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Low Budget? Use This Google Ads Trick to Get Massive Brand Visibility
Suppose you're a small business owner or solo marketer already invested in a video. In that case, there’s a massively underused strategy in Google Ads that can get it seen on YouTube, Gmail, Discover, and even TVs.
A Demand Gen campaign is one of the lowest-cost ways to build brand awareness across Google’s most attention-rich platforms.
Let’s break it down.
Why Most Google Ads Campaigns Fail at Awareness
Most people associate Google Ads with search campaigns—text ads appearing when someone is actively looking for something. That’s great when your prospect is already problem-aware and searching for a service.
But what about people who don’t know you yet?
What if your goal is brand awareness, not immediate conversions?
That’s where Demand Gen comes in. This campaign type lets you push your message into high-traffic areas of the internet—especially ones that your customers scroll through daily—without needing them to search for you first.
What Exactly Is a Demand Gen Campaign?
Demand Gen (short for "demand generation") campaigns let you show visual and video ads across Google's most popular discovery platforms:
- YouTube (including YouTube Shorts and YouTube TV)
- Gmail inboxes (top promo tabs)
- Google Discover feed (on Android & iOS Chrome homepage)
They blend social media's visual impact with Google’s deep audience targeting. You’re not just throwing a video into the void. You’re putting it in front of the right people—on screens they already trust.
What Makes It So Affordable?
Here’s the kicker: Demand Gen campaigns are typically bought on a CPM (cost-per-thousand impressions) model instead of cost-per-click.
This means:
- You're paying for visibility, not action
- You can start for as little as $10/day
- You can reach thousands of viewers for pennies
💡 If you’re spending $300 a month on a brand awareness play, this will give you more impressions than almost any other channel.
Why This Is a Goldmine for Service-Based Businesses
Most local service businesses don’t have big video ad budgets, but many have one solid promo video sitting unused. Demand Gen campaigns let that asset finally do the work it was made for.
Here’s why it’s a game-changer:
- Reach people across multiple devices (including TVs!)
- Get massive exposure without paying $5 per click
- Great for top-of-funnel marketing or event promotion
- Boost your retargeting audience by growing your views
If you're a plumber, home organizer, financial coach, chiropractor, or any other service provider, this is how you start being seen before you're searched.
How to Make This Work in 4 Steps
Step 1: Record or repurpose a 30–60 second video that introduces your service or tells your story
→ Don’t worry about perfection. Done is better than polished.
Step 2: Create a Demand Gen campaign in Google Ads
→ Select your audience by interests, demographics, or custom intent (e.g., people searching for “home remodel tips”).
Step 3: Set a budget (start small—$10/day works!)
→ Let the algorithm optimize over 2–3 weeks before tweaking.
Step 4: Review placements and tweak creative as needed
→ Use Google’s video preview tools to see how your ad appears on TV, mobile, and desktop.
Real Talk: This Is Not a Sales Play
This isn’t a “run and get 10 leads by Friday” campaign. It’s a visibility and familiarity strategy. People need to see your brand before they trust it, and Demand Gen is one of the most affordable ways to make that happen.
If you've ever said:
“People don’t know we exist.”
Or:
“We just need more awareness in our area.”
Then this is the move.
Build Your Brand
Google Ads isn’t just about clicks—it’s about building presence. Demand Gen lets you do that without a huge team or budget.
So if you’ve got a solid video asset, let it shine.
Let it run on TVs, inboxes, and mobile screens.
Let your brand be seen.
