Marketing Insights & News
Practical Google Ads strategies for local service businesses and beyond. Built on 19 years of managing campaigns that actually drive calls and leads.
Why Did My Google Ads Cost Per Lead Go Up? What I Check First
When cost per lead jumps, the cause is often a tracking or account setting, not the auction. Here is the order I check, with real anonymous cases.
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Med Spa Advertising on Google: The Rules That Get Ads Rejected
The four Google Ads policies that trip up med spa ads most often, what each one actually says, and what I put in a campaign instead.
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What Rehab Clicks Cost on Google Ads: Detox, Inpatient and IOP
Keyword Planner data on what detox, residential and outpatient rehab clicks cost on Google Ads, and how to turn click prices into a budget based on admissions.
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Google Ads for Therapists: Track Booked Clients, Not Clicks
Most therapy and wellness practices count the wrong things in Google Ads. Here are the tracking gaps I find most often, and how to fix them.
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Website Redesign Checklist for Google Ads: 6 Tracking Checks Before Launch
A website redesign can break Google Ads tracking without anyone noticing. Here are the six checks I run before a new site goes live.
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How Much Should a Dental Practice Spend on Google Ads?
A starting budget for dental practice Google Ads, what dental clicks cost in Keyword Planner data, and how to size spend to your market and case mix.
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HVAC Google Ads in Winter: What to Adjust Before Heating Season Starts
Short answer: Before heating season, I would separate heating campaigns from cooling, review repair versus replacement intent, refresh negative keywords and…
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No Remarketing Lists: Google's Health Ad Rules
Health is a sensitive interest category in Google Ads, which blocks remarketing lists and customer uploads for targeting. Here is what is banned, what is still allowed, and what to rely on instead.
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Plastic Surgery Ads: The Question That Sets Your Budget
Cosmetic surgery ads are limited by Google's health rules and by how the account counts a conversion. Here is the question that decides your budget before you spend another dollar.
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Google Ad Grants 5% CTR Rule: How to Stay Above It
Google Ad Grants accounts must hold a 5% click-through rate every month at account level. Two months below it means temporary deactivation. Here is how the rule works and what usually pulls an account below it.
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Why Ad Grants Accounts Use So Little of $10,000
The $10,000 Ad Grants budget is a spending limit, not a guarantee. Most accounts use a fraction of it because of the conversion and Smart Bidding rules. Here is why, and what fixed it for one nonprofit.
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LegitScript Certification Before Your First Ad
Google restricts recovery-oriented drug and alcohol addiction ads to approved advertisers. Here is who needs LegitScript certification, what the policy covers, and what happens to your ads while you wait.
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Why Local Service Ads Cost More in 2026
Local Services Ads are getting more expensive across home service trades. Here is why and the three things I check before increasing spend.
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How to Track a Plumbing Lead From Click to Booked Job
Most plumbing ad reports stop at lead count. Here is how clicks, calls, forms and CRM stages connect, where the chain usually breaks, and how to see which campaigns book jobs.
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LSA Moves to Performance Max: What to Check First
Local Services Ads are moving into Google Ads as Performance Max for pay-per-lead goals. Here is what to check before your account migrates.
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Migrating from DSAs to AI Max
Google pushed back the Dynamic Search Ads sunset to February 2027. I explain why waiting for auto-migration is a trap and how to run a proper parallel test for AI Max.
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5 Steps to Set Up Google Ads for Electricians
A straightforward guide to setting up Google Ads for electricians. LSA vs Search Ads, keyword targeting, and tracking what actually books jobs.
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Where Auto Repair Google Ads Waste Money
Discover how a Google Ads audit uncovers hidden budget leaks for auto repair shops, including oil change traps, parts shoppers, and bad geotargeting.
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The Dentist's Guide to Google Ads in 2026: What Actually Works Now
Google Ads for dentists is changing again in 2026. I break down the Local Services Ads migration into Google Ads, the badge rename, and what is worth ignoring.
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Google LSA for Plumbing Companies: How It Works and When Search Ads Win
How Google LSA works for plumbing companies: screening, charged leads, ranking, the move into Google Ads, and when search ads win instead.
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Auto Repair Google Ads: Capturing High-Margin Service Leads Instead of Oil Change Shoppers
Stop chasing $40 oil changes. Here is how modern Google Ads bidding can push your budget toward transmission rebuilds, engine diagnostics, and the jobs that actually move your shop's bottom line.
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Are Call-Only Ads Dead? How HVAC and Plumbing Pros Must Pivot for 2026
Google is retiring call-only ads by February 2027. Here is how HVAC and plumbing shops should move to Responsive Search Ads with call assets.
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The Complete Guide to Google Ads for HVAC Companies
What HVAC clicks cost, how I split repair and install campaigns, move budget with the seasons, and run Local Services Ads alongside Search.
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How Much Should an Auto Repair Shop Spend on Google Ads?
Most independent auto repair shops should spend $1,500 to $2,500 a month on Google Ads. Here is how to size your budget for your market.
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5 Google Ads Mistakes Auto Repair Shops Make That Waste $1,000+ Per Month
Five Google Ads settings that quietly waste $1,000 or more a month for auto repair shops, and how to fix each one.
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Landing Page CRO: Why You’re Getting Clicks But Zero Phone Calls
Clicks but no calls usually means a landing page problem. Here is how to fix slow pages, hidden phone numbers, and exits that kill leads.
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Ad Copy That Converts: How to Write for Local Service Leads
How to write Google Ads copy that turns local searches into calls: name the service and city, answer the first question, and match the urgency.
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7 Mistakes You're Making with Google Ads Management (and How to Fix Them)
Seven common Google Ads management mistakes, from loose keywords to broken conversion tracking, and how to fix each one.
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Why Pausing HVAC Ads in December Destroys Your January Revenue
Discover why halting HVAC ads in December can severely impact your January sales and learn actionable strategies to maintain your revenue flow.
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Navigating Google Ads Changes: Strategies for Success in 2025
As of November 2025, significant changes in Google Ads algorithm impact performance. Discover actionable strategies to adapt and thrive.
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Google's Resilient Search Advertising Revenue Amid AI Disruption
Despite fears of self-disruption, Google's search revenue surged 15% last quarter. Here is how businesses can adapt as AI changes search.
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Navigating Google Ads with the New Ads Advisor Chatbot
Explore the new 'Ads Advisor' AI chatbot from Google Ads designed to assist marketers with campaign management. Discover its potential benefits and limitations.
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