The Cost of Cutting Corners: Lessons from $40K in Wasted Ad Spend
Ever felt like you're just burning money? That’s exactly what happened when I audited a Google Ads account: $40,000 spent in 60 days and not a single lead to show for it. They knew their approach was failing (step 1 is admitting the problem), but instead of hiring me—or anyone else—to fix it, they chose to wing it.
“Penny wise and pound foolish" has never been truer. They’d set $40,000 ablaze out of sheer negligence, then asked for some “quick insights” as a first step in our partnersip. Spoiler alert: they took the insights, tried to patch things up themselves, and ghosted.
Quick Fixes Aren’t Strategy
Yes, some tweaks reduced a bit of wasted spend, but without a solid strategy, the account still limped along without leads. Unfortunately, it’s deceptively easy to throw money away on ads without understanding what’s going wrong. Small mistakes compound fast.
But here’s why I love accounts like these: after months of stagnation, a few strategic shifts can spark real results within days. If the account’s been running with decent traffic, there’s a treasure trove of data ready to guide a turnaround.
Getting Started with the Audit Process
Keywords: Which ones devoured budget and clicks over the past 60-90 days? Did they actually convert? Are they aligned with the business, or are they off-target? What are the actual search queries revealing?
Conversion Actions: Are they relevant and aligned with lead generation goals? Are most conversions driven by genuine leads like form submissions or phone calls? The campaign type and bid strategy need to match that intent.
A Quick Diagnosis Helps Inform a Clear Path Forward
Within 10 minutes of an audit, I can tell if an account needs a full strategic overhaul or just some optimization tweaks. For optimization, bid strategies and budget allocation are often powerful levers—if the foundational structure is solid. If a complete rethink is in order, I zero in on top-performing and underperforming keywords and campaigns, reallocating budget to maximize efficient spend and immediate wins.
Invest in Strategy That’ll Payoff Quickly
If you’re being asked to deliver more results with fewer resources, investing in expert guidance isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. I can audit your account in under 30 minutes, assess its health, and craft an action plan that stops the financial hemorrhaging, optimizes for efficiency, and positions it to scale and drive real results.
Want to know how your account stacks up? Send me a message and let’s get started.