Thinking About Starting Google Ads? Read This First.
Most people who start Google Ads for the first time do it the same way.
They sign up, Google walks them through a setup wizard, a rep rings them with some suggestions, they put in their card details — and three months later they've spent a few thousand pounds and can't tell you what worked or why.
That's not a horror story. That's just what happens when you follow the prompts without someone watching what the platform's actually doing with your money.
I'm not saying Google Ads won't work for you. For the right business, with the right offer, and the right setup — it can work really well. But getting there takes more than following the prompts.
Before Anything Else — Is Your Business Ready?
This is the part nobody wants to talk about.
Google Ads can't fix a bad offer. If people aren't already buying what you sell through word of mouth, referrals, or some other channel — running ads probably isn't the answer yet. It'll just speed up the spending.
The businesses that do well with Google Ads from the start usually have a few things in place:
- A clear offer — people know exactly what they're getting and what it costs
- A website or landing page that actually converts — not just one that looks decent
- A realistic budget — enough to gather proper data without running dry in week two
- Some proof the offer works — even a handful of happy customers
If you've got most of that, Google Ads is worth trying. If you haven't — I'll probably tell you to sort those things first. That's not me turning away business. It's just the honest answer.
What Starting Properly Looks Like
Setting up a Google Ads account the right way isn't complicated — but it's not what Google's wizard is designed to do. The wizard is designed to get you spending quickly. That's different.
Done properly, it means:
- Building a campaign around the right keywords — not just the obvious ones
- Ignoring the settings that will waste your money
- Writing ads from your customer's problem inward, not your product outward
- Setting up proper tracking so you actually know what's working
- Starting focused and small — then expanding once there's something worth expanding
Most accounts don't need to be complex. They need to be right.
What I Don't Promise
Results aren't guaranteed. They never are with Google Ads — anyone who tells you otherwise is worth questioning.
What I can tell you is that if something isn't working, I'll say so early. Not at the end of a six-month contract.
How It Starts
Fill in the form below. Tell me about your business, your offer, and where you're at. I'll come back to you honestly — whether that's "yes, let's give this a go" or "here's what I'd sort out first."
No pressure either way.