One of the most helpful tools you can use when promoting your Web site is Google AdWords. This is a program from Google that allows you to reach new customers with the help of Google's powerful search engine. With AdWords, you can get your message out there, with your Web site showing up when other people search for products and services that you offer. 

How Google AdWords works 

Google AdWords works by plugging your Web site into the millions of Internet searches run each day. Each time someone searches a term, it shows up on the results page. This page features sponsored ads on the top of the page, and on the right hand side of the page, and are highlighted. Other results (which are not highlighted) are more organic, or "natural", popping up according to the algorithmic factors Google uses to sort out the most relevant results. If you have AdWords, though, you end up in the sponsored section, without having to worry about whether or not your Web site ranks high for the search terms. 

Another feature is that other Web site owners and bloggers can add search results to their own Web sites. This means that in some cases related products and services are advertised using Google results on the page. This allows you to get a little more exposure on blogs and other sites that may be related in some way to the products and services that you sell. 

Of course, online advertising is not free; you have to pay for it. Luckily, it is not too hard to pay for AdWords. It is set up on a pay-per-click system in which you only pay when someone clicks on your ad and goes to your Web site. A portion of any sale you make also goes to pay for AdWords advertising. However, it is usually not that expensive. And, you can offset the cost of using AdWords by allowing Google to place ads on your site or blog. That way, when people click through on the ads on your site, you get a portion of the sale. These earnings can actually be used to offset the costs incurred by advertising your own keywords. 

Getting AdWords credit from your host 

When you are just starting out with a Web site, the costs can quickly add up. You have to pay for Web design, hosting space, ecommerce items payment gateways, shopping carts, etc.) and more. Advertising can fall way down on your list of priorities. However, it can help ease the burden if you sign up with a Web host that offers an ecommerce hosting package that includes AdWords credit when you sign up. Some Web hosts will include between $50 and $100 of AdWords credits when you sign up for hosting. This can be a great way to get your Web site launch off the right foot, providing you with instant and free advertising. This can alert potential customers to your existence, and help you find customers at the get-go. 

You do need to be careful to set up your own AdWords account, though, and make sure that everything is in proper order. That way, you will be able to continue to use AdWords, even after you have used up your credits. When you go to sign up for a Web hosting account, ask your host if you can get some AdWords credits as part of the ecommerce hosting package. It only makes sense.