The Most Common Google Ads Mistakes Small Businesses Make (And How to Fix Them)
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Google Ads can be a game-changer for small businesses, helping them reach high-intent customers, drive traffic, and boost sales. However, many small businesses waste money on ineffective campaigns due to common mistakes.
If you’ve ever thought, "Google Ads doesn’t work for my business," chances are you’re making one (or more) of these costly errors. The good news? They’re all fixable!
Here are the biggest Google Ads mistakes small businesses make—and how to fix them.
🔴 The Mistake: Many small businesses bid on broad or irrelevant keywords, leading to wasted ad spend and low conversion rates.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Use long-tail keywords (e.g., instead of "shoes," target "women’s running shoes Australia")
✔ Add negative keywords to prevent irrelevant traffic (e.g., if you sell premium furniture, exclude "cheap" and "free")
✔ Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find high-intent keywords
📌 Learn more about keyword strategy at Campaign Digital.
🔴 The Mistake: Running ads without tracking conversions means you have no idea if your ads are actually making you money.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Set up Google Ads conversion tracking in your account
✔ Track actions like purchases, form submissions, and phone calls
✔ Integrate Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for deeper insights
📌 Check out our guide to setting up conversion tracking at Campaign Digital.
🔴 The Mistake: Writing generic or unengaging ad copy that doesn’t stand out in search results.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Highlight unique selling points (e.g., "Fast Free Shipping Australia-Wide")
✔ Use power words like "Exclusive," "Limited-Time," or "Now 50% Off"
✔ Test multiple ad variations using Google’s Responsive Search Ads
📌 Need high-converting ad copy? Get help from Campaign Digital.
🔴 The Mistake: Directing ad traffic to your homepage instead of a dedicated landing page that aligns with your ad.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Match your ad to a relevant landing page (e.g., if your ad says "50% Off Women’s Boots," send them to the women’s boots sale page)
✔ Optimise your landing page with fast loading speeds and a clear CTA
✔ Use A/B testing to refine your pages
📌 Learn how to create high-converting landing pages with Campaign Digital.
🔴 The Mistake: Many businesses only use keyword targeting and ignore Google’s audience targeting features.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Use remarketing audiences to target past website visitors
✔ Target in-market and affinity audiences based on user behaviour
✔ Use Customer Match to reach people on your email list
📌 Maximise your ad targeting with expert help from Campaign Digital.
🔴 The Mistake: Set-and-forget campaigns that aren’t monitored or optimised.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Review Google Ads reports weekly to check performance
✔ Pause underperforming ads and scale successful ones
✔ Use A/B testing to test different headlines, descriptions, and CTAs
🔴 The Mistake: Not using ad extensions means you miss out on extra space in search results to provide more info.
✅ How to Fix It:
✔ Use Sitelink Extensions to link to key pages (e.g., Contact, Pricing, About)
✔ Add Call Extensions if you want more phone leads
✔ Use Location Extensions if you have a physical store
📌 Optimise your ad setup with Campaign Digital.
Avoiding these common Google Ads mistakes will help you:
✔ Improve your return on ad spend (ROAS)
✔ Attract the right audience
✔ Increase conversions without wasting budget
Running Google Ads the right way takes time, testing, and expertise—but the payoff is huge. Need help fixing your campaigns?
🚀 Let Campaign Digital help you turn your Google Ads into a revenue-driving machine! 🚀
