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COVID-19 Google Ads Credits: Who’s Eligible, How to Claim, and When You’ll Receive Them
UPDATE: JUNE 18, 2020
Google has begun dispersing COVID-19 Google Ads credits to eligible advertisers.
Qualifying businesses who have received a credit to date will be notified via an automatic email from Google, sent to the administrator(s) listed in your Google Ads account. Our team received several notifications beginning earlier this afternoon, like the one below:
If you received the email notification above, navigate to the Promotions Center within your Google Ads account to view how large of a credit you received:
Once there, your ads credit will be listed as a new promotion, along with the amount received, the date it was dispersed to you, and it’s expiration date:
ORIGINAL POST: MAY 19, 2020
In response to the current global pandemic, Google is giving away $340 million in COVID-19 Google Ads credits to small and medium-sized businesses as part of an $800 million COVID-19 relief package. Eligible businesses who qualify and receive the credits have until December 31, 2020 to spend them, or risk losing them.
Keep reading to learn more about Google’s COVID-19 Google Ads credits, including:
- Why Google is giving away $340 million to SMBs
- What businesses qualify for Google Ads credits
- How the COVID-19 Google Ads credits work
- When the ad credits will be dispersed to SMBs, and when they expire
- And more
Why Is Google Giving Away Ad Credits to SMBs?
According to Google, the search engine giant is giving away $340 million because, “[they] want to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) stay in touch with their customers during this challenging time.”
While COVID-19 has resulted in a surge of pay per click marketing (PPC) spend and engagement in the telehealth industry, home improvement and other essential businesses have seen mixed results. While some contractors have decided to eliminate ad spend in response to COVID-19, other contractors have doubled down on PPC advertising to capitalize on cheaper costs and increased market share.
Regardless of Google’s true intent, businesses have cut back their Google Ads budgets to protect their companies. As a result, Google has lost a share of its revenue and is encouraging customers to keep advertising online, as seen with their COVID-19 Google Ads credit announcement.
What Businesses Qualify to Receive COVID-19 Google Ads Credits?
According to Google, the following businesses qualify to receive the COVID-19 Google Ads credits:
- SMBs who advertised on Google Ads in 10 out of 12 months during 2019, and in January and/or February of 2020.
- SMBs who advertised on Google Ads directly through Google and/or a digital marketing firm (like Blue Corona).
- SMBs who advertised on Google Ads and adhered to all of Google’s advertising policies.
How does Google identify a small or medium-sized business?
Not sure if you qualify as a “small or medium-sized business?” You’re not alone.
While the term “SMB” is nebulous, Google defines SMBs as “worldwide [businesses] from local stores to companies with hundreds of employees and many locations.”
Companies who qualify will not be notified by Google; rather, the COVID-19 ad credits will appear in their Google Ads accounts.
How Do the COVID-19 Google Ads Credits Work?
Businesses who receive a COVID-19 ad credit from Google can apply the credit to any future, Google-owned advertising campaign. More specifically, the credits can be applied towards:
- Search ads (via Google Ads)
- Display and remarketing ads (via Google Ads)
- YouTube ads
When Will COVID-19 Google Ads Credits Be Dispersed to SMBs?
Google will begin rolling out the ad credit in phases, starting in late May, with no confirmed launch date. According to Google, eligible businesses will be notified and will see the ad credit applied in their Google Ads account.
How Do I Claim a Credit on Google Ads?
As a business owner, you don’t have to “claim” your COVID-19 Google Ads credit. Instead, eligible businesses will be automatically notified of their credits in their Google Ads account.
We recommend monitoring your Google Ads notifications closely over the next few months to be notified of when your ad credit is dispersed.
Do Ad Credits Expire?
Yes, COVID-19 Google Ads credits expire and must be used by December 31, 2020.
Any unused credits will be removed from your Google Ads account after December 31.
How Much Money Will I Receive?
COVID-19 Google Ads credit amount will vary—so it’s likely you won’t receive the exact same amount as your competitor down the street or your buddy who runs another business. According to Google, the amount of money each SMB receives will be dependent on three factors:
- Historical Google Ads spend (how much Currency you’ve invested in Google Ads previously)
- Location (the country each your business operates in)
Pay Per Click Marketing from Blue Corona
At Blue Corona, we work with more than 250 home service contractors. We’ve spent more than 12 years optimizing contractor PPC marketing campaigns on Google Ads and have a team of in-house pay per click experts helping our clients increase leads and sales while simultaneously reducing their PPC spend.
To learn more about PPC marketing from Blue Corona, contact us online or give us a call today!
The Home Service Industry’s Best PPC Marketing Company
About The Author: Brandon is Blue Corona's Sr. Director of Marketing and host of BlueTube, the home services podcast powered by Blue Corona. With more than a decade of marketing experience, Brandon leads the charge on Blue Corona's growth strategies and works closely with our partner organizations like ServiceTitan and Nexstar. When he's not analyzing marketing data, you can find Brandon enjoying the outdoors with his wife and two daughters (or if he's lucky, on the golf course).
View more blogs by Brandon Doyle
The information on this website is for informational purposes only; it is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. It does not constitute professional advice. All information is subject to change at any time without notice. Contact us for complete details.
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