Marketing Dictionary
Paid Search
Definition
A form of digital marketing where search engines allow advertisers to show ads on their search engine results pages (SERPs).
Deep Dive
Paid search is a potent form of digital marketing where advertisers pay search engines to display their ads prominently on search engine results pages (SERPs), typically above or below the organic search results. This strategy, often managed through platforms like Google Ads or Microsoft Advertising, allows businesses to gain immediate visibility for specific keywords and target audiences. Advertisers bid on keywords relevant to their products or services, and when a user searches for those terms, their ad may appear, leading to quick traffic generation.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1A search for "buy running shoes" displays sponsored links from major athletic brands at the top of the SERP
- 2An ad for "cloud accounting software" appears when a user searches for business finance tools
- 3A local plumbing service ad shows up for "emergency plumber near me" with a call-to-action button
Related Terms
PPC (Pay-Per-Click)SEM (Search Engine Marketing)Google Ads