Introduction
Introduction: The Real Cost (of DIY) Google Ads
Google Ads can be a very effective tool that can bring an immense amount of traffic and revenue, if managed properly. Unfortunately, many owners and marketers try their hand at Google Ads to see if it can work for their business, then they give up after spending their budget and getting no results. If you are not making money from Google Ads, it may be time to hire someone. In this article, we will identify 5 indications you need Google Ads management before wasting more budget.
Sign #1: Huge Spend with Small ROI
One of the most obvious signs you need expert help, is if you are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars, but seeing nothing in return. Poor ROAS (Return on Advertising Spend) is often a result of poor targeting, poor keywords or low converting landing pages.
Common causes of poor ROI include:
- Bidding on irrelevant keywords
- Broad match keyword settings – clear unqualified traffic
- No negative keywords to filter out junk clicks
A Google Ads specialist can see the errors in your accounts, review the keywords, and most importantly re-allocate your budget to the positive aspects.
Sign #2: You Are Not Sure What Is Working (or Not)
Without the right tracking in place, you are flying blind. If you cannot identify what is driving conversions, clicks, or leads, it’s impossible to make decisions based on data.
Some signs to look for:
- Google Ads has not been properly linked to Google Analytics
- Conversion goals are not set up.
- No use of UTM parameters or call tracking.
Agencies that manage campaigns, use sophisticated tracking through Google Tag Manager and other tools to enable them to track everything. With that level of insight, you can optimize and stop wasting money!
Sign #3: Poor Quality Scores and Low Ad Relevance
Quality Score is a metric created by Google to measure the relevance of your ads, keywords, and landing pages. Overall, the closer you get to a perfect score, the more likely it is that you will pay less per click and gain more visibility.
Signs to look for include:
- Low CTR (click -through rates)
- High CPC (cost per click)
- Ads showing for non-relevant keyword queries.
Experts focus on improving ad copy, keyword match types or alternate landing page experiences to improve Quality Scores. In addition, they will run A/B tests to find which iteration perform best and cost you the least.
Sign #4: You’re Too Busy or Lacking Resources to Optimize
Google Ads requires ongoing monitoring, testing, and tweaking – it is not a “set-it-and-forget-it” platform. If you or your team are too busy to handle the management, you will switch from growth to flat performance, or worse, declining.
A professional manager will:
- Make weekly bids adjustments
- Add new negative keywords
- Implement seasonal promotions with copies refresh
- Test new ad formats and campaign types
Offloading to experts unlocks internal resources while producing better profits for you.
Sign #5: Your competitors are beating you
If your competitors outrank you on a regular basis in search results or display placements, they are either using a more sophisticated Google Ads strategy or they are besting your budgets. Agencies have access to competitive intelligence tools and techniques to allow you to gain competitive exposure again.
Examples of strategies could include:
- Keyword analysis against competitors
- Dynamic remarketing and audience segmentation
- Ad scheduling and location targeting
Without the insights ranging from the use of these tactics to critical adjustments for your success, you will fall behind your competitors, and lose clients, in comparison to their better-optimized campaigns.
The Advantages of Hiring Your Google Ads Management Services
There are real advantages to working with a Google Ads management agency or certified expert:
- Better ROI through a data-driven approach to advertising
- Ongoing A/B testing and bid optimization
- In-depth performance reporting and insights
- Access to high-end tools and beta features
- Less internal effort for the account
Experienced professionals know the industry and will leverage best practices, being able to flip a money-losing campaign to one that generates revenue.
What You Should Expect from a Good Google Ads Agency
Not all Google Ads agencies are created equally. A trusted partner will do the following:
- Fitness check-in with open communication and live dashboards
- Audit of the full campaign prior to commencing
- Custom strategy and ongoing tweaks to align with your goals
- Certifications and examples of campaign success in your industry
Beware of red flags such as guaranteed results, unwillingness to give you access to your account and high-pressure upselling.
Cost of Google Ads Management Services vs. Cost of Poor Ad Spend
Many business owners are still apprehensive about the cost of services. However, the real question is, what is the cost of continuing with ineffective campaigns?
A successful Google Ads management agency will range anywhere from $500 – $2,000+ a month. However, with improved efficiency and results…you could see a 2x – 5x ROI through a good agency. Compare this to spending $1,000/month on poor leads and irrelevant clicks. Most good agencies will minimize wasted spend and thus may pay for themselves!
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Agency
Before signing a contract, ask:
- How do you report performance?
- Will I have total access to my company account?
- What tools/strategies do you use?
- Do you have a specific expertise in my industry?
- How often do you test and optimize?
When you have a conversation with an agency, they should answer confidently so you feel comfortable every step of the way.
Is This DIY or Done-For-You
DIY can work, for a while. Freelancers, solopreneurs, startup founders, or business owners with limited funds may start out this way. But as your business grows, you and your limited budget need the knowledge and experience from someone else who can provide the proper business strategies needed to scale effectively.
Keep an eye out for the signs, that show you’re ready to scale:
- You have maxed out your own skills/optimizations
- You are starting to see diminishing returns
- You want to compete at a higher level
Professional service provide an experience, tools, and metrics to help elevating the performance of your advertising without using up your own time and resources.
Conclusion
If you have plateaued in your Google Ads performance or, worse, finding that cash is going out the door with no results, it may be time to seek professional help. From not knowing your real ROI to not tracking campaign performance, these signs shows it’s time to have a conversion with an expert. Stop testing your luck/needing to be lucky with your ad budget and get focused.
FAQs
1.How much should I plan to pay for management of my Google Ads account?
- You can plan on $500-2,000/month depending on the agency you choose, and the complexity of your campaign.
2.How long will it take an agency to improve my ad performance?
- Normally an agency will make some noticeable improvements to your ad performance after 30-60 days. More comprehensive gains will take time.
3.Is it worth hiring someone to manage my ads for a small monthly budget?
- Yes, for example, if you are allocating $1,000/month for ad spend, a professional can maximize your limited budget.
4.What will I receive in Google ads management services?
- Strategy, set up, ongoing optimization, A/B testing, reporting, account management.
5.Can I switch agencies if I am not happy with my results?
- Yes, always make sure you are the owner of your account, and can retain full access.
Have questions? Contact us for personalized advice!
