What To Do About Low-Performing Google Ads
- Bill Binnig
- Aug 8
- 4 min read
Google Ads can be your fastest path to high-intent traffic and qualified leads because you’re placing your business directly in front of people who are actively searching for what you offer—right when they’re ready to take action. The platform’s targeting capabilities let you filter by keywords, location, device, demographics, and even time of day, so your budget is focused on clicks that are most likely to convert.
But speed and intent alone don’t guarantee success. Without the right keyword strategy, ad copy, bidding structure, and landing page experience, you can burn through your budget quickly while attracting the wrong clicks. Avoiding low-performing Google Ads requires a balance of data-driven optimization, compelling messaging, and ongoing performance monitoring to ensure that those high-intent searches actually turn into paying customers.
If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Why aren’t my Google Ads working?”—you’re not alone.
We break down the most common reasons Google Ads campaigns fail and show you how Leadazzle fixes them with a more strategic, done-for-you approach.
1. Targeting the Wrong Keywords Causes Low-Performing Google Ads
Most small business campaigns begin with a brainstorm and a few broad keywords like “plumber near me” or “marketing services.”
The problem? These keywords are often:
Highly competitive
Expensive
Too broad to attract your ideal customer
What to do instead: Target intent-driven and long-tail keywords (e.g., “emergency plumbing repair in Pflugerville TX” or “B2B lead gen services for software companies”).
Leadazzle identifies keywords that aren’t just searched—but searched by buyers. That’s a big difference.
2. Your Ads Don’t Match Search Intent
Let’s say someone searches for “best accounting software for freelancers.” If your ad talks about enterprise-level accounting tools with a free demo call… that’s a mismatch.
Search intent means understanding why someone is searching—and delivering an ad that speaks to that need.
Leadazzle’s fix: Every campaign we build starts with audience research, so we match the message with the moment of intent—whether it’s awareness, evaluation, or decision.
3. Your Landing Pages Aren’t Built to Convert
Even the best ad in the world won’t save you from a bad landing page.
Here are some common conversion killers:
No clear call-to-action
Walls of text or cluttered design
Slow load time or mobile issues
No trust signals (testimonials, reviews, guarantees)
Leadazzle’s approach: We don’t just send clicks to your homepage. We design custom, high-converting landing pages tailored to each campaign—with built-in tracking and A/B testing.
4. You’re Not Using Long-Tail or Branded Keywords
Everyone wants to rank for terms like “digital marketing” or “real estate agent.” But those generic keywords are both expensive and untargeted.
Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, are:
More specific
Easier to rank for
Higher intent
Example:
Broad: “Hair salon”
Long-tail: “Walk-in hair salon open Sunday Austin TX”
Leadazzle’s solution: Our keyword strategy balances short-term wins with long-term growth—mixing branded terms, local keywords, and long-tail opportunities.
5. Lack of a Negative Keyword Strategy Leads to Low-Performing Google Ads
Negative keywords are the unsung heroes of Google Ads. They prevent your ads from showing up on irrelevant searches that waste money.
Example: If you sell premium fitness gear, you might want to exclude terms like “cheap,” “used,” or “DIY.”
What Leadazzle does differently: We continuously refine your negative keyword list as your campaign runs. That means less wasted spend and more relevant clicks.
6. You’re Not Optimizing for Quality Score
Google doesn’t just reward the highest bidders—it rewards the most relevant ads. That’s where your Quality Score comes in.
This score is based on:
Ad relevance
Landing page experience
Click-through rate
Low scores mean higher costs, fewer impressions, and low-performing Google Ads.
Leadazzle’s fix: We optimize every part of your ad journey—from copywriting to page design—to boost your Quality Score and lower your cost per click.
7. You’ve “Set It and Forgotten It”
This is the No. 1 mistake we see with self-managed ad accounts.
Digital advertising requires constant:
Monitoring
A/B testing
Adjustments to targeting, bids, and creatives
If you haven’t touched your campaign in weeks, you’re likely leaking leads and losing budget.
How Leadazzle solves it: Our fully managed service means we’re optimizing your ads daily—adjusting bids, pausing underperformers, testing new creatives, and staying ahead of your competitors.
8. What to Do Instead: The Leadazzle Way
Here’s what you get when you partner with Leadazzle for PPC:
Strategic Planning: We start with your goals, audience, and competition—not just your ad budget.
Professional Copy & Creative: Eye-catching, high-converting ads custom-written for each platform.
Keyword Intelligence: Our tools and experience help uncover hidden keyword gems your competitors miss.
Landing Pages That Convert: Custom-built for each campaign, optimized for mobile, fast load, and ROI.
Daily Optimization: Hands-on management so your ads are always performing at their best.
Transparent Reporting: Know what’s working, what’s improving, and what’s next.
In short? We turn your ad spend into pipeline.
9. Call-to-Action: Book Your Free PPC Audit
If you’re tired of asking, “Why aren’t my Google Ads working?”—it’s time to stop guessing and start growing.
Leadazzle is here to help. We’ll audit your current campaigns for free, identify where your leads are leaking, and show you what it takes to fix it—without pressure or obligation.
You don’t have to be a PPC expert to run effective Google Ads—you just need the right partner. Give us a call and let Leadazzle do the heavy lifting while you focus on what you do best: running your business.