Google Ads is the closest thing to a money machine in marketing — if you know how to use it. For most small businesses, it's a money pit. The platform is designed to be "easy" to use, but easy setup leads to expensive mistakes.
Get Your Free Google Ads Account Audit →Google's default settings are designed to spend your budget quickly. Broad match keywords, expansive network placements, automated bidding optimized for volume instead of value — every default setting benefits Google's revenue, not yours.
Common mistakes: targeting overly broad keywords, not using negative keywords, sending traffic to your homepage instead of dedicated landing pages, not tracking conversions properly, and leaving campaigns on autopilot.
Any of these can turn a profitable channel into a money pit. All of them are fixable.
Google Ads works best for businesses where customers are actively searching for solutions. Service businesses, professional services, e-commerce, and any business with clear purchase intent keywords are ideal candidates.
It's particularly powerful for local businesses competing against larger competitors — Google Ads levels the playing field by putting you in front of customers at the exact moment they're looking for what you offer.
Your competitors are showing up when customers search. Make sure you're there too — and that you're not wasting budget doing it.
Get Your Free Google Ads Account Audit →