Blog

Notes on marketing that
actually pays for itself.

Practical writing on ads, websites and the numbers underneath them.

How to audit a Google Ads account that is already spending
August 10, 2026

How to audit a Google Ads account that is already spending

The order to audit an inherited Google Ads account: tracking first, then waste, structure, bidding and pages, and when to rebuild instead.

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How to launch a Google Ads account properly, from zero
August 10, 2026

How to launch a Google Ads account properly, from zero

The full launch sequence for a new Google Ads account: target cost per acquisition, tracking before spend, structure, first ads, budget and…

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Working with a Google Ads agency: what to demand and what to check
August 10, 2026

Working with a Google Ads agency: what to demand and what to check

You are paying someone to spend your money. Here is what to insist on, what reporting to ignore, and the four things…

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Cost per lead is climbing and nothing obvious changed
August 10, 2026

Cost per lead is climbing and nothing obvious changed

When your cost per lead drifts up with no clear cause, the answer is usually one of eight things. Here is the…

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Bidding on competitor brands: worth it or just a tax
August 10, 2026

Bidding on competitor brands: worth it or just a tax

Buying your competitor's name looks aggressive and sometimes it is smart. Here is when the numbers work, when they never will, and…

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Remarketing that does not annoy people
August 10, 2026

Remarketing that does not annoy people

Following the same person around the internet with the same banner for 90 days is not remarketing, it is harassment. Here is…

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Seasonality in Google Ads, and how not to panic in a bad month
August 10, 2026

Seasonality in Google Ads, and how not to panic in a bad month

A bad month is usually a normal month with bad timing. Here is how to tell seasonality from a real problem before…

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Why ecommerce tactics fail in lead generation, and the reverse
August 10, 2026

Why ecommerce tactics fail in lead generation, and the reverse

Selling products and selling appointments look similar inside Google Ads and behave nothing alike. Here is what breaks when you copy tactics…

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Google Ads or Google Business Profile for a local business
August 10, 2026

Google Ads or Google Business Profile for a local business

For a plumber, a clinic or a roofer, the free listing often beats the paid ads. Here is when each one wins…

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Reading the search terms report like a detective
August 10, 2026

Reading the search terms report like a detective

The search terms report is the only place Google shows you what people actually wanted. Here is how to read it for…

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