The Guardian (Nigeria)

Businesses in Nigeria, SSA tasked on Google- powered AI

- By Adeyemi Adepetun

FOLLOWING its initial announceme­nt in January, businesses across Africa can now use Google's Gemini AIpowered chat- like tool for Search Ads.

This intuitive tool is now fully operationa­l and designed to help businesses in Africa and across the world boost their online visibility.

Google, which disclosed this yesterday, said in regions like Sub- Saharan Africa, where Internet penetratio­n is rapidly increasing, the ability to effectivel­y reach customers through online advertisin­g is becoming increasing­ly crucial for business growth.

Google said its conversati­onal experience takes the complexity out of ad creation, empowering businesses of any size to easily craft campaigns that resonate with local audiences.

VP and GM of Search Ads & Ads on Google Experience­s, Shashi Thakur, said: "Creating effective ads can be timeconsum­ing, especially for small businesses. Our new conversati­onal experience helps businesses of all sizes tap into the power of Google AI to create successful Search campaigns with remarkable ease."

On how the conversati­onal experience, Google said:

“Easy to Get Started: Simply provide a website address, and Google AI will automatica­lly analyse the content.

“Tailored Suggestion­s: The AI generates relevant keywords, ad headlines, and descriptio­ns, inspired by a business and its target region.

“Visual Inspiratio­n: Need ad images? Google AI pulls visuals from a website or creates new ones.

“You're Still in Control: Advertiser­s review and approve all AI- generated elements, ensuring ads reflect their brand.”

Google said the introducti­on of this conversati­onal experience has led to tangible benefits for businesses utilising the platform, with businesses using the conversati­onal experience in Google Ads being 42 per cent more likely to publish Search campaigns with ‘ Good’ or ‘ Excellent’ Ad Strength. This strong ad quality has been shown to directly increase conversion­s.

The American firm said this developmen­t is part of Google's broader initiative to empower small businesses in Africa and globally, by facilitati­ng the creation of impactful Search ads.

It said by automatica­lly generating headlines and descriptio­ns based on existing website content, Google's AI enables ads to dynamicall­y respond to relevant searches. This adaptive approach ensures that small businesses can effectivel­y capture the attention of potential customers, enhancing their visibility in search results.

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