The 5 Biggest Google Ads Mistakes And How to Fix Them!

Introduction: Is Your Google Ads Budget Going to Waste?

Google Ads can be a goldmine for businesses—if done correctly. But too many brands waste money on the wrong keywords, bad ad copy, and poor campaign settings. Are you making one of these costly mistakes? Let’s dive into the top five Google Ads mistakes and how to fix them fast!

Mistake #1: Targeting Broad Keywords (Wasting Money on the Wrong Clicks!)

The Problem: Many businesses set up campaigns using broad match keywords, causing their ads to show up for unrelated searches. Example: A dentist bidding on “teeth cleaning” might appear for “DIY teeth cleaning kits.”

The Fix:

Use phrase match (“teeth cleaning near me”) or exact match ([best dentist for teeth cleaning]).
Regularly review your Search Terms Report and remove irrelevant searches.
Add negative keywords (e.g., “free,” “home remedy”) to block unqualified traffic.

Mistake #2: Not Using Ad Extensions (Missing Out on Clicks!)

The Problem: If your ads are just text, you’re missing out on extra space that can make your ad more attractive and informative.

The Fix: Enable these high-performing ad extensions:

Sitelinks (e.g., “Our Services,” “Pricing,” “Book Now”)
Callouts (e.g., “24/7 Support,” “Money-Back Guarantee”)
Structured Snippets (e.g., “Brands We Carry: Nike, Adidas, Puma”)
Call Extension (Great for businesses that rely on phone calls)

Pro Tip: Ad extensions increase CTR (Click-Through Rate) and Quality Score, which means lower ad costs!

Mistake #3: Sending Traffic to a Bad Landing Page

The Problem: Many businesses send Google Ads traffic to their homepage instead of a dedicated landing page. This leads to high bounce rates and low conversions.

The Fix:

Create a dedicated landing page that matches your ad’s offer.
Use a clear call-to-action (CTA) (e.g., “Get Your Free Quote” or “Book a Demo Now”).
Improve page load speed (slow pages = lost customers!).

Pro Tip: A great landing page can double your conversion rate without increasing ad spend!

Mistake #4: Ignoring Conversion Tracking (Flying Blind!)

The Problem: If you don’t track conversions, you have no idea which ads, keywords, or audiences are making you money.

The Fix:

Set up Google Ads Conversion Tracking inside your account.
Track form submissions, phone calls, purchases, or booked appointments.
Use Google Tag Manager for easy tracking setup.

Pro Tip: Once you track conversions, you can double down on what’s working and cut wasteful ad spend.

Mistake #5: Not Using Retargeting Ads (Leaving Money on the Table!)

The Problem: 98% of website visitors don’t buy on the first visit, yet many businesses fail to retarget them with ads.

The Fix:

Set up a Google Display Retargeting Campaign to show ads to past visitors.
Use YouTube Retargeting Ads to stay top-of-mind with video content.
Offer an irresistible deal (e.g., “Get 10% Off If You Order Today!”).

Pro Tip: Retargeting can boost conversion rates by up to 70%!

Final Thoughts: Fix These Mistakes & Watch Your Google Ads ROI Soar!

If your Google Ads campaigns aren’t delivering results, you’re probably making one (or more) of these mistakes. But don’t worry—fix them today and start seeing better returns!

Need expert help running high-converting Google Ads? The Vibe Design specializes in crafting profitable Google Ads strategies for businesses. Let’s make your ads work smarter, not harder!