Step-By-Step Guide To Add A Business To Google Maps 2026

In 2026, the world of paid search is evolving fast. Savvy marketers know it is not just about Google anymore. Microsoft’s ads bing platform is gaining ground with its growing market share, unique LinkedIn integration, and powerful AI features.

By exploring Ads Bing, you can tap into lower costs per click, reach affluent and often untapped audiences, and access innovative tools not found elsewhere. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from understanding the Bing Ads ecosystem to campaign setup, advanced targeting, optimisation strategies, and future trends.

Let us help you master Bing Ads for maximum ROI in 2026.

Understanding Bing Ads in 2026: Platform Overview & Evolution

Bing Ads, now known as Microsoft Advertising, has quickly grown into a dynamic ecosystem that stretches far beyond the Bing search engine itself. In 2026, Ads Bing will be present across not only Bing but also Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Outlook.com, Xbox, and a wide range of Windows apps. This expansion means your campaigns can reach people wherever they browse, work, or play in the Microsoft universe.

The journey from Bing Ads to Microsoft Advertising marked a major transformation. This rebrand was more than a name change—it signalled a shift towards a truly multi-channel, cross-device advertising platform. Whether someone is searching on Edge, checking emails on Outlook, or gaming on Xbox, Ads Bing are there, offering marketers new ways to connect with audiences.

Let’s explore some recent figures that show just how impactful Microsoft Advertising has become. According to Bing Ads marlet share Statistics, Bing holds around 7% of the US search market and 4% globally. That equates to over one billion unique monthly visitors and a staggering 724 million users worldwide. Importantly, Bing’s audience is distinct: over 70% are aged 35 or older, and many have higher household incomes. Even more compelling, Microsoft’s network reaches 66 million users who don’t use Google at all.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

What sets Ads Bing apart is their seamless integration with the wider Microsoft ecosystem. Thanks to partnerships with Yahoo and AOL, your ads don’t just stay within Microsoft’s own properties. They branch out, appearing on popular sites and email platforms, giving you access to a broader, often more affluent audience.

Another game-changer in 2026 is Microsoft’s investment in artificial intelligence. With AI-powered features—including the integration of ChatGPT—Ads Bing can leverage conversational search, smarter targeting, and more relevant ad placements. This means your campaigns are not only more visible but also more likely to connect with the right people at the right moment.

Bing’s close relationship with LinkedIn adds another layer of value. Marketers can tap into professional data for highly targeted B2B campaigns, something unique to Microsoft Advertising. Combined with the ability to reach users across devices—from desktops and tablets to Xbox consoles—Ads Bing gives you a powerful toolkit for engaging audiences wherever they are.

All of these advancements point to one clear insight: Bing Ads are no longer just a backup plan for paid search. In 2026, they’re a core platform for ambitious marketers and businesses eager to diversify their reach, lower their costs, and tap into new audiences. If you’re looking to stay ahead in the evolving PPC landscape, mastering ads bing is a smart move.

Key Features and Unique Advantages of Bing Ads

Unlocking the full power of Ads Bing means understanding the unique tools and features that set Microsoft Advertising apart. As we dive into the core advantages of the platform, you’ll see why so many marketers are making it a key part of their paid search strategy in 2026.

Advanced Targeting Capabilities

One of the most compelling aspects of Ads Bing is its advanced targeting toolkit. Microsoft Advertising uniquely allows you to target users based on their LinkedIn profiles, including job title, employer, and industry. This is a game-changer for B2B brands, letting you reach decision-makers with true precision. If you want to learn more, explore Microsoft Advertising LinkedIn integration features.

In-market audience segments also let you connect with users actively researching products or services, but with less competition than on Google. Cross-device targeting means your ads can follow users across Windows, Xbox, Edge, and mobile. Add in powerful geo, demographic, and device filters, and you’ve got a targeting suite that helps you reach the right audience at the right time.

For example, a B2B software provider can directly reach IT managers at specific companies, boosting lead quality and campaign efficiency with Ads Bing.

Ad Formats and Extensions

When it comes to creative options, ads bing offers a rich mix of ad formats and extensions designed to capture attention and drive action. Multimedia Ads blend text, images, and video, providing standout visibility on the search results page. Video extensions let you create more immersive ads, complete with audio and captions for accessibility.

Action Extensions, such as “Subscribe” or “Download Now,” make your calls-to-action highly visible and engaging. Responsive Search Ads enable you to provide multiple headlines and descriptions, with Ads Bing automatically testing combinations to find top performers.

These formats allow you to tailor your message, boost click-through rates, and deliver a seamless experience across devices.

Import and Integration Tools

Switching to Ads Bing from other platforms is refreshingly simple, thanks to built-in import and integration capabilities. You can directly import campaigns from Google Ads, even scheduling automated imports to keep them in sync. This makes scaling your PPC efforts much quicker and less resource-intensive.

Integration with analytics and tracking tools, such as the Universal Event Tracking (UET) tag, allows you to monitor conversions and optimise with confidence. Agencies, in particular, appreciate how quickly they can onboard new clients by importing proven campaigns and adapting them for Ads Bing.

This seamless workflow means you can focus on growth, not admin.

Performance Metrics and Reporting

Transparency is at the heart of Ads Bing. The platform provides a robust set of performance metrics, including top impression share, absolute top, and reasons for lost impressions such as rank or budget. These insights help you spot opportunities and fine-tune your bids for better results.

Average cost-per-click (CPC) is often 35 to 70 percent lower than Google’s, with some industries like automotive and insurance seeing even higher returns on ad spend (ROAS). With detailed reporting, you can track ROI, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions that boost your bottom line.

You always know where your money is going with Ads Bing.

Editorial Quality and Brand Safety

Finally, Ads Bing shines when it comes to editorial quality and brand safety. Microsoft’s Audience Network places a strong emphasis on premium, editorially vetted placements, such as MSN and Outlook. This reduces the risk of your ads appearing on low-quality or inappropriate sites.

With Ads Bing, you benefit from a cleaner, more trustworthy advertising environment. This focus on quality helps protect your brand image and ensures your message resonates with the right audience.

In summary, these features and advantages make Ads Bing an essential platform for advertisers who want to reach valuable audiences, maximize ROI, and enjoy advanced tools in 2026.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up and Launching Bing Ads Campaigns

Ready to launch your first ads bing campaign? This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything, from account creation to ongoing optimisation. Whether you are new to Microsoft Advertising or looking to refine your approach for 2026, we are here to make the process simple, actionable, and effective.

Let us dive in together and set the stage for your Ads Bing success.

Account Creation & Setup

Getting started with Ads Bing begins at ads.microsoft.com. Create your account and choose whether to import campaigns from Google or start fresh. You will set your time zone and preferred currency, which cannot be changed later, so double-check these details.

Next, enter your business information, including address and contact details. Setting up billing is straightforward, with options for manual or automatic payments. Microsoft accepts major credit cards, PayPal, and invoicing for qualified businesses.

Verification is crucial. Confirm your email and phone number to unlock all features. For advanced tracking, implement the Universal Event Tracking (UET) tag on your website. This enables conversion tracking and remarketing, giving you essential insights for your ads bing campaigns.

Campaign Structure & Keyword Research

Start by defining your campaign goals. Are you aiming for search visibility, audience targeting, or multimedia reach? Ads bing offers flexibility, so select the objective that aligns with your growth plan.

Use Bing’s keyword planner to uncover low-competition, high-intent terms. Focus on keywords where your business can stand out. Segment your campaign into ad groups based on product, service, or audience type for higher relevance and better quality scores.

For example, a niche e-commerce store can tap into in-market audience segments, targeting shoppers actively looking for your products. Organising your ads bing campaigns this way ensures your budget is used efficiently and your message reaches the right people.

Ad Creation & Extensions

Crafting effective Ads Bing copy starts with understanding your audience. Write headlines and descriptions that speak to their needs and aspirations. Keep messages clear, direct, and benefit-focused.

Leverage ad extensions to boost your presence. Sitelinks can showcase different pages, callouts highlight offers, and action extensions prompt users to “Subscribe” or “Download Now.” Video and multimedia extensions can help you stand out on the search results page.

Responsive Search Ads are a must. Enter multiple headlines and descriptions, and Microsoft’s AI will test combinations to find what resonates. For instance, a local service business using call and location extensions can drive calls and foot traffic through Ads Bing with ease.

Targeting & Bidding Strategies

Ads bing shines with its advanced targeting. Layer LinkedIn profile targeting—such as job title, industry, or company—onto your campaigns for unmatched B2B reach. Combine these with demographic and in-market audience targeting to zero in on your best prospects.

Set geo-targeting for local or regional focus, and adjust bids by device or time of day. Choose between manual bidding for granular control or automated strategies for AI-powered optimisation.

An example: A B2B campaign can layer LinkedIn targeting with in-market segments, ensuring Ads Bing delivers high-value leads at the right time. This precision targeting helps you maximize every pound spent.

Launch, Monitoring, and Optimisation

Once your ads bing campaign is ready, set your initial budget and launch. Use prominence metrics to track where your ads appear—are you getting top-of-page exposure? Monitor conversions with your UET tag and analyse performance daily.

A/B test different ad copy, extensions, and landing pages to see what works best. Set up automated rules for budget pacing and bid adjustments to keep your campaigns running smoothly, even outside working hours.

Retailers, for instance, can compare standard ads against multimedia versions to measure engagement. For those managing multiple platforms, the Google Campaign Management Guide offers insights for optimising both Google and Ads Bing campaigns side by side, helping you refine your strategy for maximum ROI.

Optimising Bing Ads for Maximum ROI in 2026

Staying ahead in digital advertising means constantly refining your approach. To help you get the most from your ads bing campaigns in 2026, we will explore the latest optimisation tactics. By leveraging AI, advanced audience strategies, creative best practices, data-driven decisions, and smart budget management, you can achieve outstanding ROI and turn every click into a real opportunity.

Leveraging AI and Automation

AI is transforming how we manage Ads Bing campaigns. The integration of ChatGPT and Copilot into Bing Ads means advertisers can now create conversational ad placements that feel more natural and engaging for users.

Automated bid strategies use AI to analyse thousands of data points in real time. This ensures your ads bing campaigns adjust bids for each user and context, maximising conversions while keeping costs in check. Smart segmentation further boosts efficiency by automatically grouping audiences based on their behaviour and intent.

For example, an e-commerce retailer might see a sharp uplift in sales after letting AI-driven adjustments reallocate spend to high-performing keywords and audiences. The result? More sales, less wasted budget, and a campaign that feels almost self-improving.

Advanced Audience Strategies

Targeting the right audience is at the heart of successful ads bing strategies. Microsoft Advertising’s unique advantage is its deep integration with LinkedIn. You can layer LinkedIn profile data—like job title, company, and industry—on top of in-market segments and remarketing lists.

Combining these audiences lets you create hyper-targeted campaigns. Imagine a SaaS company reaching IT managers who have recently researched cloud software and previously visited their site. Sequential messaging across desktop, mobile, and Xbox helps nurture these users from first touch to conversion.

With Ads Bing, you can build a journey that feels personal and timely, increasing your chances of turning prospects into loyal customers.

Creative Best Practices

Standing out in a crowded digital space means your creative work needs to shine. Multimedia and video ads are now front and centre in ads bing, offering high visibility and rich engagement. Use accessible design—think subtitles, clear visuals, and audio cues—to reach more users.

Testing is crucial. Experiment with headlines, visuals, and calls to action to see what resonates with your audience. Responsive Search Ads automate much of this process, showing the best combinations based on live performance data.

One brand increased click-through rates by 30% simply by adding video extensions and bold action buttons to their ads bing campaigns. Small creative tweaks can lead to big results.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Great optimization starts with accurate data. Ads bing provides detailed prominence metrics, conversion tracking, and transparent reporting tools. Analysing these metrics helps you fine-tune bids, adjust ad copy, and allocate budget where it matters most.

Attribution modelling tracks conversions across devices and channels, ensuring you understand the full customer journey. Multi-location businesses, for example, can use performance data to shift spend between regions, maximising returns everywhere they operate.

For deeper insights on advanced PPC strategies, see the Master Paid Search in 2026 guide, which covers optimisation approaches that work across both Bing and Google platforms.

Budget Management & Scaling

Smart budget management is key for sustained growth. Adjust your Ads Bing budgets based on seasonality, trends, and campaign performance. Automated rules can help pace spend and prevent overspending during slower periods.

When a campaign performs well, scaling is straightforward. Use Automated Imports to expand successful campaigns or tap into new audience segments across the Microsoft network. For example, an e-commerce business might start locally, then use ads bing’s broad reach to grow nationally without losing efficiency.

By blending automation, targeting, creativity, and data, your ads bing strategy can deliver exceptional ROI, helping you stay ahead in 2026 and beyond.

Bing Ads vs. Google Ads: Comparative Insights for 2026

Choosing between ads bing and Google Ads in 2026 can feel like picking between two giants, each with its own strengths. To help you navigate this landscape, let's break down the most important differences and see how each platform can boost your paid search success.

Market Share & Audience Differences

When it comes to reach, Google Ads still dominates with a massive 92% global market share. However, ads bing has carved out a loyal and unique audience, holding 7% in the US and 4% globally. That translates to over 1 billion monthly unique visitors, many of whom are not found on Google.

The Ads Bing audience tends to be older and more affluent, with over 70% aged 35 and above. There are 66 million users on Ads Bing who never search on Google. This gives businesses a chance to connect with valuable, often overlooked segments.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Cost, Ad Formats & Targeting

If you want to stretch your budget, ads bing offers lower average CPCs, often 35-70% less than Google. Some industries, like automotive and insurance, see even higher ROAS on Ads Bing.

Where Ads Bing shines is in targeting and ad formats. Thanks to exclusive LinkedIn integration, you can reach users by job title, industry, or company—something Google Ads does not provide. Multimedia ads and Action Extensions help your message stand out on Bing’s search results, while in-market audiences give you access to users ready to buy but with less competition.

Platform Integration, Limitations & Use Cases

One of the biggest advantages of Ads Bing is how deeply it connects with the Microsoft ecosystem—think Windows, Edge, Xbox, and especially LinkedIn. Importing campaigns from Google Ads is simple, making it easy to test both platforms side by side.

However, ads bing has fewer ad formats and less third-party integration compared to Google. Targeting options are expanding but remain narrower in some niches. For many businesses, the sweet spot is using both platforms to cover all bases.

If you want expert help blending your PPC strategy across both platforms, check out PPC and Google Ads Services.

Why a Dual-Platform Strategy Matters

So when should you use ads bing, and when is Google better? If your target audience is older, more affluent, or B2B-focused, Ads Bing can deliver outstanding value. For maximum reach and diverse ad types, Google is still king.

The real magic happens when you use both together. You get broader coverage, better cost efficiency, and the flexibility to pivot based on what works best for your business. In 2026, a dual-platform approach is no longer optional—it’s essential for smart marketers who want the edge.

Future Trends and Innovations in Bing Ads

The landscape of paid search is evolving rapidly, and Ads Bing are at the heart of this transformation. As we look toward 2026, Microsoft is pushing boundaries with technology and user experience. Marketers should prepare for a wave of innovation that will reshape how we connect with audiences and measure results.

AI and Automation: The New Engine of Ads Bing

AI is set to revolutionise Ads Bing, making campaigns smarter and more adaptive. ChatGPT and Copilot integration are enabling conversational ad placements that interact naturally with users. Automation will drive not just bidding but also creative testing and segmentation, freeing up time for strategic thinking.

Advertisers can expect AI-powered optimisation to become the norm. This means ads bing will deliver more relevant ads to the right people, at the right time, across the Microsoft ecosystem.

Expanding Audience Targeting and Conversational Search

One of the most exciting advancements for Ads Bing is the expansion of in-market and audience targeting. Microsoft is introducing more granular segments, letting us reach users based on intent, behaviour, and even LinkedIn profile data.

Conversational search is also taking centre stage. New ad formats are emerging within AI chat environments, allowing brands to engage users in a more interactive, dialogue-driven way. This shift means marketers need to rethink messaging and creative strategies for Ads Bing.

Multimedia and Video Ads Take Centre Stage

The future of Ads Bing is visual and immersive. Multimedia and video ad formats are growing fast, appearing not only on search results but also across MSN, Outlook, and Xbox. Brands can now tell richer stories, with video extensions and interactive elements boosting engagement and click-through rates.

As creative options expand, standing out with Ads Bing will require a focus on accessibility, captivating visuals, and clear calls to action. Brands that embrace these formats early will enjoy a competitive edge.

Data Privacy and International Expansion

Data privacy is a major focus for Ads Bing in 2026. Microsoft is doubling down on ethical targeting, transparent data practices, and privacy-first ad delivery. Marketers must adapt to new regulations and user expectations, ensuring that every campaign respects consent and user trust.

At the same time, Bing is expanding its reach in international markets. This global growth opens new opportunities for brands to connect with diverse audiences. As Ads Bing gains traction worldwide, understanding local preferences and compliance will be essential.

Predictions: Bing as Challenger and Innovator

Looking ahead, Ads Bing are poised to challenge industry norms and set new standards in paid search. Microsoft’s emphasis on AI, cross-device reach, and exclusive integrations (like LinkedIn) will attract more advertisers seeking innovation and value.

For example, early adopters leveraging advanced reporting and new ad formats, such as those highlighted in Bing Ads performance metrics and reporting, are already gaining a measurable advantage. Staying agile and open to experimentation will be key for brands aiming to lead in the evolving ads bing landscape.

Embracing the Future with Ads Bing

The next era of Ads Bing is filled with promise. By embracing AI-driven automation, creative formats, ethical practice, and global expansion, we can unlock new growth and engagement. The path forward is about staying curious, testing new tools, and always putting our audience first.

Let’s seize these trends together and make Ads Bing a core driver of success in 2026 and beyond.

We’ve covered a lot about mastering Bing Ads in 2026, from smart campaign setup to leveraging powerful AI and targeting tools that go beyond what you’ll find on Google. I know it can feel overwhelming to put these strategies into action, especially when your time is precious. That’s where a trusted partner makes all the difference. If you want to boost your visibility, get your business showing up where it matters most, and receive ongoing support from genuine local experts, let’s team up. You’re not in this alone—we’re here to help you succeed.Contact connect SEOToday