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What Is Average Position In Google Ads? – Explained

What Is Average Position In Google Ads? - Explained
Contents

Google Ads is a powerful online advertising platform that enables businesses to promote their products or services to a targeted audience. 

One key metric that advertisers often monitor closely in Google Ads is the average position of their ads. 

Understanding what average position is and how it impacts ad performance is crucial for optimizing your Google Ads campaigns.

Understanding the Basics of Google Ads

Google Ads, formerly known as Google AdWords, allows businesses to create and display ads on Google’s search engine results pages, YouTube videos, partner websites, and mobile apps. 

By bidding on relevant keywords, businesses can ensure their ads are shown to users actively searching for their products or services.

Google Ads offers several benefits for businesses:

  • Reach your target audience effectively
  • Increase brand visibility and awareness
  • Drive qualified website traffic
  • Target specific demographics for personalized messaging
  • Track campaign performance in real-time
  • Measure return on investment (ROI) of ad spend


By leveraging these advantages, businesses can maximize the effectiveness of their advertising efforts and achieve their marketing goals.

Defining Average Position in Google Ads

So, what exactly is average position in Google Ads? 

Average position refers to the order in which your ad appears on the search results page relative to other ads. 

A lower average position indicates a higher ad rank, meaning your ad is displayed closer to the top of the page.

Google Ads calculates average position based on several factors, including:

  • Maximum bid amount
  • Ad quality score
  • Ad relevance to the search query
  • Expected impact of ad extensions and formats


The complex algorithm considers these elements to determine ad rank and assign an average position to each ad.

The Role of Average Position in Google Ads

Achieving a high average position is important because it typically leads to greater ad visibility, higher click-through rates (CTR), and more conversions.

Users are more likely to click on ads that appear at the top of the search results, perceiving them as more relevant and trustworthy.

For example, let’s say you own a digital marketing agency and bid on the keyword “SEO services.” 

If your ad consistently appears in the top positions, potential clients searching for SEO services are more likely to notice and click on your ad, driving qualified traffic to your website.

Monitoring average position helps you gauge the effectiveness of your ads and make data-driven optimizations to improve campaign performance.

Strategies to Improve Your Average Position

To boost your average position and enhance your Google Ads results, consider implementing these strategies:

  1. Optimize Ad Quality: Create compelling ad copy, use relevant keywords, and ensure a seamless user experience from ad to landing page. Regularly review and refine your ads for maximum impact.
  2. Implement Smart Bidding: Leverage automated bidding strategies like target impression share or target position to set specific goals for ad placement. Continuously adjust bids based on performance data.
  3. Improve Quality Score: Focus on ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected CTR. A higher quality score can lead to better ad positions at lower costs.
  4. Utilize Ad Extensions: Incorporate relevant ad extensions (e.g., sitelinks, callouts, structured snippets) to provide additional information and improve ad visibility.
  5. Refine Targeting: Ensure your ads are reaching the right audience by refining your targeting options, such as demographics, interests, and locations.


By implementing these techniques and regularly monitoring your average position, you can enhance your ad performance and achieve a higher return on your advertising investment.

The Transition from Average Position to Impression Share

In recent years, Google has retired the average position metric and replaced it with impression share. 

This change was made because average position does not provide a complete picture of ad visibility, as it doesn’t account for factors like ad extensions and other formats.

Impression share, on the other hand, represents the percentage of impressions your ads receive compared to the total available impressions they were eligible for. 

It helps you identify missed opportunities and assess the reach and visibility of your ads more accurately.

For instance, if your impression share for a particular keyword is 60%, it means your ads were shown 60% of the times they were eligible to appear. 

By focusing on improving your impression share, you can ensure your ads are being seen by a larger portion of your target audience.

Conclusion

In summary, average position is a vital metric in Google Ads that indicates the order in which your ad appears on the search results page. 

A higher average position often leads to increased visibility, click-through rates, and conversions. 

By understanding what average position is and implementing strategies to improve it, you can optimize your Google Ads campaigns for better performance and ROI.

Although average position has been replaced by impression share, the insights provided in this article remain relevant for marketers and entrepreneurs looking to succeed with Google Ads. 

By staying informed about key metrics and best practices, you can harness the power of this platform to grow your business and achieve your advertising goals.

Picture of Walter Voronovic

Walter Voronovic

Founder @ WalterVoronovic.com. I've worked as a performance marketer since 2019. Today, I write about SaaS marketing & design and test & review marketing tools.
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