Google Ads vs. AdSense: What's the Difference?

Learn about the differences between using Google Ads and AdSense for driving traffic or monetizing current traffic.

Google Ads vs. AdSense: What's the Difference?
In a nutshell, Google Ads (formerly known as AdWords) is a system that allows businesses to bid on advertising space in Google search results and other Google-affiliated properties. AdSense, on the other hand, is a system that allows publishers and website owners to sell advertising space to businesses. The main difference between the two is that advertisers use Google Ads and publishers use AdSense. The second big difference is that Google Ads is used to buy advertising from Google, while AdSense is used to sell advertising space to Google.

While the Google Ads program is geared towards attracting advertisers, the Google AdSense program is geared towards attracting publishers. Advertisers use Google Ads to drive traffic to their sites, and publishers use Google AdSense to monetize their current traffic. Although both are advertising platforms created by Google, their purpose is completely different. Google Ads is a platform for advertisers, while AdSense is used by publishers (blogs, forums).

This is an important rule that should not be violated in any way because you risk losing your Google Ads and AdSense accounts and then you will be looking for AdSense alternatives. Companies use Google Ads to drive targeted traffic to their website, hoping that some of this traffic will turn into sales. These publishers are part of the Google Display Network that advertisers can take advantage of through Google Ads. You see, Google has a solution for every problem and if you know how to use them to your advantage, you'll get more bang for your buck.

Yes, you can use rich media ads, but they will be displayed on the Google Display network (sites participating as publishers in Adwords). The difference between Adwords and Adsense is that adwords allows you to advertise on Google search results pages (and on the partner network), while Adsense is the platform to use as a publisher to display Google Ads on your website. For many people this is obvious and clear, but try to ask someone who knows the online world what is adsense and what is adwords and they will understand why I wrote this post.

If you don't want to monetize your web presence and instead find yourself on the side of business owners who want to advertise products and services, Google Ads could be more beneficial to you. To get started, all you have to do is add a piece of code to your site and Google will display ads tailored to your site's design. You can choose from different types of ads, such as Google Shopping ads, text ads, and Google product ads. If you are a retailer or have an online e-commerce website, this type of Google Shopping campaign is the one that suits you best.

With 3.5 billion Google searches performed every day, you need to seize every opportunity to reach potential customers. AdSense allows publishers to monetize their websites or blogs by earning money from relevant Google Ads ads that are displayed alongside their content. On the other hand, Adsense is a Google tool that allows publishers, such as owners of blogs and online magazines, to display ads on their website.

Google Ads, PPC or paid ads are a fast and effective way marketers can use to generate traffic, leads and sales. For display ads, as with search ads, advertisers bid for publishers' ad space in the Google Ads auction.

To sum up, there are some key differences between using Google Ads and AdSense. While both are advertising platforms created by Google, they serve different purposes: advertisers use Google Ads for driving traffic while publishers use AdSense for monetizing their current traffic. Knowing how each works can help you make the most out of your online presence.