Facebook Cookbook

Spreading Your App via Google AdWords

Problem

I’d like to advertise my app on Google AdWords. Will that generate a lot of traffic?

Solution

AdWords is a great platform for promoting non-Facebook sites, but it’s not ideal for getting people into your app. Most of the people who are in the right frame of mind to install Facebook apps are on Facebook, which means that ads they see while they’re on Google are going to be less effective at getting them to install. You can find out more, and sign up, at http://adwords.google.com.

Discussion

As with everything else, you might find that AdWords works extremely well for your app’s unique circumstances where it has failed for others. Keep close tabs on the traffic you earn from it by driving users to unique AdWords landing pages within your app, and make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth by checking what users do after they’ve arrived. (AdWords is always pay-per-click, so it’s more a question of whether they install or invite friends.)