If you are looking for a way to monetize your website or content, you might have heard of Google Ads and Google Ad Manager. But what are the differences between these two platforms, and which one is better for your needs? In this post, we will compare Google Ads and Google Ad Manager in terms of how they work, how they compete with each other, and how much revenue they can generate for you.
Google Ads is a platform that allows you to create and run online advertising campaigns on Google’s network of websites and apps. You can choose from different types of ads, such as text, image, video, or display ads, and target them to your audience based on keywords, location, interests, and more. You pay for your ads when someone clicks on them or views them (depending on the bidding strategy you choose).
Google Ad Manager is a platform that allows you to manage and optimize your online advertising inventory. You can use it to sell your ad space to advertisers directly or through third-party networks and exchanges. You can also use it to serve ads from Google Ads or other sources on your website or app. You earn revenue when someone views or clicks on the ads you serve.
One of the main differences between Google Ads and Google Ad Manager is that Google Ads is a demand-side platform (DSP), while Google Ad Manager is a supply-side platform (SSP). This means that Google Ads is focused on helping advertisers find and buy ad space, while Google Ad Manager is focused on helping publishers sell and manage their ad space.
Another difference is that Google Ads competes with other campaigns in Google Ad Manager based on the price and quality of the ads. This means that if you use both platforms, your Google Ads campaigns will have to bid against other advertisers who want to show their ads on your website or app. The highest bidder will win the ad impression and pay the second-highest bid price. This is called the second-price auction model.
However, if you use only Google Ads or only Google Ad Manager, you will not have to compete with other campaigns. Instead, you will have more control over the pricing and delivery of your ads. For example, if you use only Google Ads, you can set a maximum cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) for your campaigns, and pay only when someone clicks or views your ads. If you use only Google Ad Manager, you can set a minimum CPM for your ad inventory, and accept or reject any bids that do not meet your criteria.
The revenue potential of Google Ads and Google Ad Manager depends on various factors, such as the size and quality of your audience, the type and format of your ads, the competition and demand for your ad space, and the optimization of your campaigns. In general, Google Ads can generate more revenue for publishers who have a small or niche audience, or who want to run simple and targeted ads. On the other hand, Google Ad Manager can generate more revenue for publishers who have a large or diverse audience, or who want to run complex and dynamic ads.
To summarize, Google Ads and Google Ad Manager are two different platforms that serve different purposes and audiences. You can use either one or both of them depending on your goals and preferences. However, if you use both of them, you should be aware of how they compete with each other and how they affect your revenue.