When most people think of online advertising, they immediately think of Google Ads. But there’s a powerful alternative that’s often overlooked: Bing Ads, now known as Microsoft Advertising.
Why It Matters:
Lower cost-per-click (CPC):
Microsoft Ads can cost 30–50% less than Google Ads.
Less competition:
Many industries are underutilizing Bing, leaving valuable traffic on the table.
Powerful audience:
Bing powers Yahoo, AOL, MSN, and is the default search engine on Windows Edge, Cortana, and many desktops—especially in corporate, older, and higher-income demographics.
LinkedIn integration:
Unique to Microsoft Ads, you can target by job title, company, orindustry, which is perfect for B2B.
If you’re a small business looking to diversify your marketing strategy or reduce ad costs, Bing Ads is a smart place to start.
Importing Google Ads Campaigns to Microsoft Ads
The easiest way to get started with Bing Ads is by importing your existing Google Ads campaigns.
Step-by-Step:
Sign in or create a Microsoft Ads account at ads.microsoft.com.
Click “Import from Google Ads.”
Follow the prompts to connect your Google Ads account.
Choose which campaigns, budgets, and settings to import.
Review and customize for Bing’s ecosystem.
Tip: Microsoft Ads supports many Google Ads features, but double-check bids, device targeting, and location settings after import.
Take Advantage of Demographic Targeting
Microsoft Ads gives you granular control over your audience, helping you fine-tune your ad spend.
Key Demographic Options:
Age
Gender
Device type
(desktop, tablet, mobile)
Location
Time of day / day of week
Language
How to Use It:
Adjust bids up or down for specific age ranges (e.g., +20% for ages 35–54)
Exclude demographics that are not relevant (e.g., 18–24 for senior services)
Use time scheduling to show ads only when your office is open
Tip: Bing Ads’ desktop dominance makes it great for targeting professionals, older users, and researchers.
Use LinkedIn Profile Targeting (Exclusive to Microsoft Ads)
One of Microsoft Ads’ most powerful features is LinkedIn profile targeting—not available on Google.
Target By:
Company
Industry
Job function
Example Use Cases:
A business coach targeting HR professionals
A SaaS company targeting IT managers
A recruiter targeting people working at specific companies
How to Set It Up:
Create a search or audience campaign.
In the “Demographics” section, select “LinkedIn targeting.”
Choose job titles, industries, or companies.
Set bid adjustments to prioritize these segments.
Tip: This is extremely effective for B2B lead generation, webinars, or niche services.
Set Up Bing Shopping Campaigns for E-Commerce
If you sell products online, Microsoft Shopping Campaigns can display your products directly in search results—just like Google Shopping.
Requirements:
A Microsoft Merchant Center account
Product feed (XML or automated via platform like Shopify)
Active Microsoft Ads account
How to Launch:
Set up Microsoft Merchant Center and submit your product feed.
Link the Merchant Center to your Ads account.
Create a Shopping Campaign.
Define your targeting, budget, and product groups.
Where Your Products Appear:
Bing.com search results
Microsoft Start
MSN
Yahoo Search
Edge browser’s shopping interface
Tip: Bing Shopping often has lower CPCs than Google and reaches users in purchase-ready mode.
Final Thoughts – Why SMBs Shouldn’t Overlook Bing Ads
If you’re only advertising on Google, you’re missing a portion of your audience—and likely overpaying for it.
Bing Ads Benefits Recap:
Lower competition and CPCs
Access to high-income, desktop-based users
Powerful B2B targeting via LinkedIn
Seamless Google Ads import
Great eCommerce support via Shopping Campaigns
Bing Ads can help you diversify your ad strategy, reach untapped audiences, and improve ROI—especially if you’re in B2B, home services, professional services, or online retail.
What to Do Next
Create a Microsoft Ads account
Import your Google campaigns or set up a new one
Explore demographic and LinkedIn targeting
Test Bing Shopping if you sell products online
Monitor and compare performance against Google Ads
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ETOS Consulting LLC is a digital marketing agency specialized in websites, SEO, advertising and cold outreach. We offer result-focused digital marketing services that cater to established businesses and startups eager to carve out their niche, scale their operations, and dominate their markets.