#Search Ads for lead generation

[digitalrhetoricpune]

Shopping Ads vs. Search Ads: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Understanding Shopping Ads and Search Ads

Shopping Ads

Google Shopping Ads are specifically designed for e-commerce businesses. These ads showcase product images, prices, and other essential details directly on the search engine results page (SERP). They allow potential customers to view and compare products at a glance, making them ideal for driving e-commerce advertising strategies in 2024.

Search Ads

Search Ads, on the other hand, are text-based advertisements that appear on the SERP when users search for specific keywords. They’re highly versatile and can be tailored for various goals, including Search Ads for lead generation and driving website traffic. These ads work well for service-based businesses or when targeting specific user intents.

Key Differences Between Shopping Ads and Search Ads

Criteria Shopping Ads Search Ads Format Visual (images, price, product info)Text-based (headline, description)Purpose Showcase products, drive online sales Drive leads, website traffic Best For E-commerce businesses Service providers, lead-focused goals Placement Google Shopping Tab, SERP, Display Network SERP (top and bottom)Ad Management Requires product feed integration Keyword and bid management

Benefits of Shopping Ads

High Visual Appeal: Shopping Ads display images, making them eye-catching and ideal for showcasing product details.

Higher Purchase Intent: These ads target users actively searching for products, increasing conversion rates.

Product Comparisons: Users can compare products from multiple vendors, enhancing transparency.

Detailed Analytics: Track performance metrics like impressions, clicks, and sales for individual products.

For businesses focused on e-commerce, Google Shopping Ads benefits include better visibility, higher CTRs (Click-Through Rates), and improved ROI (Return on Investment).

Benefits of Search Ads

Flexibility: Ideal for any industry, these ads can target users at any stage of the buyer’s journey.

Customization: Tailor ad copy, landing pages, and bidding strategies for maximum impact.

Lead Generation: Search Ads for lead generation are highly effective, especially for service-based businesses looking to capture contact details.

Cost Control: Precise budget management and keyword targeting keep campaigns within budget while driving results.

Choosing the Right Ad Format for Your Business

When to Choose Shopping Ads:

You Sell Physical Products: Shopping Ads work best for retailers and e-commerce platforms.

You Want High-Intent Buyers: Users clicking on Shopping Ads are usually ready to purchase.

You Have a Product Catalog: If you manage an online store with a wide range of products, Shopping Ads offer excellent scalability.

When to Choose Search Ads:

You Offer Services: Service providers can use Search Ads to target specific queries related to their offerings.

You’re Focused on Leads: For businesses seeking inquiries, consultations, or registrations, Search Ads excel.

You Want Brand Awareness: Keyword targeting in Search Ads helps reach users in the awareness phase.

E-commerce Advertising Strategies for 2024

Leverage Both Formats: Use Shopping Ads to target high-intent buyers and Search Ads to attract broader audiences.

Optimize Product Feeds: For Shopping Ads, ensure your product data is accurate and includes relevant keywords like “Optimize Amazon search terms” or “Amazon SEO for A10 algorithm.”

Focus on Mobile Users: Design ads and landing pages that perform well on mobile devices.

Experiment with Bidding Strategies: Test automated bidding for Shopping Ads and manual bidding for Search Ads to find the perfect balance.

Retarget with Precision: Use remarketing techniques to re-engage users who interacted with your ads.

Final Thoughts

The choice between Shopping Ads and Search Ads depends on your business model, goals, and target audience. E-commerce businesses can benefit significantly from the visual appeal of Shopping Ads, while service-based businesses may find Search Ads more effective for lead generation.

[transmaverique]

amab and afab, if they were used as shorthand for the actual full phrases that they signify, with emphasis on the "assigned" part, and an understanding that they are enforcements of normative (ie, dyadic and cisgender and binary) sex, would be like. really useful. but people took the terms and started using them as shorthand FOR normative sex instead of the ENFORCEMENT OF normative sex. so when other trans people (almost always dyadic trans people) ask for your agab they are almost always asking for your Original Genital Situation. your starting point, so to say. and the reason FOR asking is also almost always bc they are trying to also enforce a certain kind of normativity within queer spaces (which is stupid bc being queer is inherently non-normative but here we are). like, you cant be a lesbian if you're ftm, bc you ARE m, so if you ARE a lesbian, then that means you're lying about some aspect of your identity. does that make sense?

it is always always always incredibly.... i do not trust dyadic trans people that use cagab terms, even moreso than i do not trust dyadic trans people that just use agab terms. agab is also coopted intersex language, but the "coercive" part of cagab SPECIFICALLY refers to medical "intervention" of intersex characteristics, such as "corrective" surgeries and hrt. i am deeply fucking suspicious of any dyadic trans person that uses those terms exactly the same as described above, even moreso if they do so bc "all gender is coercive".

like. yeah. that's true. but you use these terms to erase and overtake intersex discussions on the medical abuse of intersex infants. and i cant help but wonder why you would feel the need to do that.

[addzetadvertisingmedia]

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[internetbizleads]

Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO

DONATE [Complete Your Profile?] The first step in optimizing your Google Business Profile, is to make sure every section is filled out completely. This includes your business name, location, phone number, website, hours of operation, and a detailed description of your services. Google favors comprehensive profiles, so don’t leave any blanks. {Use Accurate Keywords} Incorporate relevant…

[packitcode]

Clicks today, profits tomorrow.

"Clicks today, profits tomorrow" is the exact meaning of PPC marketing. Pay-per-click advertising is one of the most potent digital marketing strategies that produce results today by bringing visitors to your website. The beauty of PPC lies in its accuracy. It allows businesses to focus on specific audiences depending on factors such as location, age, interests, or even search intent. Therefore, every click is created by a customer who could possibly be interested in your product. With PPC campaign, you will start to see the outcome in no time after you have launched it. Your ad appears on the search engine result pages or social media sites and captures attention to get the user to take action. While the clicks you generate today boost your website traffic and brand visibility, the real value lies in tomorrow's profits as those clicks convert into leads and conversions and thus boost your revenue. PPC marketing is also highly measurable, which allows you to understand which campaigns work best. With that optimization of strategy, you can have steady growth, and thus, PPC can be the best route for long-term success. It is that perfect blend of short-term impact and sustainable results.

[vismountain]

Pay Per Click (PPC) Vs Cost per click (CPC) in Ads

Introduction In digital advertising, two terms frequently come up: Pay Per Click (PPC) and Cost Per Click (CPC). PPC is a popular advertising model where you pay a fee each time your ad is clicked. This method is commonly used across platforms like Google Ads, social media sites, and various third-party websites. On the other hand, CPC is a metric that measures the cost-efficiency of these PPC…

[isubhamdas]

How to Effectively Merge PPC and SEO Without Overspending?

I never thought I'd crack the code of online marketing. My small business was struggling, lost in the vast digital landscape.

Then it hit me - why not combine PPC and SEO?

Day one, I started researching. Google Ads became my new best friend.

I crafted compelling ad copy, targeting keywords like "affordable local services" and "best [my industry] near me". Simultaneously, I optimized my website for these same phrases.

The results? Shocking. Within a week, my click-through rate jumped by 35%. But here's the kicker - my organic traffic also surged by 20%. The synergy was real.

I dug deeper. Analyzing my PPC data, I discovered long-tail keywords I'd never considered. "24/7 emergency [my service] in [my city]" became a goldmine. I incorporated these into my content strategy, creating blog posts and landing pages.

Suddenly, I was ranking for terms I'd never dreamed of.

My bounce rate plummeted from 65% to 40%. People were finding exactly what they needed.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. My ad spend initially skyrocketed. Panic set in. Was I hemorrhaging money?

That's when I had my eureka moment.

I used my SEO insights to refine my PPC strategy.

By focusing on high-converting organic keywords, I slashed my cost-per-click by 25%.

Now, my website is a powerhouse. Organic traffic feeds my remarketing campaigns. PPC data informs my content creation. It's a beautiful, cost-effective cycle.

The result? My online visibility has doubled. Sales are up 50% year-over-year. And the best part? My marketing budget hasn't increased a dime.

What strategies have you used to integrate PPC and SEO? Share your experiences in the comments!

Get Tips, Suggestions, & Workarounds, in 2-3 mins, on How to Effectively Merge PPC and SEO Without Overspending?

[ppcadstargeted]

✨📈 Elevating Lead Quality: Unleashing the Power of Data-Driven Strategies

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, capturing leads is just the beginning. Converting leads into high-quality prospects and loyal customers is the true measure of success. In this blog post, we'll explore effective strategies for improving lead quality, backed by real-world examples and quantifiable numbers.

By leveraging these tactics, you can optimize lead generation, boost conversion rates, and propel your business forward. Let's dive in! 🚀💼

Define and Refine Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP):

📊🎯 To attract high-quality leads, define your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) meticulously. Analyze your existing customer base to identify common traits exhibited by your most valuable customers. This data-driven approach enables you to create a precise ICP that guides your lead generation activities. 📊🎯

💪💼 For example:

An online fitness platform discovered that their most engaged customers were urban females aged 25-40. Focusing on platforms frequented by this target demographic significantly improved lead quality, resulting in higher conversion rates and increased revenue.

 

Implement Lead Scoring and Prioritization:

⭐🎚️Lead scoring helps assess lead quality and potential. Assign scores based on criteria like demographics, engagement level, and buying signals to prioritize leads and allocate resources wisely. This data-centric approach allows you to identify leads most likely to convert and focus efforts accordingly.

For example:

💼💯📈 A B2B software company introduced lead scoring into its management process. They assigned scores based on factors like job title, company size, and engagement with their content. Leads with higher scores received priority in sales follow-up and nurturing efforts. As a result, the company experienced a 30% increase in conversion rates compared to non-scored leads, leading to a substantial boost in revenue.

Personalize and Nurture Leads with Relevant Content:

💌💡🔐  To enhance lead quality, personalize nurturing with relevant content. Tailor messaging to address specific needs at each stage of the buyer's journey. Utilize marketing automation tools to deliver targeted content based on lead behavior, preferences, and engagement level. This builds trust, deepens relationships, and increases conversion likelihood.

For example:

🛍️📧💰 An e-commerce retailer implemented a personalized email marketing campaign for lead nurturing. They segmented leads based on browsing and purchase history, delivering customized product recommendations and exclusive offers.

As a result, they experienced a 25% increase in open rates, a 15% increase in click-through rates, and a 10% increase in conversion rates, leading to a substantial uplift in revenue.

 

🏁Conclusion:

📈💎 The examples and numbers highlighted in this blog demonstrate the tangible impact these strategies have on conversion rates and revenue growth. By investing in lead quality, you lay the foundation for long-term success and create a loyal customer base that drives your business forward.

[packitcode]

Get clicks, convert leads, and build your brand with PPC.

PPC marketing is an effective tool that allows a business to grow by providing a source of targeted traffic towards your website. With PPC, you can create your custom ad that will come on top of the page results, reaching active customers looking for your products or services. The beauty of PPC is its precision; it shows the right ads to the right audience at the right time, thus ensuring higher chances of engagement. You get clicks instantaneously with PPC, and then that visitor is converted into a lead and eventually becomes a successful brand. Keywords play the most important role in bringing success to a PPC campaign. The right choice of keyword increases the relevance of advertisements and, thus, boost conversions. PPC is your quick shortcut to measurable results and long-term growth.

[mediaworlddigital]

Media World: Your Gateway to Digital Excellence - India's Best Marketing Agency

Experience unparalleled digital marketing expertise with Media World, hailed as the best digital marketing agency in India. Our innovative strategies and proven track record ensure your brand's success in navigating the online landscape, driving growth, and maximizing ROI.

[programmatic-marketing-hub]

Why do businesses need to start programmatic advertising?

Programmatic advertising has emerged as a game-changer in the world of marketing, offering numerous benefits that can significantly impact the success of businesses. In this article, we will explore what programmatic advertising is, its advantages over traditional digital marketing methods, and why businesses should consider incorporating it into their advertising strategies.

What is Programmatic Advertising and How Does it Benefit Businesses?

Programmatic advertising refers to the automated buying and selling of digital ad space in real-time through a sophisticated technology platform. It revolutionizes the way businesses reach their target audience by providing a highly efficient and effective advertising solution.

One of the key benefits of programmatic advertising is its ability to target specific audiences. By utilizing advanced targeting capabilities, businesses can tailor their ads to reach individuals who are most likely to be interested in their products or services. This precision targeting takes into account various factors such as demographics, interests, and online behavior, ensuring that ads are delivered to the right people at the right time.

Imagine a business that sells high-end fashion accessories. With programmatic advertising, they can target their ads specifically to individuals who have shown an interest in luxury fashion brands, ensuring that their message reaches the most relevant audience. This level of targeting not only increases the chances of conversion but also helps businesses save valuable advertising budget by minimizing ad wastage.

Another significant benefit of programmatic advertising is the enhanced control it provides to businesses over their ad campaigns. Through a user-friendly interface, businesses can easily set campaign objectives, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs). They can also monitor the performance of their ads in real-time, allowing them to make data-driven decisions and optimize their strategies quickly and efficiently.

Moreover, programmatic advertising leverages real-time data and machine learning algorithms to continuously optimize ad delivery. By analyzing user behavior and response patterns, the technology behind programmatic advertising can automatically adjust ad placements, creative elements, and targeting parameters to deliver maximum results. This dynamic optimization ensures that businesses get the most out of their advertising efforts and achieve their desired outcomes.

For instance, a business running a programmatic advertising campaign for a new product launch can monitor the performance of their ads in real-time. If they notice that certain ad placements are not generating the desired response, they can quickly adjust their strategy and allocate more budget to the placements that are performing well. This flexibility and agility allow businesses to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to changing market conditions.

In conclusion, programmatic advertising offers businesses a powerful and efficient way to reach their target audience. By combining advanced targeting capabilities, enhanced control, and real-time optimization, programmatic advertising maximizes the impact of ad campaigns and drives business growth. Embracing this technology can give businesses a competitive edge in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Get Started Today Click Here

Exploring the Advantages of Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising offers several advantages that make it an attractive option for businesses:

Efficiency: Programmatic advertising eliminates the need for manual ad buying processes, saving businesses valuable time and resources. With automated ad buying, businesses can reach their target audience faster and more efficiently.

Precision Targeting: Programmatic advertising allows businesses to target specific demographics, interests, and behavior, ensuring that ads are shown to the most relevant audience. This targeted approach increases the chances of conversions and maximizes return on investment.

Real-Time Optimization: Programmatic advertising platforms analyze data in real-time, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their ad campaigns instantly. This flexibility and agility enable businesses to adapt their strategies to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.

Cost-Effectiveness: Programmatic advertising is typically more cost-effective than traditional advertising methods. By only displaying ads to relevant audiences, businesses can reduce wasted ad spend and allocate their budgets more efficiently.

How Programmatic Advertising is Different from Digital Marketing

While programmatic advertising falls under the umbrella of digital marketing, it offers distinct advantages that set it apart from traditional digital marketing methods:

Automation: Programmatic advertising allows businesses to automate the buying and selling of ad space, optimizing campaigns in real-time. Digital marketing encompasses a broader range of strategies, including search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and email marketing.

Precision Targeting: Programmatic advertising enables businesses to target specific audiences based on various parameters, ensuring that ads are relevant and engaging. Digital marketing strategies may involve targeting broader segments or relying on organic reach.

Real-Time Optimization: Programmatic advertising platforms provide real-time data on ad performance, allowing businesses to optimize their campaigns on the fly. Digital marketing methods often rely on historical data and require manual adjustments.

Pros and Cons of Programmatic Advertising and Digital Marketing?

Both programmatic advertising and digital marketing have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's explore:

Programmatic Advertising:

Pros:

Efficiency and automation

Precision targeting

Real-time optimization

Cost-effectiveness

Cons:

Initial learning curve

Dependence on data quality

Potential for ad fraud (though measures can be taken to mitigate)

Digital Marketing:

Pros:

Wide range of strategies

Long-term branding potential

Organic reach and engagement

Cons:

Requires manual effort and maintenance

May be less precise in targeting

Relies on historical data and slower optimization

The Cost-Effectiveness of Programmatic Advertising for Businesses

One of the significant advantages of programmatic advertising is its cost-effectiveness. By targeting ads to specific audiences, businesses can minimize wasted ad spend and allocate their budgets more efficiently. Programmatic advertising platforms also provide real-time data on campaign performance, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize ad spend instantly.

Additionally, programmatic advertising allows for more granular controls, such as setting campaign budgets, adjusting bid strategies, and scheduling ad delivery. This level of control ensures that businesses can maximize their return on investment (ROI) and achieve their advertising goals within their allocated budgets.

How Programmatic Advertising Can Help Reach Your Audience

Programmatic advertising provides businesses with powerful tools and capabilities to reach their target audience effectively. By leveraging data-driven insights, businesses can understand their audience's interests, preferences, and behavior, enabling them to tailor their ad campaigns accordingly.

The advanced targeting options available in programmatic advertising platforms allow businesses to segment their audience based on demographics, psychographics, geolocation, and more. This level of precision targeting ensures that ads are shown to the most relevant audience, increasing the chances of conversion and engagement.

Request a Demo Click Here

The Benefits of Automating Your Advertising Strategy

Automating your advertising strategy through programmatic advertising offers several key benefits:

Efficiency: By automating the ad buying process, businesses can save valuable time and resources, allowing them to focus on other critical aspects of their operations.

Real-Time Optimization: Programmatic advertising platforms provide real-time data on ad performance, allowing businesses to optimize their campaigns on the fly. This agility ensures that ad strategies remain relevant and effective.

Scalability: Programmatic advertising can scale campaigns quickly and efficiently, reaching larger audiences and expanding market reach. This scalability is especially valuable for businesses looking to grow and establish a strong presence.

Leveraging Programmatic Advertising to Maximize Your Budget

Programmatic advertising can maximize your ad spend by focusing on delivering ads to the most relevant audiences. By targeting specific demographics, interests, and online behavior, businesses can ensure that their ads generate the highest possible return on investment.

Furthermore, programmatic advertising platforms offer advanced targeting features such as retargeting, which allows businesses to reach users who have previously interacted with their brand or website. This strategy helps maintain brand visibility, reinforce messages, and increase conversion rates.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Ads Through Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising empowers businesses to maximize the impact of their ads by delivering them to the right people at the right time. By leveraging real-time data and machine learning algorithms, programmatic advertising platforms optimize ads based on user behavior and preferences, resulting in increased engagement and conversion rates.

Furthermore, programmatic advertising offers various ad formats and placements, including display ads, video ads, native ads, and more. This versatility ensures that businesses can effectively reach their target audience across multiple channels and devices, maximizing the exposure and impact of their ads.

Streamlining Your Advertising Efforts with Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising streamlines the ad buying process, allowing businesses to consolidate their advertising efforts in a single platform. This streamlining reduces the complexity associated with managing multiple campaigns across different channels.

Furthermore, programmatic advertising platforms provide centralized reporting and analytics, providing businesses with comprehensive insights into the performance of their ad campaigns. This visibility enables businesses to measure the effectiveness of their strategies and make informed decisions to optimize their results.

Understanding the Benefits of Programmatic Advertising for Businesses

The benefits of programmatic advertising for businesses are numerous:

Efficiency: Programmatic advertising automates the ad buying process, saving businesses time and resources.

Precision Targeting: Programmatic advertising enables businesses to deliver ads to specific audiences, increasing the chances of conversion and engagement.

Real-Time Optimization: Programmatic advertising platforms provide real-time data and optimization capabilities, ensuring that ads are always relevant and effective.

Cost-Effectiveness: Programmatic advertising minimizes wasted ad spend by delivering ads only to the most relevant audiences.

Using Programmatic Advertising to Improve Your ROI

Programmatic advertising can significantly improve return on investment (ROI) for businesses. By leveraging advanced targeting options, real-time optimization, and cost-effective ad delivery, businesses can maximize the effectiveness of their advertising strategies and achieve higher conversion rates and engagement.

Additionally, programmatic advertising provides businesses with valuable insights and performance metrics, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and continuously refine their strategies to improve their ROI further.

Why is Programmatic Advertising the Future of Marketing?

In today's digital landscape, programmatic advertising is shaping the future of marketing. Its ability to deliver targeted ads to specific audiences, automate campaign management, and provide real-time optimization is revolutionizing the way businesses reach their customers.

Furthermore, programmatic advertising aligns with the increasing demand for personalized experiences. By tailoring ads to individual preferences and interests, businesses can enhance engagement, build brand loyalty, and strengthen their customer relationships.

In conclusion, programmatic advertising offers businesses an efficient, cost-effective, and highly targeted approach to reaching their audiences in the digital age. By leveraging the benefits of programmatic advertising, businesses can drive growth, maximize their advertising budgets, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Consult with Our Experts Click Here

[ppcadstargeted]

When you hear the word “audit,” do you immediately think of higher conversions, more qualified leads, and increased marketing ROI? 📋 = 💰

Sales and lead generation are frequent corporate objectives. Direct-response marketing urges people to purchase a product or sign up for a newsletter. Google Ads and Facebook ads have certain best practices for putting up traffic-generating or lead-generating campaigns.

Where to run Google Campaigns?🏃

Use a combination of keyword-targeted advertising on the Google Search Network and Google Display Network. Why?

1.     Google Search Network

Google Search Network advertising might display in search results. Bid on business-related keywords. Your ad may display when people search for your term.

2.     Search Partners

Your Google Ads might display on other search engines. These sites may boost your lead generation with high-quality visitors. Search Partner properties may display your adverts alongside search results.

3.     Google Display Network

Contextual targeting on the Google Display Network lets you target sites that match your advertising message. We use contextual targeting to find relevant sites for your keywords. Thus, we may reach potential clients who are reading and browsing similar information.

Facebook lead ad tips💪

💲Offer Incentives

A promo coupon or free download demonstrates to clients you respect their data.

Few examples:

Deals and offers

Enter competitions.

Get samples

Participate in events

Pre-order items

Study and whitepaper downloads

🎫Stick to your offer

Before joining up, explain your value proposition. Facebook suggests including this information in promotional content and form introductions. To avoid confusion, brand the whole experience.

⚓Engaging content and forms

Lead advertising works best with the right media. For example, a carousel may be excellent for displaying several goods or features. Short videos are ideal for narrative and brand recognition. For optimum results, use high-quality photos, videos, and content.

⛺Maintain a basic form.

The simpler your form, the greater your completion rate. Each question raises the likelihood of a form abandonment, according to Facebook. Limit your form's multiple-choice questions to three or four.

⁉️Inquire properly

Choose from multiple-choice, short-answer, and conditional questions that alter dependent on prior answers.

Store Locator and Appointment Scheduling features enable users to search for local locations and arrange visits.

🔍Find your audience

●      Lookalike audience

To locate more consumers, develop a Lookalike Audience based on your best customers. Explore lookalike audiences.

●      People near you

If your Facebook account is controlled by a representative, you may utilize the business locate tool to tailor advertising to individuals near your establishments. This audience is perfect for scheduling appointments, demonstrations, or encouraging consumers to come.

●      Custom audience

Custom audiences may include newsletter subscribers, site and app users, and CRM contacts.

●      Test to Optimize

A/B testing and fine-tuning provide the best lead advertising. Run two distinct lead advertisements. Run lead advertisements with varied form lengths to monitor completion rates.

Measure Effectiveness

To determine marketing success, measure a few factors. Start tracking conversions with Conversion Tracking, a free tool. After that, you may track conversions, cost per conversion, conversion rate, keyword conversion statistics, and landing page data.

[beloveds-embrace]

More poly!141 please and thank you my dear 🥰🤗

Anon is banished to the timeout corner to ponder on their grievances

That trope of roommates reader x poly 141…

Imagine you are Desperate with a capital D. Things aren’t lookinh bright for you, broke and stressed college student, right now in general, you need a new place quickly, and as it happens, you see an all-too-good offer while apartment searching on Craigslist. Rent is within your budget and god, the place looks really good, but…

You’ll have to share with four men. Four polyamorous men apparently, but still- men. More than one. That alone should’ve made you give up on it, not even think about considering it. It’s dangerous, incredibly so. No one within their right mind would agree to it, especially when you read that they are asking for someone who is willing to take up a good bulk of taking care of the place while they travel.

It’s clearly a scam. A front to a dangerous group.

But the apartment is even better when you actually, stupidly, agree to it. The (military, you learn soon enough) men so very handsome, helping you move in your stuff- the way Price commanded them actually made your knees tremble just a little, but you are not about to get between anyone’s relationship(s).

Moreover; you really like them. Soap is funny but he’s also the one who tries to stay up with you during your late exam studies. Keyword tries because he falls asleep anyways, head lolling on your shoulder only to end up getting carried by Ghost later.

Gaz is also funny, and he often forces you to go out when you hole up yourself for long lengths of time, get some fresh air on a walk that almost always leads to him treating you to coffee and sandwiches in the little corner bakery. Also the only one to share your love for horror movies so he’s your designated partner for whenever you wanna go to the cinemas.

Ghost and Price are your unofficial guard dogs. Grocery shopping? One or both of them tags along, carrying everything without letting you touch a single thing-

“What kind of man would let a lady carry groceries? I’m not weak, sweetheart. Let go of that bag, just see what else we’ll need.”

Ghost just stares straight down at you; no balaclava, but a black surgical mask and his hood drawn up. “Don’t even think about it.”

-and they are both bulky. They don’t even have to try to appear intimidating, everyone almost subconsciously makes way for them. Never in your entire life have you had easier shopping trips. And you’ve lost count of the amount of times you’ve stirred awake to find yourself carried to your bed after accidentally falling asleep on the couch.

They were not lying about the lengths of time they are gone, and you understand why they had put in that ad that landed you here in the first place. Once, they were away for months, and they have no contact with you. You always worry for them, regularly checking for any possible texts and sending them updates even when no reply comes.

(You have no ideaaa they have you saved as ‘lil missus’, ‘wifey’, ‘the madame’, ‘darlin’ in their phones. Or how much they cling to your texts even when they can’t reply yet. You don’t suspect shit, but the longer the mission drags on, the more resolved they are to just come home to you as soon as possible.

The second John checks his phone and sees your text about getting stood up on a date, his jaw clenches so tightly that Soap glances over, immediately concerned. The others quickly catch on, a tension settling over the group as he reads the message aloud.

Got stood up on that date lol

Guess its just me nd a frozen pizza tonight 🤷‍♀️ yes ik u hate frozen foods but ur not here sooo

If he wasn’t so incredibly angered by the thought of you going on a date that is not with them, getting stood up, he would have focused on your little disobedience. Would have thought of making you repeat why he hates having them in the flat while you sniffle and whine, the result of him taking his palm to your ass a few dozen times for doing this behind his back, but he can’t focus on that now.

“Let’s finish this and get home,” He hisses out at last, pocketing his phone. “Missus needs a reminder who she belongs to.”

All he gets, unsurprisingly, is approving nods.)

Back in the flat, you sneeze. How strange; you had just recently finished dusting, and everything should be clean.

It’s probably nothing.

a bit more