Key Factors of Ad Rank in Google Ads: How to Optimise Your Ad Visibility

In Google Ads, Ad Rank is key to determining your ad's visibility. Why do some ads stand out while others get lost among the competition? What factors truly define that ranking position, and how can we effectively optimise them to maximise results? Let’s break down the most important factors that influence Ad Rank and how each contributes to the success of your campaigns.

Ad Rank is primarily determined by three crucial elements: bid, ad quality, and the expected impact of ad assets. Each of these elements has multiple layers worth understanding, such as keyword relevance, landing page quality, and the bidding strategy used.

1. Bid: This is the maximum price you’re willing to pay for a click, but it’s not just about bidding higher. Bids often need to be aligned with an automated strategy that takes into account signals like time of day or user device. These factors influence the likelihood of conversion, as certain times of day may perform better, and different devices can affect user behaviour. Efficiency is key; bidding higher without control can increase costs without necessarily improving results.

2. Ad quality: Here, keyword relevance, ad copy, and landing page experience come into play. To stand out, keywords must align with the user’s intent, not just their search terms. The ad content needs to demonstrate to the user that they’re in the right place, building trust from the outset. Landing pages should also be fast, secure, and clearly aligned with the ad message and page experience.

3. Expected impact of ad assets: Assets like call extensions, promotions, or even the website play an important role in enhancing user experience, simplifying access to relevant information, and increasing the likelihood of engagement. This can improve CTR, and some of these elements provide extra information without leaving the SERP. Including as many assets as possible, as long as they’re relevant, can have a positive impact.

One thing to bear in mind is that not everything affects Ad Rank equally. Elements like assets (extensions) may seem secondary but, in reality, help increase CTR and improve ad relevance across different contexts, ultimately adding value to your Ad Rank.

The most common mistake is focusing solely on increasing bids to improve position. Google also evaluates relevance and user experience.

In terms of the order of importance of Ad Rank elements, ad quality takes first place. Second is bid, which determines your competitiveness in auctions. Finally, the expected impact of ad assets is the third factor; while it plays an important role, it doesn’t weigh as heavily as quality and bid in determining Ad Rank.

The factors affecting Ad Rank complement each other, and good synergy among them is what allows you to stand out in auctions.

Attribution Strategies for High and Low Consideration Products in Paid Media

Consideration in the buying process is a key factor that affects both the marketing strategy and the attribution model we implement. Differentiating between high and low consideration products or services significantly influences how we approach digital advertising.

For low-consideration products (whether B2B or B2C), purchasing is more impulsive, the decision process is brief, and the focus is on aspects such as availability and price. Here, attribution tends to be more straightforward. A model that focuses on the user’s most recent interaction is often used, as these products have a short decision cycle and a transactional focus.

On the other hand, when we talk about high-consideration products, the approach changes significantly. Decisions typically involve multiple stakeholders and require more time and analysis. In the B2B realm, this means long and complex sales cycles. Here, it is essential to choose an attribution model that captures the cumulative impact of each interaction, adjusting the attribution window to properly reflect the customer journey. The goal is to attract, educate, and build trust throughout the process.

Let’s consider a practical example: a campaign to sell a standard printer in the B2B space versus a campaign for a complex ERP software. This contrast illustrates how different levels of consideration require distinct approaches in terms of attribution models, to adapt to the complexity and duration of the decision process. The printer, being a low-consideration product, might have a shorter attribution cycle, possibly incentivised by a direct offer. But the ERP software would require multiple touchpoints: remarketing ads, downloadable content, forms, demos, and meetings, with the value of each interaction needing to be assessed to understand the customer’s journey.

The important thing is not to apply the same analytical criteria to all campaigns, but to recognise the nature of the product and how users progress along their journey. In paid media, it’s essential to adapt the attribution model based on the type of consideration and the value of the product or service. In addition to optimising campaign performance, you’ll also gain specific insights into purchasing preferences, friction points, and customer decision patterns.

What kind of products or services do you usually manage in your campaigns? High or low consideration? Let me know in the comments.

LinkedIn Ads: Is It Really the Holy Grail for B2B?

When it comes to LinkedIn Ads, especially in B2B, the expectations are often high: reaching decision-makers directly, generating quality leads, and boosting branding strategically. But is LinkedIn Ads the magic solution for all B2B campaigns?

The short answer: it depends.

LinkedIn stands out for its unique targeting capabilities, allowing you to focus ads on specific roles, particular industries, and even individual companies. However, it’s not a channel for quick results. LinkedIn is not a short-term lead generation engine. Instead, it’s a tool for building long-term relationships, educating your audience, and strengthening brand authority.

So, when does it make sense to use LinkedIn Ads?

Launching campaigns for products or services that require market education.

Promoting webinars and events that provide value to your audience.

Remarketing campaigns for audiences that have already engaged with your brand and are advanced MQLs.

By advanced MQLs, I mean those Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) that match your buyer persona, have interacted with the brand or its content, and show commercial interest because they’ve visited BOFU pages (product pages, offer pages, add to cart, etc.).

On the other hand, if your goal is immediate conversions, it may be better to consider other platforms. LinkedIn excels when you have resources for long-term investment and a focus on value-driven content.

Why is LinkedIn Ads still important for B2B businesses?

The true strength of LinkedIn Ads lies in its ability to target with hyper-precision: roles, industries, professional experience, and specific companies. This makes it an ideal channel when the goal is to reach highly specific and qualified professional audiences. However, this also comes at a price: the cost per click is usually higher than on other platforms like Google Ads or Meta Ads.

What can you really achieve with LinkedIn Ads?

Long-term demand generation and branding: LinkedIn is perfect when the goal is to educate your audience before selling to them. Think of informative content that solves specific industry problems, like whitepapers, case studies, or webinars that help to strengthen brand authority.

Smart remarketing: This is where things get a bit sophisticated. Retargeting on LinkedIn allows you to re-engage those who have already shown interest in your content or visited your site. That said, LinkedIn remarketing tends to work better for audiences already advanced in their buying journey, rather than cold prospects.

More complex offers require more elaborate creatives: Video ads can work quite well, especially when they feature participation from key members of senior management. This generates a more personal and trustworthy connection with the audience.

What LinkedIn Ads is NOT:

It is not the ideal channel for quick lead generation or direct sales if your audience is cold. LinkedIn requires patience and continuous investment in education and trust-building—something many brands overlook. If your product or service is highly disruptive and there’s demand, you could try direct conversion. Otherwise, it’s best to focus on building long-term relationships.

So, is LinkedIn Ads a good solution for B2B?

It’s a strong channel, but not a magic solution. Optimise for the long-term, educate your audience, and don’t underestimate the value of high-quality content. If used with the right mindset, it can be one of the best tools for positioning your brand and generating qualified demand in the B2B space.

What do you think? What’s been your experience with LinkedIn Ads in B2B?