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Key Takeaways
Google Ads can be a powerful tool, but managing it effectively requires expertise.
Running Google Ads yourself can lead to wasted budget and subpar results if you lack experience.
A specialized Google Ads marketing agency brings knowledge, optimization strategies, and tracking expertise.
Choosing the right agency is key—look for one with experience in your industry and a track record of improving lead quality and reducing cost per lead.
Good Growth has helped businesses like AmishCo and Byler's Quality Construction significantly improve their Google Ads ROI.
Introduction: Why Google Ads Can Be a Game-Changer
If you're running a service business, you’ve probably considered Google Ads as a way to generate leads. And for a good reason—Google Ads is one of the fastest, most effective ways to put your business in front of potential customers who are actively searching for what you offer. Whether you're an HVAC contractor, a personal injury lawyer, or a mortgage broker, being at the top of Google search results can bring in a steady stream of high-intent leads.
But here’s the catch: just because Google Ads is powerful doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Many business owners try running Google Ads themselves and quickly realize that it’s not as simple as setting up a campaign and watching leads roll in. Instead, they see budgets disappear with little to show for it—clicks but no conversions, wasted spend on irrelevant searches, and frustratingly high cost per lead.
This leads to a common question: Is it worth hiring a Google Ads marketing agency?
The short answer? For most businesses, yes. But the long answer depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. In this guide, we’ll break down the pros and cons of hiring an agency, what a Google Ads agency actually does, and how to determine if it's the right investment for your business.
DIY vs. Hiring a Google Ads Marketing Agency
When considering Google Ads, you generally have two options: manage it yourself or hire an expert agency. Let’s look at the key differences between the two approaches.
Running Google Ads Yourself
If you’re tech-savvy and have the time to invest, running Google Ads yourself might seem like a cost-effective option. After all, the Google Ads platform is accessible to anyone with a credit card and a willingness to learn. But while it’s easy to start a campaign, running a profitable campaign is another story.
Here are some challenges you may face when managing Google Ads on your own:
Steep Learning Curve: Google Ads isn’t just about setting up a few keywords and writing an ad. You need to understand bid strategies, match types, negative keywords, ad extensions, conversion tracking, and more.
Wasted Ad Spend: Without proper campaign structure and ongoing optimization, you’ll likely spend money on irrelevant clicks. For example, if you’re a family lawyer, you don’t want your ads showing up for “free legal advice.”
Time-Consuming Optimization: Google Ads requires continuous monitoring and adjustments. If you’re running a business, do you really have time to analyze keyword performance, adjust bids, and tweak ad copy every day?
Lack of Conversion Tracking Expertise: Many business owners fail to properly track conversions, which means they have no idea if their ads are actually working. Without accurate data, you can’t make informed decisions.
Hiring a Google Ads Agency
A specialized Google Ads agency, like Good Growth, takes these challenges off your plate and brings a level of expertise that is hard to match on your own.
Here’s what you get when you work with an agency:
Expert Campaign Strategy: A good agency will structure your campaigns to maximize lead quality while minimizing wasted ad spend.
Proper Bid Management: Starting with manual CPC and transitioning to smart bidding at the right time can significantly improve performance. Agencies know when and how to make these shifts.
Landing Page Optimization: Ads alone won’t drive conversions—your landing page plays a crucial role. Many agencies help optimize landing pages for better performance.
Accurate Lead Tracking & Reporting: Good agencies don’t just track clicks; they track leads, cost per lead, and even lead quality. This helps ensure you’re not just getting traffic but actual customers.
Ongoing Optimization: Google Ads isn’t a “set it and forget it” platform. Continuous testing and adjustments are necessary to maintain and improve results.
What a Google Ads Agency Actually Does
Hiring an agency isn’t just about outsourcing the work—it’s about leveraging expertise that can make or break your success with Google Ads.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what a Google Ads marketing agency actually does:
1. Campaign Strategy & Setup
A good agency doesn’t just jump into Google Ads blindly. They take time to understand your business, goals, and target audience. Then, they develop a strategic campaign structure that aligns with your objectives.
This includes:
Keyword research to find high-intent search terms
Ad group segmentation to keep ads tightly themed
Choosing the right bid strategy (starting with manual CPC and transitioning when appropriate)
Setting up negative keywords to prevent wasted spend
Writing compelling, high-converting ad copy
2. Landing Page Optimization
Even the best Google Ads campaign won’t work if your landing page isn’t optimized for conversions.
Many agencies (including Good Growth) help with:
A/B testing different headlines and CTAs
Streamlining the design for a better user experience
Ensuring mobile-friendliness (most searches happen on mobile)
Reducing distractions to keep the focus on conversion actions
3. Conversion Tracking & Data Analysis
Accurate tracking is non-negotiable.
An agency ensures:
Google Ads and Google Analytics tracking are correctly set up
Calls, form submissions, and other lead actions are properly tracked
Lead quality is assessed, not just lead quantity
Reports are clear, actionable, and tied to business outcomes
4. Ongoing Optimization & Bid Management
The work doesn’t stop after launching a campaign.
Agencies continuously optimize by:
Adjusting bids based on performance data
A/B testing different ad variations
Adding new negative keywords to cut wasted spend
Scaling up successful campaigns while pausing underperforming ones
5. Regular Reporting & Communication
A great agency doesn’t just send reports—they provide insights and recommendations to help you understand the impact of your ads. Transparency is key.
Common Mistakes Businesses Make with Google Ads (And How Agencies Help Avoid Them)
Running Google Ads successfully is not as simple as setting up a campaign and letting it run. Many business owners dive in, expecting immediate results, only to find themselves burning through their budget with little to show for it. Here are some of the most common pitfalls businesses face when managing Google Ads on their own—and how a specialized Google Ads marketing agency helps avoid them.
1. Poor Keyword Strategy
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is choosing the wrong keywords. Either they go too broad (wasting money on irrelevant searches) or too narrow (missing out on valuable traffic). Many also forget about negative keywords, allowing unqualified clicks to eat into their budget.
How Agencies Fix This:
Conduct in-depth keyword research to find high-intent search terms.
Use negative keywords to filter out unqualified leads.
Continuously optimize based on search term reports to refine targeting.
2. Ignoring Conversion Tracking
A surprising number of businesses don’t track conversions properly, meaning they have no clear data on what’s working. Without accurate tracking, you’re essentially flying blind—unable to measure the real ROI of your campaigns.
How Agencies Fix This:
Set up conversion tracking correctly (phone calls, form submissions, and booked appointments).
Use call tracking software to measure lead quality.
Optimize campaigns based on actual lead data, not just clicks.
3. Mismanaging Ad Budget
Many businesses either spend too little (not giving campaigns a chance to succeed) or too much (burning through budget inefficiently). Without experience, it’s easy to waste money on ineffective strategies.
How Agencies Fix This:
Start with manual CPC to control spending, then switch to smart bidding after gathering enough data.
Allocate budget efficiently to high-performing keywords and campaigns.
Regularly monitor performance and adjust spend based on real-time data.
4. Writing Weak Ad Copy
Generic, uninspiring ad copy leads to low click-through rates and wasted ad spend. Many businesses simply list their services instead of writing compelling, action-oriented ads.
How Agencies Fix This:
Craft persuasive ad copy that highlights unique selling points.
Use A/B testing to determine the best-performing messaging.
Write strong calls-to-action (CTAs) that drive conversions.
5. Sending Traffic to a Poorly Optimized Landing Page
Even the best ads won’t convert if they send traffic to a generic homepage or a landing page that isn’t designed for conversions. Slow load times, cluttered layouts, and lack of clear CTAs lead to high bounce rates and wasted ad spend.
How Agencies Fix This:
Design custom landing pages optimized for conversions.
Improve page speed and mobile responsiveness.
Use clear, compelling CTAs that guide visitors toward taking action.
6. Ignoring Campaign Maintenance
Google Ads isn’t a “set it and forget it” platform. Without ongoing management, campaigns become inefficient, leading to wasted budget and declining performance over time.
How Agencies Fix This:
Continuously monitor and optimize campaigns for better performance.
Adjust bids, update ad copy, and test new strategies based on data.
Provide regular reporting and insights so businesses know what’s working.
7. Not Utilizing Retargeting
Many businesses focus only on new traffic and ignore retargeting opportunities. Retargeting allows you to bring back visitors who showed interest but didn’t convert the first time.
How Agencies Fix This:
Implement strategic remarketing campaigns.
Serve personalized ads to past visitors to increase conversions.
Optimize ad frequency to avoid ad fatigue.
By avoiding these mistakes, businesses can maximize their ad spend and generate better results. A professional Google Ads marketing agency ensures your campaigns are not only set up correctly but also continuously optimized for maximum performance.
Case Study: How a Google Ads Marketing Agency Transformed Lead Generation
To illustrate the real impact of working with a Google Ads marketing agency, let’s look at a real-world success story.
The Client: AmishCo
AmishCo provides high-quality, Amish-built horse barns, sheds, greenhouses, and garages. As a relatively new business, they lacked brand recognition and needed to generate high-quality leads through digital advertising.
The Challenge
AmishCo faced a common problem: they needed to drive high-intent traffic and generate leads in a competitive market—without wasting ad spend on unqualified clicks. Without the advantage of word-of-mouth referrals, their entire customer acquisition strategy relied on their Google Ads performance.
The Strategy
Good Growth, a specialized Google Ads agency, took a strategic approach:
Landing Page Optimization: Designed high-converting pages that aligned with user search intent.
Keyword Strategy: Focused on "Amish-built" keywords to leverage brand uniqueness and target high-intent searchers.
Bid Strategy: Started with manual CPC bidding to control costs, then shifted to smart bidding after gathering enough conversion data.
Ad Copy & A/B Testing: Crafted compelling ad messaging that emphasized Amish craftsmanship and quality, refining based on performance.
Continuous Optimization: Regular adjustments based on data, including budget reallocation and keyword refinement.
The Results
Over four months, AmishCo saw a dramatic improvement in their Google Ads performance:
Cost per lead dropped from $216 to $117 (a 46% reduction).
Conversion rates increased by 160% through landing page optimization and strategic A/B testing.
Consistent, high-quality leads helped grow their business and establish a strong foothold in their industry.
This case study highlights why hiring a Google Ads marketing agency is worth the investment—because expertise, strategic execution, and ongoing optimization drive real business growth.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
Hiring a Google Ads marketing agency isn’t just about outsourcing work—it’s about investing in better results, smarter spending, and faster business growth. Here are the key lessons from this guide:
Google Ads success requires expertise. A professional agency ensures you avoid costly mistakes and get the best possible ROI.
Data-driven decisions matter. Agencies track every aspect of your campaigns to optimize performance based on real results—not guesswork.
Continuous optimization is key. Google Ads isn’t a one-time setup; it needs constant attention to stay effective.
A well-optimized campaign saves money. Without an agency, businesses often overspend on ineffective ads and poor keyword choices.
Landing pages are just as important as ads. The best campaigns don’t just drive traffic—they drive conversions.
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