You just can’t anymore with Google Adwords. You’ve spent a ton of money on keyword optimization among other things. Your profits aren’t going up.

You just can’t anymore with Google Adwords. You’ve spent a ton of money on keyword optimization among other things. Your profits aren’t going up.

While Google claims its ad system can boost brand awareness by 80%, that’s not always the case. Maybe you chose the wrong marketing agency. But you’re just fed up.

Let’s take a look at a few alternatives right now.

1. Search Engine Optimization

Some might consider search engine optimization snake oil. It’s not, but the skeptics just aren’t willing to put forth the effort to make it work.

Search engine optimization or SEO for short is basically trickery. You’re not trying to trick your client, you’re trying to fool Google.

Google employs a system of machine learning algorithms to filter and rank websites and pages. Google wants to provide the best content from the web to their customers. They’re constantly improving this system.

Since 2012, website owners and business owners on the web have tried to figure out what’s going on under the hood at Google. In the last seven years, they’ve gotten pretty good at this game.

Today, Google focuses mostly on floating quality content. If you can create excellent content, you’re already on your way to ranking on Google. But there are other indicators Google measures. If you want to learn more about search engine optimization, consult an expert.

2. YouTube Pre-Roll Ads

YouTube is the second most popular search engine in the world. Yes, it even beats Bing. If you were to capture an audience, the 1.5 billion users would be a great place to start.

YouTube has its own ad service. It works similarly to AdWords, but your ads are videos and not just photos.  This means you’ll have to hire a video team or do the videos yourself.

Today, you can easily create video ads yourself. Smartphones are now capable of high definition video. Natural light is easy to come by in this world. And all you need for audio is a small lav microphone.

Unlike pay-per-click, you don’t just get charged when the user clicks. If they watch more than 30 seconds of your ad, then you get charged. If they neither click nor watch more than 30 seconds, you don’t get charged.

3. Influencer Marketing

If your fans love your brand, why not leverage their love? Do you sell something? Why not give your fans a perk for promoting your brand?

This could inlcude free products, product discounts, or even an affiliation.

Social trust is one of the biggest factors in selling to current young generations. If other people promote your brand, down to earth social media users, you’ll look down to earth as well.

Your competition is already using inlfuencers. Whey aren’t you? Even if you use pay-per-click marketing, it won’t be that much more expensive to start an influencer program for your brand.

Don’t Get Stuck in a Marketing Rut

It’s easy to stick with the tried and true. Don’t get in a marketing rut. Seek out new opportunities and try to look at marketing in a new llight.

If you’re interested in more marketing advice, check out Shoemoney’s Shoeintology.

By Ben Mattice

Benjamin Mattice is a freelance writer/editor, horror and sci-fi writer, SEO and affiliate marketing newbie, dog wrestler, cat wrangler, capoeirista, and long distance runner. He lives in the Palouse with his wife, three dogs, two cats, and two rats. Yes, that would probably be considered a mini-zoo.