Google Ads Can Be a Money Pit
Google Ads is one of the fastest ways to drive traffic and leads—but without the right strategy, it can also become one of the fastest ways to burn through your budget. Many small businesses launch campaigns with good intentions, only to discover that most of their clicks don’t convert.
The problem? Common PPC mistakes that drain ad spend and limit results. In this post, we’ll highlight 7 errors to avoid—and show you how to turn your campaigns into profit-generating machines.
- Ignoring Negative Keywords
Failing to add negative keywords means your ads show up for irrelevant searches. For example, a law firm bidding on “attorney” without exclusions might get clicks for “free attorney jobs.” That’s wasted money.
Fix: Regularly update your negative keyword list to filter out poor-quality traffic.
- Using Broad Match Keywords Only
Broad match can cause your ads to appear in searches unrelated to your intent. This often drives irrelevant clicks with low conversion rates.
Fix: Use exact match and phrase match for more control, and test carefully.
- Poor Ad Copy That Doesn’t Match Intent
Click-through rates drop when your ads don’t match what the user is searching for. Misaligned ad copy means wasted impressions and lower Quality Scores.
Fix: Write conversion-focused ad copy with clear CTAs and keyword alignment.
- Sending Traffic to a Weak Landing Page
Even the best ad campaign fails if visitors land on a page that doesn’t convert. A poorly designed or slow site can kill ROI.
Fix: Build dedicated landing pages with strong calls-to-action, mobile optimization, and fast load speeds.
- Not Tracking Conversions Properly
If you can’t see which keywords and ads generate leads, you’re flying blind. Without tracking, it’s impossible to optimize campaigns.
Fix: Set up proper conversion tracking in Google Ads and Google Analytics.
- Ignoring Geographic Targeting
Showing ads outside your service area wastes money fast. National reach isn’t useful if you only serve a local region.
Fix: Use geo-targeting to narrow your ad visibility to your service cities.
- Failing to Test and Optimize
Too many small businesses set up campaigns and walk away. Without testing bids, ad copy, and landing pages, performance flatlines.
Fix: Continuously test A/B variations, adjust budgets, and optimize based on data.
How iORSO Helps Businesses Maximize PPC ROI
At iORSO, we design PPC strategies that cut costs while increasing conversions. Our services include:
- PPC Management → Keyword research, bid strategies, ad copy, and negative keyword optimization.
- Web Design Services → Conversion-focused landing pages that turn clicks into leads.
- Support from our Atlanta digital marketing experts who specialize in local targeting to stretch your budget further.
When PPC is managed correctly, every dollar works harder—and your campaigns become a growth engine, not a money pit.
Every Click Counts
Google Ads is powerful, but only when it’s done right. By avoiding these 7 common PPC mistakes, you can reduce wasted spend, improve ROI, and capture more leads.
Want better results from your ad spend? Contact iORSO today and stop wasting money on ads that don’t convert.