Top 5 Google Ads Mistakes Small Business Make (and How to Fix Them)

Running Google Ads can be a game-changer, but only if you avoid some of these common traps. If you're a small business owner doing it yourself, here are a few things to watch out for (we see these all the time!):

1. Not Tracking What’s Working

If you’re not tracking phone calls, form submissions, or sales, it’s almost impossible to know if your ads are paying off.
Tip: Set up conversion tracking early on. It’s like turning on the headlights—you’ll actually see where you’re going.

2. Casting Too Wide a Net

It’s tempting to target everyone, everywhere—but that usually means wasting money on people who aren’t actually looking for what you offer.
Tip: Focus your keywords and location targeting. Think quality over quantity—you want the right clicks, not just more clicks.

3. Forgetting About Negative Keywords

This one’s huge! Without negative keywords, your ad might show up for searches that don’t make sense (like “free,” “how to do it myself,” or even “jobs”).
Tip: Think about what you don’t want to show up for, and block those terms. You’ll save a lot of money and frustration.
Fix: Regularly update your negative keyword list (e.g., “free,” “DIY,” “jobs”) to filter out bad traffic.

4. Sending Clicks to the Wrong Page

Your homepage might be great—but it’s not always the best place for ad traffic. If people land there and don’t know what to do next, they’ll bounce.
Tip: Use a clear, focused landing page with one goal: get them to call, buy, or contact you.

5. Setting It and Forgetting It

We get it—you're busy. But leaving your campaign on autopilot can burn through your budget fast.
Tip: Check in weekly. Look at what’s getting clicks, what’s not converting, and make small tweaks to keep improving.

Running ads doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you're doing it yourself or need a second set of eyes, I'm happy to help—no pressure, just solid advice. Get you free Google ads analysis here.