You're walking a new client through the basics of Google Search ads. Which one of the following groupings would you highlight to them as the three basic components of a Google Search ad?

When setting up a Google Search ad, you must define three core elements to control how your campaign runs. These elements work together to connect your ads with the right audience at the right price.

Analysis of Correct Answer(s)

The three basic components of a Google Search ad are targeting, ad formats, and bid strategies. These represent the "who," "what," and "how" of your advertising effort.

• Targeting: This determines who sees your ad. The primary targeting method for Search ads is keywords, but it also includes other settings like location, language, and audience segments.
• Ad Formats: This is what your audience sees. It refers to the ad creative itself, which for Search ads typically includes headlines, descriptions, and display URLs. This is where you craft your message.
• Bid Strategies: This controls how you compete in the ad auction and how you pay. You select a strategy based on your goals, such as Maximize clicks, Target CPA (Cost Per Acquisition), or Target ROAS (Return On Ad Spend).

Analysis of Incorrect Options

• Queries, ad formats, and keywords: Queries are what users type into the search bar. Advertisers target keywords, but they don't directly control user queries.
• AI, bid strategies, and creatives: AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a technology that powers many Google Ads features (like Smart Bidding), but it isn't a foundational component you configure directly like targeting or ad formats.
• Queries, marketing goals, and Search ads: Marketing goals are the objectives that guide your campaign strategy, not a direct component of the ad itself. Queries are user-controlled, and "Search ads" is too general.