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Lucie Price

Helping Small and Medium Businesses Achieve Their Full Marketing Potential | Digital Marketing Expert

The Ultimate Guide to Microsoft Bing Advertising

When discussing online advertising platforms, the first thought that springs to mind is likely going to be Google Ads (or Meta Ads). However, another platform with great potential is often left unexplored: Microsoft Bing Advertising

Microsoft Bing can be used as an effective advertising platform, allowing brands to extend their reach towards new audiences and, in return, generate considerable ROI. With Bing Ads, businesses can reach millions across the globe as ads are displayed not only on Bing but also on Yahoo and MSN.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll take you step by step through why you should consider using Bing and how to optimise your live campaigns. Whether you’re new to Bing Ads or just looking to give your current strategies a power-up, we have you covered.

Reasons to Use Microsoft Bing Advertising

1. Reach a Different Audience

Bing’s audience tends to differ from Google’s in some key ways:

  • Usually older and wealthy.
  • More likely to search on desktop.
  • Higher disposable income levels.

According to Microsoft, over a third of Bing users fall into the highest income bracket. If your business intends to target higher earners, Bing Ads would be a great option.

2. Lower Competition Means Greater Return

With fewer businesses posting ads on Bing, competition for keywords is much lower, which means lower cost-per-click rates and the potential for higher ROI. Businesses with limited budgets can take advantage of Bing by launching full-scale campaigns for a fraction of the cost.

3. Cross-Platform Reach

Microsoft Advertising not only covers Bing—your ads can appear on:

  • Yahoo and AOL search networks.
  • Microsoft-owned properties like MSN. 
  • Syndicated partner sites.

Advertising on Bing can significantly amplify the reach of your campaign with little additional effort.

Creating a Microsoft Bing Ads Account

Step 1: Create An Account

Head over to the Microsoft Advertising website and create an account. If you’re currently utilising Google Ads, the process may be easy using the import and export function of Microsoft Advertising.

Step 2: Choose Your Campaign Type

Microsoft Advertising offers several campaign options:

  • Search Ads: Text-based ads that appear on Bing search results
  • Audience Ads: Display ads shown across Microsoft’s Audience Network, like MSN and Outlook.
  • Shopping Campaigns: Best suited for eCommerce businesses selling physical products.

Remember to always determine a campaign type suitable for your marketing goals.

Step 3: Set Your Budget & Bids

You can set either a daily or monthly budget and select from the following bidding options provided by Microsoft:

  • Manual CPC bidding: You assign the bids yourself.
  • eCPC (Enhanced CPC): Maximises conversions through automatic bid adjustments.
  • Target CPA: Automatic bid adjustments to ensure you achieve your desired cost per acquisition.

Step 4: Research Keywords

Find related keywords for your advertisement based on high search volume and low competition by using the Microsoft Advertising Keyword Planner.

How to Create Successful Bing Ads

1. Write Attention-Grabbing Headlines

Headlines are vital to a successful ad and should aim to halt browsers. They must be:

  • Clear & Concise: Establish your offer/info in simple terms.
  • Direct & Specific: Make clear the unique feature or selling point your offer possesses
  • Use Keyword: Use target keywords for relevance and click-through rates.

2. Write Persuasive Ad Copy

The body of your ad must expand on the headline. List your product/service’s benefits, provide solutions to pain points, and top it off with a call to action. Your CTAs may include: 

  • Book Your Free Consultation
  • Order now and Save X%
  • Sign up Today

3. Use Ad Extensions

Ad extensions can assist in making your campaigns more visible. The most commonly used extension types include:

  • Sitelink Extensions: Links that guide users to certain pages on your site.
  • Call Extensions: Provides your audience with a clickable phone number.
  • Location Extensions: Display your business address to potential customers.

4. Optimise Your Landing Page to Be More Effective

Make sure your landing page reflects the message in your ad! Here are some best practices to follow:

  • Optimised loading speeds.
  • Mobile-friendly interface.
  • An attention-grabbing headline.
  • Effective CTAs with minimal distractions.

Optimisation Tips for Your Bing Ads Campaign

1. Use Audience Targeting

Microsoft Bing Advertising provides features for advanced targeting, such as:

  • Demographics: Make sure to choose the right age groups, gender, or income levels to target.
  • Device Types: Choose appropriate advertising types for desktop, mobile, or tablet users.
  • Time of Day: Advertise to your audience at the best times.

2. Negative Keywords

Negative keywords prevent your ads from appearing for irrelevant searches. For example, if you sell luxury items, you should avoid “cheap” or “discount” as keywords.

3. Ad Variations Tests

We recommended A/B testing headlines, primary text, and CTAs to optimise your ad copy and determine the most effective combination. Use Microsoft Advertising’s analytic tools to sidestep any guesswork, scrutinise results and make decisions based on real, relevant data.

4. Monitoring & Adjust

Track the performance of your campaigns by keeping watch on:

  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): Shows how engaging or attractive your ad is to the viewer.
  • Conversion Rate: Shows how efficient the ads are in getting the desired actions.
  • Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA): Gives an idea of how much you spend on acquiring one customer.

Get Started with Bing Advertising Today

Microsoft Bing Advertising offers a powerful, cost-effective way to reach new customers. With its unique audience, advanced targeting options, and lower competition, it’s a smart choice for businesses of all sizes. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to grow your business—partner with The Good Marketer’s Bing Advertising experts and start driving results. Get in touch with us today!

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