Getting clicks from Google Ads but no calls? Here are the ten real reasons small business campaigns fail, and the 20-minute check I’d run on your account to find the leak.
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PPC
Are Google Ads Worth It for a Small Business? An Honest Answer
Google Ads are worth it for most small businesses when a job is worth more than a lead costs and your website converts. Here’s how to do the maths, what the crowded results page means for you, and when ads are not worth it.
How Much Do Google Ads Cost in the UK?
There’s no minimum spend on Google Ads, but UK clicks range from around £2 to £30 depending on the search. Here are current cost-per-click figures for trades and local services, how Google’s billing works, and what budget actually makes sense.
Google Ads Audit: A Checklist You Can Run Yourself
A practical Google Ads audit checklist for small businesses and tradespeople, grouped by tracking, settings, search terms, ads, landing pages, budget and location, with what good looks like and where to find it.
Performance Max for Small Businesses: Is PMax Worth It?
An honest look at Performance Max for small lead generation businesses: what you can now control, how it interacts with Search and AI Max, and when Search is still the better choice.
Negative Keywords and the Search Terms Report: Stop Paying for Rubbish Clicks
How to use negative keywords and the search terms report to stop paying for jobs, courses, DIY and other wasted Google Ads searches, including the three shared lists I use across every account.
Google Ads vs SEO: Which Should a Small Business Pay For First?
Start with Google Ads if you need enquiries within weeks, SEO if you can wait and want a lower cost per lead long term, and both if budget allows. Here’s an honest decision table from someone who sells both.
Should You Accept Google Ads Recommendations (and Advice from Google Reps)?
Some Google Ads recommendations are worth accepting, many aren’t, and optimisation score isn’t a measure of performance. Here’s which to accept, which to dismiss, how to check auto-apply, and how to handle a call from Google.
How Much Does a Google Ads Agency Cost in the UK?
UK Google Ads management typically costs £300 to £1,500 a month for a small business, on top of ad spend. Here are the pricing models, what the fee should include, the red flags, and exactly what I charge.
Google Ads Quality Score: Why Yours Is Low and How to Fix It
What Google Ads Quality Score actually measures, why it isn’t used in the auction but still affects what you pay, and the fixes I’d make first in a small account.
Google Ads Conversion Tracking: Why Your Numbers Are Wrong
Why Google Ads conversion numbers rarely match the enquiries a small business actually gets, how UK call tracking works, and the setup I’d use to count real leads once each.
Google Ads Account Suspended? What to Do Next
Google Ads account suspended? Here’s how to work out why, what not to do, how to appeal properly, and how to set your account up so it doesn’t happen again.
Local Services Ads in the UK: Google Guaranteed, Screened and Verified Explained
Local Services Ads let UK trades pay per lead instead of per click. Here’s how they work in 2026, what replaced Google Guaranteed and Google Screened, and whether they’re worth it for your trade.
ChatGPT Ads: What UK Small Businesses Need to Know
ChatGPT ads are live in the UK. What’s confirmed as of September 2026, from who sees them to the £15 minimum daily budget, what isn’t available yet, and whether a small business should try them.
The Small Business Guide to Google Ads
My practical route through Google Ads for small businesses: whether ads will pay, what they cost, how to set them up and track them properly, and what to do when they aren’t working, with links to every in-depth guide.
Search Lost IS (Budget): What It Means and How to Fix It
If you've ever opened your Google Ads account and seen a column called "Search Lost IS (Budget)" sitting at 30%, 40%, or higher, you've found one of the clearest, most fixable problems in the whole platform. It's telling you, in plain terms, that your ads are good...
What Is PPC Remarketing? A Small Business Guide to Winning Back Lost Visitors
You've spent money getting someone to your website. They browsed around, showed genuine interest, and then left without buying or getting in touch. Sound familiar? This article is part of my small business guide to Google Ads. Here's the thing: that happens to almost...
How to Optimise Your PPC Campaigns (A Practical Guide for Small Businesses)
Most small businesses that try Google Ads fall into the same trap. They set up a campaign, choose some keywords, write a couple of ads, and then sit back and wait for the leads to roll in. When the results are underwhelming, they either throw more money at it or give...
PPC ROI Calculator: What Could Google Ads Make You?
Most small business owners I speak to have one question before they'll even consider Google Ads: "Will it actually make me money?" This article is part of my small business guide to Google Ads. It's exactly the right question. PPC isn't free, and if the numbers don't...
What Is PPC Advertising? A Beginner’s Guide for Small Businesses
If you've been trying to get your business found online, you've probably heard the term PPC thrown around. Maybe someone suggested it as a way to get more leads, or you've noticed the "Sponsored" labels at the top of Google and wondered how those businesses got there....
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