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How to Write Great PPC Landing Page Headlines

Samuel Edwards
|
February 24, 2021

In the world of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and sales, it’s easy to get so caught up in the top of the funnel that you totally forget the bottom of the funnel and everything that happens in the “post-click” environment.

As important as pre-click elements are – including ad optimization and audience targeting /target audience– the reality is that you can’t complete the conversion without a compelling landing page. And one of the most significant elements of a great landing page is the effective landing page headlines.

The Importance of the Landing Page Headline

Every landing pages has a number of vital elements that are integral to creating a meaningful onsite experience and ultimately driving conversions. They include:

  • Effective copy
  • Engaging visuals
  • Intentional color scheme
  • Trust indicators
  • Strong call-to-action
  • Lead capture or conversion form
  • Negative space
  • No outside distractions

But all of these important factors are a waste if you don’t get the headline right.

The PPC landing page headline is the very first thing a visitor sees after clicking the PPC ad and landing on the page. If it’s irrelevant, inaccurate, vague, or boring, you have almost no chance of converting.

Outside of page loading speed, the headline is arguably the first decision point for a visitor. It gives a reason to either stick around and learn more, or bolt for something else.

Headlines, regardless of whether it’s a landing pages or newspaper, have always been treated like gold by copywriters and marketers. David Ogilvy, who is known as one of history’s greatest copywriters, was adamant that headlines are to be given the focus they deserve.

On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar

he once said.

And while most marketers and copywriters think about headlines after everything else has been created, Ogilvy and other industry legends have always been adamant that the headline commands more attention.

Ogilvy had an unofficial principle that he called the 50/50 Rule. This rule states that you should spend at least half of your time and effort developing and iterating the headline. In other words, if it takes you two hours to write copy for the rest of the page, you should spend one hour brainstorming and optimizing the headline.

While Ogilvy created this rule with ad copywriting in mind, it’s still a valuable rule of thumb for landing pages/landing page headline. And with all of the advanced split testing that we can do with same landing pages, the value of spending more time with headlines is clear. The more headlines you can drum up, the more likely it is that you’ll laser in on the recipe that works for your target audience.

11 Tips and Tricks for Better PPC Landing Page Headline

Headline writing is a mixture of art, logic, psychology, and persistence. It takes time and experimentation to land on the right “formula.” And while experience is the ultimate weapon in this war, here are some tips and tricks you can use to shorten the learning curve and get better results in less time:

1. Get These 3 Characteristics Right

There are three main characteristics that every headline should always possess:

  • Clarity. There’s nothing wrong with evoking curiosity, but a PPC landing page headline should never be vague or ambiguous. Clarity is extremely important in connecting the visitor with your message as quickly as possible.
  • Relevance. You have to think of the pre- and post-click parts of a PPC ad campaign as one continuous line. If there’s any inconsistency between the ad a visitor clicked and the landing page they land on, they’ll bounce. Thus your headline must be relevant to the ad. Keep the ad CTA in mind when drafting the headline.
  • Empathy. Every visitor has a problem that you’re hoping to solve. Whether it’s something frivolous – like providing entertainment to quell boredom – or something more serious – like solving a chronic health issue – empathy is a must-have ingredient. The headline needs to demonstrate that you understand their problem and are equipped to provide a solution.

Think of your headline like a three-legged stool. If it’s missing any one of these elements, the stool loses its stability and topples over. You might be able to prop it up, but you won’t be able to sit on it.

As you craft your headlines, keep these three characteristics at the core. It’ll serve you well as you learn to develop high-converting landing pages.

2. Understand the Goal of the Headline

The headline is important, but do you know what the goal of the headline is? (Hint: It’s not to generate a conversion or produce a sale.)

The only objective of the headline is to get a visitor to read the subheading. And then the main objective of the subheading is to get the visitor to read the next line of copy, and so on.

Don’t feel the weight of trying to convert someone in 10 words or less – there’s ample room to do this below the fold. Your goal is to reaffirm their decision to click on the ad and give them a reason to keep reading. If you can do that, it’s a win.

3. Write a Subheader

It’s difficult to hit on everything you want to cover in one headline. Thankfully, you also have the option of creating a subheader (which is basically just a smaller heading that goes directly beneath the heading).

The subheading can be a bit longer and include more characters. It’s used to clarify, restate, or expound upon what was stated in the headline. In many cases, it lists off additional benefits and, as previously stated, serves the purpose of pushing a visitor’s eyes further down the landing page.

4. Specificity Converts

Specificity converts and generalities tank.

If you want to generate better results with your headlines and drive higher conversion rates for your landing page, it starts with being very clear. You might push some people away, but your clarity will bring the right people into the fold.

Think in terms of specific claims and clarifying language. If you’re selling consulting services, don’t talk in terms of serving “business owners” or “entrepreneurs.” Get super specific about the types of business owners and entrepreneurs you’re communicating with. Are they small local restaurant owners? Are they growing digital marketing agencies?

Don’t make vague claims about how something works. Instead, use data, statistics, or quotes from customers. Always avoid the macro language when you have the opportunity to go macro. You’ll speak to a smaller group, but that group will be so much more invested in what you have to say.

5. Aim for the Sweet Spot

Length is another important element in headline writing. You want the headline to be short enough for a visitor to focus and long enough to include everything that needs to be mentioned. Where does the sweet spot lie?

According to one study, the human brain only has a certain capacity to process information. And if you want to grab peak focus and engagement, seven words is the bullseye. However, anything within the five to nine range generally performs quite well.

Don’t get too caught up on making headlines five to seven words in length, but avoid extremes. Anything super short – like one to three words – probably isn’t enough. Likewise, anything that’s 15 to 20 words is going to miss the mark.

6. Focus on the Visitor

The worst mistake – and one that’s unfortunately quite common – is to focus the headline on your brand or product. (Intuitively, this seems like the very thing you should be doing. But realistically, it’s a huge misstep that’s difficult to recover from.)

When you write a headline that’s brand-focused, you’re basically making yourself the focal point. You’re like the kid who stands on the table at a high school party and screams, “Look at me!” People might look, but they’re rolling their eyes.

Headlines should always, always, always be focused on your target customer. Your product might solve their problems, but leave the product out of it. Focus on benefits instead of solutions.

The best brands don’t try to position themselves as the hero. Instead, they position the customer as a hero and offer to be a guide who points them to a solution that makes their problem go away and/or fulfills their underlying desire. (This solution just so happens to be the product.)

7. Use Numbers

Listicles have emerged as a favorite style of copywriting in recent years. And though they can feel generic and repetitive, the truth is that they work. And the reason why is tied to the specificity of numbers.

Numbers are psychologically proven to generate a response in the brain. When the brain sees a digit amongst a sea of words, it has no choice but to slow down and process the number. It also establishes parameters and allows for easy classification. If you’re giving someone the “5 Reason Eating Red Meat is Good for Your Health,” it tells people exactly what to expect. They don’t have to go searching for the takeaways. They know there will be five – end of story.

Numbers are especially powerful when attached to a data point. Statistics and percentages are powerful on many levels – use them to your advantage.

8. Use Creative Wording

Generic and boring words won’t get you very far. Your headline is the curb appeal. If it doesn’t pull people in on an emotional level and communicate tangible value, people aren’t going to read on.

Creative wording doesn’t mean lying or embellishing. It doesn’t mean being flowery and over-the-top. It does, however, require you to improve your word choice.

Don’t have the deepest vocabulary? Use an online thesaurus or a book like Words That Sell to get ideas for more impactful language. Sometimes upgrading a single word can make a major difference in the perception of your landing page headline.

9. Ensure Body Copy Alignment

The headline is so important that you should dedicate a specific amount of time to brainstorming options and creating different options. (As Ogilvy’s rule states, you should spend at least half the amount of time it takes you to write the accompanying copy on the headline.) However, don’t get so lost in headline writing that you forget about the rest of the PPC landing page.

A headline is only effective if it has proper alignment with the body copy. Never mislead a visitor or make someone search for relevance. The headline can evoke curiosity and intrigue, but it can’t deliberately lead someone astray. You might get people to spend time on the landing page, but they won’t convert.

10. “Dress Up” Your Words for Emphasis

Word choice, sentence structure, and grammar are only part of what it takes to write a good headline. Sometimes you have to get creative with how a headline looks to the eye. And whether you realize it or not, you have a number of powerful tools you can leverage to analyze competitors and get results. They include:

  • Bold or underline when you want to double-down on specific words in the headline or draw attention to part of the copy.
  • Use italics when there’s part of the headline that you want to accentuate without totally breaking up the flow of the copy.
  • Use dashes and ellipses to set elements apart or create a natural pause in how the visitor reads the headline.
  • Use different colors to use the power of color psychology and influence how visitors perceive a particular headline.

As you can see, there are countless ways to improve a Search engines headline without even changing a word of copy. Success is in the details!

11. Study What Others Are Doing

Everyone wants to be original and flex their own creative muscles, but when it comes to writing headlines, your decision to leave the herd may actually hurt your ability to convert. This is one area of life where following the pack and mimicking what’s already been done helps.

According to one study, 200 of the best ads that produced significant sales and gained global recognition across a wide swath of industries were actually very similar to one another. In fact, 89 percent of these Google ads could be classified into one of six headline formulas.

It’s rare that you need to reinvent the wheel – simply installing the wheel correctly is enough to get you to where you need to be. Become a student of the game and build up your own library of effective formulas and examples to pull from. Never copy, but always mirror.

Formulas and Examples for High-Converting Landing Page Headlines

amy poehler GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers

Now that we’ve thoroughly dissected some elements and tips for crafting superior landing page headlines, let’s take a look at a few copy-and-paste formulas and high-converting examples that you can use to improve your results.

  • Did you know [blank]?
    Did you know this entrepreneur is the first self-made woman billionaire?
  • Did you know [blank] is [blank]?
    Did you know that wine is good for your heart?
  • How to [blank] and [benefit]
    How to buy a brand new car and impress your friends
  • The ultimate guide to [blank]: How to [blank] and [benefit]
    The ultimate guide to cash flow banking: How to take control and thrive
  • The #1 secret behind [blank]
    The #1 secret behind raising high-IQ children
  • The X secrets that [blank] don’t want you to know about [blank]
    The 7 secrets that mortgage companies don’t want you to know about low rates
  • Little known facts about [blank] (and why you should [blank])
    Little know facts about deep sea fishing (and why you should swap out your gear)
  • You’ll never be the same after discovering [blank]
    You’ll never be the same after discovering this brand new diet
  • Is your [blank] making you [blank]?
    Is your doctor making you sicker?

Feel free to add these formulas to your own personal swipe file and/or experiment with a few of them on your next landing page project. As always, you’ll want to tweak and test until you find the best fit for your landing page.

PPC.co: Your Partner in Conversions

Did you know that less than 25 percent of PPC ads produce any conversions? Yes, that’s right…more than 75 out of 100 PPC ad campaigns are able to convert clicks into customers. This means the majority of ad campaigns are a waste of time and money or your PPC agency is simply doing it wrong.

When your ad campaigns don’t work, it’s easy to blame the medium and assume that PPC ads or effective PPC landing page headlines don’t work. But if we’re being frank, it’s not that PPC doesn’t work – it’s that most agencies are doing it wrong.

At PPC.co, we work with small businesses and enterprise companies on a daily basis. And because we have such a large sample size and experienced track record working with a variety of brands in all industries, niches, and stages of growth, we know that PPC landing pages advertising works. We’ve also discovered that so much of the results depend on the post-click experience.

Want to learn more about how you can develop winning ad campaigns that meld compelling pre- and post-click experiences to generate results for your business? We’d love to fix your broken ad spend and help you boost the bottom line.

Contact PPC.co today and get a no-strings-attached audit and proposal for your next campaign! We have great incentives for those just starting out in PPC that may need some white label assistance!

Author
Recent Posts

Samuel Edwards

Chief Marketing Officer

Throughout his extensive 10+ year journey as a digital marketer, Sam has left an indelible mark on both small businesses and Fortune 500 enterprises alike. His portfolio boasts collaborations with esteemed entities such as NASDAQ OMX, eBay, Duncan Hines, Drew Barrymore, Price Benowitz LLP, a prominent law firm based in Washington, DC, and the esteemed human rights organization Amnesty International. In his role as a technical SEO and digital marketing strategist, Sam takes the helm of all paid and organic operations teams, steering client SEO services, link building initiatives, and white label digital marketing partnerships to unparalleled success. An esteemed thought leader in the industry, Sam is a recurring speaker at the esteemed Search Marketing Expo conference series and has graced the TEDx stage with his insights. Today, he channels his expertise into direct collaboration with high-end clients spanning diverse verticals, where he meticulously crafts strategies to optimize on and off-site SEO ROI through the seamless integration of content marketing and link building.

Latest posts by

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Author

Samuel Edwards

Chief Marketing Officer

Throughout his extensive 10+ year journey as a digital marketer, Sam has left an indelible mark on both small businesses and Fortune 500 enterprises alike. His portfolio boasts collaborations with esteemed entities such as NASDAQ OMX, eBay, Duncan Hines, Drew Barrymore, Price Benowitz LLP, a prominent law firm based in Washington, DC, and the esteemed human rights organization Amnesty International. In his role as a technical SEO and digital marketing strategist, Sam takes the helm of all paid and organic operations teams, steering client SEO services, link building initiatives, and white label digital marketing partnerships to unparalleled success. An esteemed thought leader in the industry, Sam is a recurring speaker at the esteemed Search Marketing Expo conference series and has graced the TEDx stage with his insights. Today, he channels his expertise into direct collaboration with high-end clients spanning diverse verticals, where he meticulously crafts strategies to optimize on and off-site SEO ROI through the seamless integration of content marketing and link building.

Related posts

Samuel Edwards
|
July 22, 2025
Web Hosting Providers: How to Generate Quality Leads with PPC Ads

When it comes to selling web hosting, you’re competing in a fierce market with thin margins and corporations with big budgets. According to data sourced by Hostinger, the top 10 hosting providers account for 33.6% of the global market, which is expected to reach $355.81 billion by 2029. And the top three cloud providers combined hold more than 60% of the cloud infrastructure market.

That’s some fierce competition. But when you take a closer look, some of the bigger companies have a slew of dissatisfied customers looking for alternatives, and many first-time buyers will sign up for a good deal if a web host seems legit. That leaves plenty of room for smaller hosting companies to thrive. In fact, your hosting services and customer support might outshine some of the big players. But when you run paid ads, you’re all competing in the same space. That means you need to level up your advertising strategies to capture your share of the market.

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising can be a powerful tool for acquiring hosting clients, but it can also be a fast way to tank your marketing budget. Make just one mistake and you’ll end up paying for clicks that don’t convert. To win, you need more than just good ads – you need a laser-targeted strategy, messaging that hits your market’s triggers, and landing pages that convert. You need to deliver the right ads to the right market at the right time. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Use intent-driven targeting

Not everyone searching for web hosting is the same and treating them as such will yield poor results. For instance, someone searching for “cheap web hosting” is going to make a price-driven decision, and someone searching for “WordPress hosting” wants to skip technical tasks. Although they might all end up purchasing the same hosting plan, you need to reach each group based on what’s driving their purchase decision. Your messaging – from ad to landing page – needs to guide each user down a path that speaks directly to their goals, fears, and expectations. This is done through segmentation.

To execute this, determine what groups of user intent you want to reach. For example, common groups in this market are bargain hunters, small businesses looking for reliability, companies governed by data privacy laws, and non-techies looking for managed hosting. 

When you run an ad campaign, you’ll set up a different ad group for each user intent so you can target them with their specific message. Ads displayed to each group will drive traffic to a corresponding landing page written exclusively for that persona. For instance, ads for “cheap web hosting” will lead to a landing page that highlights your low prices and special deals for paying years in advance. Ads targeting small businesses will lead to pages promoting 99.9% uptime, email tools, and reliability. The better you know your segments, the easier it is to tailor each funnel.

2. Study your competition relentlessly

Before you even think about creating your first paid ad, you should already know what your competitors are doing. And yes, even major hosting companies are your competitors regardless of the market you’re trying to reach. However, not everyone is happy with the big hosting companies so there’s space for smaller fish, but you have to play your marketing hand right. That starts with knowing what you’re up against and where there’s room for improvement.

Study your competitors deeply. Look at their websites, paid ads and landing pages, email newsletters, and everything else in-between. Once you visit their website, you should start seeing their paid ads across various channels, including Facebook and Google. Study the layouts, the copy, the headings, the pricing models, and look up their customer reviews. 

Next, use sites like Reddit and Trustpilot to find out what customers don’t like about your competitors. You’ll want to use that information to create compelling ads. For example, if you find a bunch of complaints about poor customer support, advertise 24/7 human support as part of your value proposition (as long as you actually offer it). If another competitor is hitting customers with hidden fees and annoying upsells, advertise transparent pricing and no surprise fees. If people complain about a confusing, highly technical user interface, make it known that yours is user-friendly.

You don’t want to copy your competitors’ ads – you want to outthink them by leveraging their missteps to create better hooks. Tech giants have million-dollar marketing budgets, and you don’t need to outspend them if you can outmaneuver them.

3. Keep ad headlines punchy

You only have around 0.4 seconds to make a user stop scrolling to look at your ad. Once they click, you have another 2.5 seconds to capture their attention. Whatever is on the other side of that click needs to be good. But to even get that far, you need to capture attention fast.

It’s said that the average person scrolls through the equivalent of around 300 feet of content every day. If your headlines aren’t scroll-stoppers, they won’t get any attention. But headlines that capture attention aren’t necessarily clever – they’re clear, compelling, and speak directly to what your market wants. For example, a web hosting ad headline that reads “Premium Web Hosting” isn’t compelling. On the other hand, “Launch Your Site in Minutes – No Tech Skills Required” will reel in clicks. 

The idea is to craft headlines that help people imagine their problem has been solved, whether it’s a faster launch, no tech headaches, or peace of mind. But it has to be accomplished in a split-second or users will just keep scrolling.

4. Don’t advertise tech specs in your ads

There was a time when web hosts sold packages by advertising better server resources, like more RAM and unlimited disk space, bandwidth, and MySQL databases. That type of advertising worked because most hosting packages offered extremely limited resources for a high price. Today, disk space and bandwidth aren’t an issue and most consumers don’t even know what basic server specs mean. 

Avoid advertising your hosting services by highlighting server resources and other tech specs. It’s not going to entice people. Even tech jargon that seems self-explanatory won’t be to your customers. For example, “Scalable VPS architecture with isolated containers” sounds smart, but it’s just noise to the average buyer. Sure, you should include that on your product pages so people who understand the lingo know what they’re getting but keep it out of your PPC ads. 

You only get so much space for your ad copy, so make it count. Use it to generate clicks from people who want to buy your hosting services now. If you advertise tech specs and rattle off tech jargon, you’ll get clicks from tire kickers and people who are just curious. To get clicks that count, use conversational language, short sentences, and clear calls to action (CTAs). If your grandma wouldn’t understand it, neither will your customers.

Don’t just sell space on a server. When you sell confidence, freedom, and simplicity with urgency, the value of your offer automatically increases and that’s what will generate relevant clicks.

5. Create a sense of urgency

You might have a solid offer and amazing hosting services, but unless users feel compelled to click now, they probably won’t. That’s why you need to create a sense of urgency to click. It’s what creates momentum and cuts through hesitation, pushing potential customers into action. If your ads don’t communicate a reason to act today, you’re giving users an invitation to bounce, get distracted, or go to a competitor. 

Create an irresistible offer that gives users a reason to act now, like a limited-time offer. However, this type of offer needs to be believable. You can use a count-down timer that tells people “This offer ends at midnight” or “Only 15 spots left.” These tactics work, but only when they’re done with integrity. If users come back a week later and see the same “limited-time” deal, you’ll lose credibility and you might end up on the FCC’s radar. So use scarcity and time sensitivity sparingly and follow through. 

Instead of using gimmicky offers, try these proven approaches:

·      Time-sensitive pricing. Most hosting companies offer dramatically discounted rates for the first year and additional discounts for paying up front for multiple years. This works well for price-conscious shoppers. Just be transparent about the cost after the discounted time period ends.

·      Free domain registration. Nearly every host offers free domain registration for the first year. You could do the same or offer free yearly domain renewal for the life of the account for the first 100 signups. This adds a layer of exclusivity while giving users a reason to act fast.

·      Free site migration. Most people don’t know how to transfer an existing website to a new host. Even technically inclined people struggle with this. Offering free site migration within the first 72 hours of signup can drive sales from users frustrated with their current host, but hesitant to move.

·      Access to priority support. People want to know they’ll be taken care of, and offering basic support isn’t enough. Plenty of companies advertise 24/7 support that turns out to be sub-par in reality. Customers know this. But when you make people feel like a priority, it catches their attention.

Target fears and offer immediate relief

Your potential customers have urgent problems to solve, but they don’t wake up with the intention of researching hosting plans. Most likely, your ads will show up for them when they’re not even thinking about hosting, but they’ll click if you promise to solve their problem.

Here’s how to work this into your ads:

Use phrases like:

·      “You can’t afford downtime.” If they’re with an unreliable hosting provider, you’ll capture their attention by emphasizing that switching now means immediate uptime. 

·      “No more battling with complex interfaces.” Highlight how your setup is stress-free. Many users have an aversion to learning complex interfaces like Plesk and cPanel. 

·      “We’ll transfer your site by the weekend for free.” That’s an instant win for users who fear the pain of switching hosts.

The bottom line is that urgency that connects to real pain points will always outperform generic flash sales.

Frame your offer as a rare opportunity, not a deal

Deals are everywhere, and consumers tune them out because they know they’re just sales gimmicks. Get their attention by phrasing your offers as an opportunity rather than just another deal. Make people feel like they’re getting something special by using phrases like “this offer ends Friday” or “only available to the first 50 new customers.” Reinforce the idea that hesitating means missing out and remember to follow through by closing your offers when they’re advertised to end. You can always wait a week and run another offer.

6. Develop your keyword strategy

Choosing your keywords is one of the most important components in developing a winning PPC strategy. But the words you target matter. You need to know the different keyword match types and how to use them. Because it’s not just about getting clicks – it’s about getting relevant clicks that convert. 

You want to target keywords that indicate buying intent, not curiosity. If you go for vague, broad keywords like “web hosting” or “build a website,” your net will be too wide and you’ll invite clicks from curious people rather than committed buyers. These keywords are high-volume, high-competition, and don’t support conversions.

Web hosting PPC keywords that indicate buying intent, like the following:

·      “Best WordPress hosting for ecommerce”

·      “Affordable VPS with cPanel”

·      “Web hosting for real estate agents”

·      “Fast hosting for Shopify stores”

These are examples of searches that tell you exactly what the user needs. When someone searches for these phrases, they’re already close to pulling out their credit card. General terms will generate a lot of impressions, but the clicks will just drain your advertising budget. 

Be strategic about avoiding keywords

Be cautious about bidding on phrases like “cheap web hosting” unless your business model is built around affordability. The big hosting companies already offer extremely good deals, and if you can’t compete with that, don’t advertise cheap hosting. People will see that you’re more expensive and bounce. Or, they’ll sign up for an account and require constant support from your team.

Use negative keywords

Build a strong negative keyword list to prevent your ads from showing up in irrelevant searches. Terms like “free,” “jobs,” “review,” “DIY,” “website builder,” “help,” “learn web hosting,” “courses,” “reviews,” “designer,” and “how to” might trigger your ads without generating conversions. If people use these terms in their search, they’re probably not looking for a web host.

Another tip is to include specific niche hosting you don’t offer that wouldn’t work on your existing plans. For example, exclude “forex hosting,” “HIPAA hosting,” “Git hosting,” and “Minecraft hosting” if you don’t offer these options.

If you’re stuck for ideas, don’t guess. Use Semrush to analyze your competitors’ ad campaigns; find out what keywords they’re bidding on and how much they’re spending on PPC. It may not be entirely accurate, but it will give you a good idea of where to start.

Review your search terms report weekly 

Don’t forget to check in with your reports to find out what searches are triggering your ads. If you find random phrases like “how to host a party,” trim down your keyword lists and add the irrelevant phrases, like “party,” to your negative keyword list.

Ready to dominate the web hosting market?

At PPC.co, we’ll help you build an advertising ecosystem that captures your ideal market. From market research to laser-focused landing pages and optimized funnels, we help web hosting providers turn clicks into loyal customers. Whether you’re tired of campaigns that cost a fortune or you’re just getting started with PPC, contact us now and let’s build a PPC strategy that actually pays off.

Samuel Edwards
|
June 11, 2025
How to Get Coaching Leads Through Cost-Effective PPC Campaigns

Whether you’re a life coach or a business coach, you need a steady flow of leads to stay profitable. It’s not enough to post on social media. No matter how popular you become, being well-liked and even loved doesn’t guarantee clients.

For coaching businesses, pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns can be a powerful way to attract high-intent leads – people actively looking for transformation, accountability, and clarity. But you can’t just throw some ads up on Google and expect results. You need a strategy that uses the right targeting, messaging, and structure to avoid expensive lessons in trial and error.

In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials of building cost-effective PPC campaigns designed specifically for coaches who want conversions, clients, and growth.

Everything begins with keyword research

The first step to creating any high-performing PPC campaign is identifying what your potential clients are searching for online. PPC ads show up in search results (Google, Bing) and social media feeds (Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok) based on the phrases users type into the search bar when looking for content.

To get your ads seen by your ideal clients, you’ll need to tap into their innermost thoughts – like a burned out executive searching TikTok at 2:00 a.m. for “how to find my purpose” or “how to get a promotion.” You’ll want to target searches that indicate the user is unhappy and is looking for a solution that coaching can help them achieve.

Not all keywords are equal. You’ll get more leads that convert by targeting keywords that indicate a user is ready to take action. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, and Ubersuggest to find keywords with strong intent. High-intent searches might include phrases like:

·  Business coach for entrepreneurs

·  Life coaching to reduce stress

·  Life coaching to find my purpose

·  How to grow my small business fast

·  Career transition coaching

These and similar phrases related to your coaching business will be the foundation for your paid ad campaign on any platform.

Understand the customer journey

The customer journey consists of three stages that lead someone into the buying stage:

·  Stage 1: Awareness. The prospect is aware they need help, but they don’t know exactly what they need or how to get it.

·  Stage 2: Consideration. The prospect has named their problem and are actively looking for a solution.

·  Stage 3: Decision. The prospect knows they want to work with a coach, and they’re in the process of deciding who to work with.

If you’re running a full marketing campaign with email marketing, you’ll want to run ads that address leads in all three stages. The people you capture in stages one and two will need to be nurtured over time through email. Leads you capture in stage 3 can be more easily turned into a paying client faster. If you aren’t capturing emails yet, only target leads in stages two and three for the best results.

Define multiple client avatars for ideal targeting

No matter what type of coach you are, your ideal clients will have a variety of goals and pain points. Not everyone will share the same concerns or desires. For example, some business owners want to grow their business and open new locations, while others want to build a stronger team or increase their revenue. Some life coaching clients want better relationships while others want to find their life purpose. When you run ads, your target market needs to think, “this ad is for me.” Generic copy won’t cut it.

Your ad copy should target one avatar at a time

You’ll need to run a different ad campaign aimed at each client avatar. To get the most conversions, you’ll need to reach one avatar at a time. Speaking to one avatar in your ads and landing page copy allows you to go deep into their needs, fears, hopes, worries, and concerns. The more specifically you can connect with people, the more likely they are to convert.

To figure out what your ideal clients want, think about their struggles and the potential keywords they might be searching on various platforms. For example, a lot of people are unhappy at work. In this case, potential keywords they might be searching for include:

·  How to find a job that doesn’t suck

·  How to handle conflict at work

·  How to win respect at work

Once you know the pain points you want to target, craft your messages so they speak to emotional triggers. People respond to a sense of urgency (“Burned out? Don’t wait”), personal growth promises (“Find your life purpose in 90 days”), and emotional relief (“Stop second-guessing yourself”). Speak to where your ideal client is right now and show them you can take them where they want to be.

Using this information, you’ll craft ads with headlines, copy, and corresponding landing page copy that speaks directly to your ideal clients. For example, your ads might look like this:

Ad #1 Example

Problem/Keyword search: How to find a job that doesn’t suck

Ad headline: Hate Mondays? Let’s Fix That.

Ad copy:

You spend 90,000 hours of your life at work. Shouldn’t more of them feel fulfilling? Learn how to reconnect with purpose and enjoy what you do. Book your free clarity call now.

Ad #2 Example

Problem/Keyword search: How to handle conflict at work

Ad headline: Tired of Office Drama? Here’s Your Way Out

Ad copy:

Learn strategies to set boundaries and manage work conflict like a pro. Click for a free strategy session.

Ad #3 Example

Problem/Keyword search: How to win respect at work

Ad headline: Feel Invisible at Work? Let’s Change That

Ad copy:

You’ve got the skills. You put in the hours. But the recognition never follows. Sound familiar? Respect isn’t about being louder – it’s about confidence, clarity, and strategy. Book your free consultation and finally be recognized for your full value.

Use dedicated landing pages optimized for conversions

Just like each of your ads target a specific avatar, your landing pages need to do the same. Don’t send traffic to your homepage. Your landing page should reflect exactly what your ad promised.

If your ad says, “Executive Coaching for Burnout Recovery,” then the landing page should address burnout, speak directly to executive professionals, and offer a call-to-action (CTA) for a discovery call.

Effective landing pages consist of the following elements:

·  A dedicated page made just for your ad

·  A seamless transition from ad to landing page

·  A clear headline that addresses the pain point directly

·  Testimonials or results from real clients if possible

·  A strong CTA, like “Book your free 30-minute breakthrough session”

·  A clickable phone number or link to book a call immediately

Remember, you’re not selling coaching services. You’re selling a better version of your prospect’s life. Make sure your copy reflects that.

Be generous with your budget

Coaches often underspend on ads, thinking they can game the system with just $5/day. That’s not an effective strategy. What you may not realize is that setting a low budget actually reduces the number of people who see your ad. Your ad visibility increases the more you spend.

Start with a modest, but meaningful budget of at least $1,500-$2,000 per month. The good news is your cost per click (CPC) will be significantly lower than other industries, like legal and insurance. However, if you’re not sure how to set a PPC budget or handle bidding strategies, hire a professional PPC agency to manage your ads. It’s the easiest way to avoid costly mistakes.

How to target the right people at the right time

Your ads should target the right people at the right time.

First, think about your ideal client who is looking for your services.

Who hires coaches? Usually, it’s:

·  Entrepreneurs who feel stuck or overwhelmed

·  People who want to start a business, but don’t know where to begin

·  Mid-level professionals seeking career growth

·  High achievers facing burnout

·  People at a personal crossroads (divorce, job loss, mid-life crisis, etc.)

Once you pinpoint who might be looking for your services, you’ll need to choose the right advertising platforms. Your main options are:

·  Google Ads

·  TikTok Ads

·  Instagram Ads

·  Pinterest Ads

·  Facebook Ads

·  LinkedIn Ads

·  YouTube Ads

Advertising on each of these platforms comes with pros and cons – some are specific to coaching services. For example, while Pinterest is likely cheaper than Google, Pinterest leads might not be committed. However, TikTok and YouTube users frequently search for solutions to specific problems.

Don’t skip TikTok Ads

You might be surprised to learn that TikTok is a gold mine for coaching businesses. It’s not just an app for teens. Over 71% of TikTok’s users are between 18-34 years old, and 32% are 25-34 years old.

Unlike other platforms, TikTok doesn’t function like a typical social media platform where the purpose is to build a community. It’s more like an outreach platform and people are constantly discovering new content creators. The algorithm’s goal is to get as many people watching content for as long as possible. To achieve this, users are given content based on their interests, not just from people they follow. You don’t need followers or viral content to get seen. Each video stands alone in the algorithm and has an equal chance at getting attention.

People use TikTok to find insights and advice on just about everything you can imagine, including personal and business-related situations. While you can run ads on TikTok without a following, it helps to have an established account with solid content. You’ll build more momentum this way, and you can boost your native content to earn more trust across the platform.

Additionally, TikTok ads can target users based on hashtag interactions. People use hashtags on TikTok to find content more than any other platform. If you’re not advertising on TikTok, you’re missing out on clients.

Coaching clients aren’t impulse buyers, and they need to see your face and personality to know if they want to work with you. Wherever you run ads, you can expect people to click on your account to check you out. You’ll get more conversions by publishing short, engaging videos that show your authenticity and provide inspiration and support.

Whichever platform(s) you choose to advertise on, make use of custom audiences to target your potential leads as specifically as possible.

Negative keywords will weed out freebie seekers

Everyone wants clarity, but not everyone wants to pay for it. That’s why you need to block certain searches using negative keywords. You don’t want your ads to show up for people who are just curious, looking for freebies, or looking for unrelated services. They’ll just click on your ads, waste your ad budget, and potentially waste your time if they sign up for a free call.

Suggested negative keywords for coaches include:

·  Free coaching session

·  Coach training program (these people want to be coaches, not hire one)

·  Sample coaching questions

·  Coaching worksheets pdf

Defining these and similar negative keywords will keep your clicks high-quality and your cost per lead low.

Track conversions (not vanity metrics)

It can be exciting to see how many people are viewing and clicking on your ads, and there is a time and place to assess impressions and clicks. However, unless you’re focused on optimizing your ads, forget click-through rates (CTR) and look at how many calls you’re getting booked, how many contact forms are being submitted, and how many email addresses you’re collecting through your lead magnet downloads.

It’s crucial to know which campaigns are bringing you results so you can cut the ones that aren’t working.

Run retargeting ads to catch the ones who got away

People don’t usually buy high-ticket coaching packages the first time around. They need time to research, investigate, and consider their options. You might get some clicks and email signups from your ads that don’t turn into paying clients right away. That’s where remarketing comes in.

Set up ads on Google and Facebook to follow users who have already clicked on your ads and visited your website. Since these ads will be displayed only to people who have already interacted with your brand, you can use different value points to engage them, like testimonials, free guides, and limited-time offers.

Facebook retargeting options are pretty specific compared to other platforms. Since Facebook and Instagram are both owned by Meta, you can target people who have interacted with your Instagram page, too. You can even upload a list of your existing email subscribers from your segment that hasn’t yet converted and target them with relevant ads.

Ready to fill your calendar? Partner with PPC.co

At PPC.co, we help life and business coaches run PPC campaigns that turn clicks into clients. Whether you’re scaling a coaching business or launching your first program, we’ll help you connect with the people actively searching for your services.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s start turning your ads into paying clients.

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