the third generates the best quality leads I’ve ever seen.
Let’s dive in.
How Google Has Evolved
Google was once a search engine dedicated to finding websites. However, over the past two decades, it has evolved into a search engine for content. This shift means that SEO for your website alone is no longer enough to get you to the top of Google. Now, creating content that ranks highly on both Google and YouTube is the key to success.
YouTube is particularly important because Google owns it. As a result, YouTube videos often appear at the top of Google search results. After you learn some of the strategies I’m about to share, I’ll show you real examples of how content ranks on both Google and YouTube.
1. Paid Google Ads
The first option for advertising on Google is through paid ads. When you pay for ads, your business will appear at the top of Google’s search results, marked as a “sponsored” link.
However, if you’re using Google Ads, it’s crucial to target the right keywords. You should aim for keywords that indicate someone is ready to buy, not just searching for information. For example, people searching for specific products or services are likely further along in their buying journey.
But be cautious. While paid traffic can get you visibility, it often leads to low-quality leads. The clicks you pay for aren’t necessarily from people who are committed to buying—they might just be browsing. If you’re going to spend money on ads, you need to focus on targeting the highest quality leads possible.
2. Website SEO: Now Nearly Impossible
The second method—optimising your website SEO to rank on Google—has become nearly impossible. Google’s algorithm has changed so much that it now ranks content above websites. In the past, website SEO was crucial for getting your site to the top of search results. Today, creating valuable content is far more effective.
This shift has made things harder for traditional SEO companies, but it’s actually a good thing for those of us adapting to this new environment. One of the best ways to rank on Google today is through YouTube SEO.
3. YouTube SEO: The Best Way to Rank on Google
If you want to rank on Google today, YouTube is the key. Let me show you how it works.
Here’s an example: I searched for “What is a good icebreaker for a meeting?” on Google. Right now, the top result for this search is a YouTube video from Chad Littlefield. When I checked earlier, even the main Google search results showed his video right at the top.
To take a deeper dive into how YouTube can drive traffic, I pulled up Chad’s YouTube channel. His YouTube search traffic in the last 28 days has been over 17,000 people. But here’s the interesting part: 57.6% of the traffic coming to his YouTube channel is from Google search.
What’s happening here is simple: Google is driving traffic to his YouTube videos because Google sees the value in content. His YouTube video shows up on both Google and YouTube search results, increasing his visibility across multiple platforms.
This is where the magic happens: if you create high-quality content and optimise it for YouTube, you can rank on both YouTube and Google at the same time, driving massive traffic to your business.
Real-Life Example: Chad Littlefield’s Success
Take a look at this example from Chad Littlefield. He created a YouTube video about icebreakers for meetings. Not only does this video rank high on YouTube, but it also shows up on Google. Even better, he shared the video on his blog, alongside a transcript of the video. This simple strategy boosts his content’s chances of ranking on both platforms.
This shows just how powerful combining YouTube with SEO can be. If you’re not yet creating content on YouTube, now is the time to start.
Want to Learn More About YouTube SEO?
I have another video where I break down the YouTube SEO Leaf Strategy, which goes into even more detail on how to use YouTube to rank high on both Google and YouTube. You can find the link to that video on the screen here. It’s definitely worth checking out if you want to learn how to implement this strategy in your own business.
Conclusion
Google’s advertising landscape has changed dramatically. Paid ads can still work, but they often generate low-quality leads, and website SEO has become less effective in the age of content. The best way to advertise your business on Google today is by creating valuable, optimised content, particularly on YouTube. If you want to rise to the top of both Google and YouTube, start creating content that answers questions, solves problems, and provides value to your audience.
Are you ready to start using YouTube SEO to grow your business? Watch the next video to learn more!
