What is the difference between Google Search and Display ads?

Google Search ads and Display ads are two different types of advertising formats available on the Google Ads platform.

Google Search ads, also known as “Search Network” ads, appear in the search results page when someone searches for a specific keyword or phrase. These ads are triggered by the user’s search query and are designed to be highly relevant to the search terms they’re targeting. Search ads typically appear at the top and bottom of the search results page and look like organic search results, except they’re labeled as “Ad” or “Sponsored”.

Display ads, also known as “Display Network” ads, are visual ads that appear on websites that are part of Google’s Display Network. The Display Network includes millions of websites, blogs, and apps that have partnered with Google to display ads. Display ads can come in various formats, including banner ads, responsive ads, and video ads. These ads are targeted based on factors like the user’s interests, demographics, and browsing behavior, rather than their search query.

In summary, the main differences between Google Search ads and Display ads are:

1. Placement: Search ads appear in the search results page while Display ads appear on websites that are part of the Google Display Network.
2. Intent: Search ads target users who are actively searching for a specific product or service, while Display ads target users who may be interested in a product or service based on their interests, demographics, and browsing behavior.
3. Format: Search ads are text-based while Display ads are visual-based.
4. Targeting: Search ads are targeted based on specific keywords while Display ads are targeted based on factors like interests, demographics, and browsing behavior.