With an effective Google Ads strategy, the more you invest, the more leads you get in return. To help stretch your budget, there are ways to get a free Google Ads promo code or coupon for ad credits through business apps and services, coupon sites, or from Google directly. Find out how to get a free Google Ads promo code worth up to $500 in free ad credits to jump-start your online advertising strategy.
1. Get a Free Google Ads Promo Code From Service Providers
It’s not uncommon for providers to incentivize the purchase of plans and upgrades with a free promo code for Google Ads. For example, several web hosting companies include Google Ads coupons with hundreds of dollars in free ad vouchers. Top all-in-one small business website builders like Squarespace and Wix also come with free Google Ads credits.
Here are some providers you may be using (or considering) that offer free Google Ads coupons and promo codes:
In addition, several leading business credit cards offer perks for businesses advertising on Google Ads. While not a Google Ad coupon per se, they provide in-kind reimbursement for advertising and other business expenses.
- The Chase Ink Preferred card gives you 3x rewards on the first $150,000 spent on advertising purchases.
- The AMEX Gold card gives 4x rewards for your first $150,000 spent on advertising (if you make that one of the two categories for 4x rewards outlined in its terms and conditions).
2. Search Coupon Sites for Google Ads Coupon & Codes
Coupon aggregate sites can be a good way to find a Google Ads promo code for free or AdWords matching credits. One of the best is CouponFollow since, unlike other more well-known Google Ads coupon code sites, its results are directly from Google vs third-party companies. If you’re not new to Google Ads, try sites like RetailMeNot and Coupons.com to find promo codes for existing users.
It’s worth periodically re-checking coupon sites for promotional codes for Google Ads. This is especially helpful if you’re not a new user and can’t take advantage of new-customer-only sign-up promos from existing accounts. It’s fairly common for Google Ads promo codes to be available on a short-term basis during holidays and special events, so make it a point to check around the holidays.
3. Get Free Promotional Credit Directly From Google
Last, but surely not least, you can get free Ads credits from Google. Going directly to the source is one of the best ways to get promo codes and free advertising credits. Not only does Google offer new users free ad credits to help them get started, but it also offers free ads credits periodically to existing users. This includes special programs such as free credits to nonprofits.
To get started, Visit Google Ads directly to check current promo codes. You can also learn more about special programs for nonprofit organizations and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Here are a few of the most popular programs from Google Ads for free ad credits:
- New and returning user incentives: If you’re new to Google Ads or haven’t advertised in a while, Google will give you $500 in ad credit after you spend $500 to help you get started. Check your Google Ads account to see if you have any available ad credits and incentives directly from Google. You can also get these codes when setting up your free Google Business Profile (GBP).
- Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits: Google wants to help those on a mission to help others, so it has a grant program for registered nonprofits. Learn more about Google Ad Grants to see if you qualify for up to $10,000 in ad credits and how to advertise for free on Google.
What a Google Ads Promo Code Is & How It Works
A Google Ads promo code is a generated code that can be applied to your Google Ads account for discounts or additional ad credits. A computer generates the codes, which Google or its partner companies then give out.
To become eligible for a specific Google AdWords promo code, first check the promotion terms. If you fit the criteria, enter the promo code directly into your Google Ads account. Google will automatically apply the advertising spend match, discount, or other promotion types to your account.
Want to know how much value free promo codes and coupons are worth? Read our article explaining how much it costs to advertise on Google to see how far your advertising dollars will stretch.
How to Use a Google Ads Promo Coupon & Code
Once you’ve received your free Google Ads promo code from Google or any other partner provider, follow the instructions and terms to use the code for your Google Ads account. Here’s how to use Google Ads credit or coupons:
- Sign in or register for a Google Ads account: If you don’t have a Google Ads account yet, sign up by visiting the Google Ads website. Follow the prompts for each step to set up an account, and ensure you input your billing and payment method correctly.
- Navigate to the “Billing” section: Once logged in, click on the tools icon in the top right corner, and then click “Billing” from the drop-down menu.
- Enter your promo code or coupon on “Promotions”: Select the “Promotions” option, and click the blue plus button. Enter your promo code or coupon in the field provided, and click “Save.”
- Check your credit: After entering your promo code or coupon, you can find out which promo codes are already active in the Promotions section. View the status summary of your existing, completed, and expired promotions on the page.
- Start advertising: Once you have confirmed the free credit to your account, you can start creating ads and campaigns on Google Ads.
How to Maximize Your Ad Spend & Results
If you are just starting with Google Ads, find out how to set up your account step by step and start advertising on Google to grow your business. Ultimately, you want to maximize your ad spend so that it goes further and sees a higher return on ad spend (ROAS).
To improve results and maximize your ROAS:
- Identify and exclude negative keywords: Businesses waste a ton of ad campaign spending on keywords that aren’t relevant to buying search intent. Avoid this by reviewing the keywords included in searches when your ads were displayed, and then adding any irrelevant or low-quality keywords to your negative keywords list.
- Use specific and long-tail keywords: Another way companies waste advertising budgets is by spending money on high-cost broad keywords. Hone in on keywords that closely match buying intent for your products or services, including long-tail keywords that may have lower volumes, but with that, lower competition and cost-per-click.
- Set location parameters: Consider the locations where your customers are based, especially if your business serves a specific geographic region. Set your campaign controls accordingly so your ads aren’t displayed in search results outside your area.
- Use quality landing pages: Getting clicks is great, but getting conversions is even better. Don’t waste money on clicks that link to pages that don’t effectively convert. Instead, learn how to create landing pages that convert to increase your return on investment (ROI).
- Optimize ads: To get the highest ROAS you’ll need to continuously optimize and improve campaigns. To do this, track your ad data to see what’s working and what you need to change. By fine-tuning your campaigns, you can make them more efficient and decrease your costs.
- Increase ROI with ad management services: If you’re not a Google Ads expert and don’t have time to learn, outsourcing is a better option. Digital marketing agencies like WebFX and Lyfe Marketing have affordable, proven services for small businesses.
Explore Alternatives
Google Ads isn’t the only paid search platform or the cheapest. Consider using Microsoft Ads to help your ad spend go further. Like Google Ads, there are ways to get free Microsoft Ads credit—in fact, most web hosts, site builders, and software also offer Microsoft Ads promotional codes for free.
Diversify your ad spend even further by using paid social ads. Average costs-per-click (CPCs) tend to be lower than Google Ads and allow you to reach specific audiences through advanced targeting. Learn more about the best social media advertising platforms and which are best for your business in our detailed guide.
If your audience is on Facebook, that could be the best place to start. Get more info on Facebook advertising costs or weigh the pros and cons of Facebook Ads vs Google Ads.
6 Google Ads Statistics That Show It’s Worth Using
Still wondering if Google Ads is a viable advertising strategy for your small business? Numbers don’t lie—these Google Ads statistics show that it’s a fantastic way to get your business in front of prospects in online searches.
Here are six reasons why Google Ads is a great marketing tool for small businesses:
- The Google Display Network is made up of over 2 million websites, videos, and apps where your ads can appear. That’s a huge amount of potential exposure.
- With billions of searches every day, Google is one of the top search engines to market on. Studies show that Google Ads reach around 80% of all internet users.
- The average click-through rate for Google ads on search is 3.17% across all industries.
- Google Ads is popular across devices too—73% of Google search ad clicks in the U.S. are done on mobile.
- Google Ads, on average, gives a business $8 in revenue for every $1 spent.
- Despite its reach and returns, Google Ads remains an affordable marketing channel—the average cost-per-click (CPC) in Google Ads is between $1 and $2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I use Google to advertise my business?
You can advertise your business on Google with pay-per-click Google Ads in search results and re-marketing, which displays web banner ads throughout Google’s ad network. You can also create a free Google Business Profile (aka Google My Business) to boost your brand’s visibility in local search results and map listings. Local businesses can also use Google Local Service Ads to reach ready-to-buy customers.
How much should I budget for Google advertising?
Your budget for Google Ads needs to reflect the average cost-per-click (CPC) relative to your business’ keywords and industry as well as how many clicks and leads you want to produce. For example, if you get one new lead for every 10 clicks, and each click costs $3 on average, plan to spend $30 to get a lead. Multiply your cost-per-lead (CPL) by your desired number of leads per month to set your overall advertising budget.
Does Google Ads require a lot of time to manage?
The time needed to manage Google Ads can be significant, especially if you have multiple campaigns or campaigns with many keywords. It could even require daily monitoring. Conversely, if you only have a few campaigns and keywords, you may be able to manage ads on the platform by spending a few minutes each week or each day reviewing your dashboard.
Bottom Line
There are many ways to find a free Google Ads promo code or coupon for free ad credits. Business services like Bluehost web hosting, all-in-one site builders Squarespace and Wix, and artificial intelligence (AI) creatives service Adcreative.ai all offer free AdWords credits. In addition, you can get in-kind rewards to offset advertising costs through some of the best business credit cards.