Facebook Ads vs Google AdMob: What are the differences?

Introduction

Facebook Ads and Google AdMob are two popular advertising platforms that help businesses reach their target audience and promote their products or services. However, there are several key differences between these two platforms that marketers should consider when deciding which one to use.

1. Targeting options: Facebook Ads offers a wide range of targeting options, including demographic criteria, interests, behaviors, and even specific Facebook pages. On the other hand, Google AdMob primarily focuses on targeting users based on the content of the apps they use. This means that Facebook Ads allows for more precise targeting, especially when it comes to reaching a specific audience segment.

2. Ad formats: Facebook Ads provides a variety of ad formats, such as image ads, video ads, carousel ads, and more. These ad formats can be displayed in the Facebook News Feed, Instagram feed, Messenger, and other placements within the Facebook ecosystem. In contrast, Google AdMob mainly supports banner ads, interstitial ads, and rewarded video ads within mobile apps. This difference in ad formats gives advertisers more flexibility in terms of creative options with Facebook Ads.

3. Reach and visibility: Facebook has a larger user base compared to Google AdMob, with billions of active users. This means that advertisers have the potential to reach a wider audience through Facebook Ads. Additionally, Facebook's extensive targeting options and the ability to display ads on different placements within its ecosystem provide greater visibility for advertisers. Google AdMob, on the other hand, primarily targets users who are already using mobile apps, limiting its potential reach and visibility.

4. User intent: One key difference between Facebook Ads and Google AdMob is user intent. When users are on Facebook, they are primarily engaging with social content and are not actively searching for products or services. This means that advertisers using Facebook Ads need to focus on capturing the attention of users while they are in a social mindset. In contrast, Google AdMob primarily targets users who are using specific mobile apps, indicating a higher level of intent as they are actively engaged with the app's content.

5. Cost structure: The cost structure of Facebook Ads and Google AdMob also differs. Facebook Ads primarily operates on a cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) basis, depending on the advertiser's objective. This means that advertisers only pay when someone interacts with their ads or when their ads are displayed a certain number of times. Google AdMob, on the other hand, primarily operates on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis, where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their ads within a mobile app.

6. Ad placement control: Facebook Ads offers advertisers more control over where their ads are displayed within the Facebook ecosystem. Advertisers can choose specific placements, such as the Facebook News Feed or Instagram feed, or allow Facebook to automatically optimize the ad placements based on performance. In contrast, Google AdMob primarily relies on the app developers to determine the ad placements within their apps, limiting advertiser control over ad placement.

In summary, Facebook Ads and Google AdMob differ in terms of targeting options, ad formats, reach and visibility, user intent, cost structure, and ad placement control. Marketers should consider these differences when choosing the most suitable platform for their advertising needs.