PPC Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide with Typical Costs
PPC Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide with Typical Costs
A well-executed PPC campaign requires investment in analytics, creative development, platform setup, and ongoing optimization. Below is a breakdown of the process with estimated costs for each phase.
1. Pre-Campaign Strategy & Analytics Preparation
Typical Costs: $1,500 - $5,000 (One-Time Setup Fee)
Defining Goals & KPIs (Internal Strategy – No Cost)
- Establish objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Conduct client discovery meetings (typically included in strategy fee).
Competitive & Keyword Research ($500 - $2,000)
- Use Google Keyword Planner & Semrush
- Research competitors’ PPC strategies.
Tracking & Analytics Setup ($1,000 - $3,000)
- Google Analytics (GA4) Setup
- Google Tag Manager implementation for tracking (Avg. $500 - $1,500).
- Conversion tracking & UTM setup (Avg. $500 - $3,000 depending on complexity).
2. Creative Development & Ad Copywriting
Typical Costs: $2,000 - $10,000+ (One-Time or Per Campaign)
Writing High-Converting Ad Copy ($500 - $1,500 per campaign)
- Copywriting for Google Ads, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
- A/B testing multiple ad variations.
Designing Visual & Video Ads ($1,500 - $5,000 per campaign)
- Static display ads (graphic design: $500 - $1,500).
- Animated/GIF ads (Avg. $1,000 - $3,000).
- Video Ads (High-quality production: $3,000 - $10,000+).
Landing Page Development ($1,500 - $3,500 per page)
- Basic landing page with form & CTA ($1,500 - $3,000).
- Advanced landing page with interactive elements ($5,000+).
3. Campaign Setup & Launch
Typical Costs: $1,000 - $5,000 (One-Time Setup Fee) + Ad Spend
Platform & Campaign Structuring (Included in setup fee)
- Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Ads setup.
Budgeting & Bidding Strategy (Ad Spend: $3,000 - $50,000+ per month)
- Small business budgets: $3,000 - $10,000/month.
- Mid-sized business budgets: $10,000 - $50,000/month.
- Enterprise-level budgets: $50,000+ per month.
Ad Extensions & Enhancements (Included in setup fee or ~$500 - $1,000 extra)
- Sitelink, callout, and structured snippets setup.
4. Post-Launch Monitoring & Optimization
Typical Costs: $2,500 - $10,000+ per month (Ongoing Management Fee)
Performance Tracking & Initial Adjustments ($1,000 - $3,000 per month)
- Weekly monitoring of CTR, CPC, and conversion rates.
A/B Testing & Ad Refinements ($500 - $2,500 per month)
- Testing headlines, descriptions, and landing pages.
Retargeting & Scaling ($1,500 - $5,000 per month, plus ad spend)
- Lookalike audience creation.
- Dynamic remarketing ads.
5. Reporting & Future Campaign Optimization
Typical Costs: $1,500 - $5,000 per month (Depending on Reporting Depth)
Data Analysis & Reporting ($1,000 - $3,000 per month)
- Monthly performance reports, insights, and strategy refinements.
Adjustments for Long-Term Success ($1,500 - $5,000 per month)
- Scaling successful campaigns.
- Seasonal budget adjustments.
Total Cost Estimate for a PPC Campaign
Small Business (Local Campaign)
- Setup Cost: $3,000 - $7,000
- Ad Spend: $3,000 - $10,000/month
- Ongoing Management: $2,500 - $5,000/month
- Total (3-Month Campaign): $15,000 - $50,000
Mid-Sized Business (Regional/National Campaign)
- Setup Cost: $5,000 - $10,000
- Ad Spend: $10,000 - $50,000/month
- Ongoing Management: $5,000 - $10,000/month
- Total (3-Month Campaign): $50,000 - $200,000
Enterprise-Level Business (National/Global Campaign)
- Setup Cost: $10,000 - $25,000
- Ad Spend: $50,000 - $500,000/month
- Ongoing Management: $10,000 - $50,000+/month
- Total (3-Month Campaign): $200,000 - $1,500,000+
Final Thoughts
A successful PPC campaign requires a balance of strategic planning, creative execution, and ongoing optimization. Costs vary based on campaign size, ad spend, and level of competition.