Early voting is well underway in several states, and across the country search volume is up 277% or more for state senate and house candidates in the last 30 days.  Voters are actively using Google to learn more about their candidates and election details. If your campaign isn't running search ads, you’re missing a key opportunity to connect with these engaged voters.

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With roughly 8.5 billion searches happening daily worldwide, Google dominates almost 90% of the search market. Despite this incredible reach, in a recent review of Google’s Ad Transparency Center revealed that very few local Democratic candidates in early voting states had run any search ads in the past 30 days.

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It’s not too late to take action. You can launch a search ad campaign quickly and efficiently—even with a small budget. By leveraging paid search ads, alongside your other media efforts, you capture attention in the moment, counter misinformation, and make sure your message is seen when it counts.

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Here’s how to launch your campaign in 4 simple steps:

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Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account and Build Your Keyword List

Set up a Google Ads account, then use the Keyword Planner listed under "Tools" to build a list of keywords that reflect your campaign’s focus. Use a mix of broad and specific keywords, such as your name (maya hutchinson), policy positions, and the office you’re running for (state senate candidates). This will help ensure your ads appear in relevant search results. 

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Step 2: Develop Your Ad Content

Create clear, compelling ad copy that highlights what sets you apart as a candidate. Your message should address key issues that matter most to voters.

• Log in to your BattlegroundAI account and quickly start generating sets of copy. 
• Outline your audience, message and start creating! 
• Check out some examples here for Maya Hutchinson running for Colorado State Send. These were developed in about 3 minutes.

Step 3: Set Up Your Campaign

In your Google Ads account create a new traffic campaign, select Search, set a budget to control your spend, ad keywords, and choose targeting options, such as geographic location to ensure your ads are seen by the right people.

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Step 4: Launch and Monitor

Once your ads are live, be sure to also monitor their performance - even with a few days left. Use Google Analytics and Google Ads manager to track. As data comes in, make adjustments to your campaign to improve performance and ensure you're reaching voters effectively.

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If you have questions about Search or any digital campaigns and want to connect, please reach out directly to [email protected]