How do we set up our Google ads campaign?

The short answer is: start by targeting just one city with a single campaign and focus on optimizing it until it performs exceptionally well, ideally achieving around a 30% conversion rate. Once that level of success is reached, you can replicate the campaign for further growth.

Full Explanation

When setting up a Google Ads campaign, the key is to concentrate your efforts on one specific city rather than spreading your budget across multiple locations. This focused approach helps you gather meaningful data and refine your campaign more efficiently. Your primary goal should be to optimize the campaign until it delivers excellent results, which means reaching a conversion rate of about 30%. Achieving this conversion rate indicates that your ads resonate well with your target audience, leading to more successful lead generation.

The optimization process might take some time, typically one or two months. During this period, you will still receive leads, although the cost per lead might initially be higher. However, as you continue to tweak and improve your ads, keywords, and targeting settings over time, you should see better performance and lower costs per lead. Only after reaching your desired conversion rate and ensuring the campaign works smoothly should you consider duplicating this campaign to expand your reach.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Focus on One City: Begin your campaign by targeting a single city to keep your marketing efforts concentrated and measurable.
2. Create One Campaign: Set up a single, well-structured Google Ads campaign for this city.
3. Optimize for Conversion: Work to improve the campaign until it achieves roughly a 30% conversion rate, which shows strong engagement and lead generation.
4. Be Patient: Expect the optimization phase to take one or two months, during which you will gather data and improve performance.
5. Monitor Cost Per Lead: Understand that early on, the cost per lead may be higher but should decrease as you optimize.
6. Duplicate After Success: Once your campaign is delivering great results, duplicate it to scale your advertising efforts.

Real Examples

For instance, if you launch a campaign targeting a city like Denver, you would initially run a single campaign there, track your leads closely, and focus on improving your conversion rate. During this optimization, you may see consistent lead flow, though the investment per lead might be on the higher side. Over the span of one to two months, by refining ad copy, adjusting bids, and analyzing performance data, you push the conversion rate toward or above 30%. After that success, you replicate this campaign approach for another city.

Common Mistakes

• Attempting to target multiple cities at once before mastering one location.
• Expecting immediate high conversion rates without thorough optimization.
• Duplicating campaigns prematurely before achieving optimal performance.
• Ignoring the cost per lead during the initial optimization phase.
• Failing to monitor and adjust the campaign regularly over the initial one to two months.

FAQs

How long should the optimization phase take?

The optimization typically takes one or two months to reach an effective conversion rate.

Is it okay if cost per lead is high at the start?

Yes, higher costs per lead are common early on, but costs should decrease as you continue to optimize the campaign.

Why focus on just one city initially?

Focusing on one city helps you gather specific insights and efficiently improve performance without spreading your budget too thin.

What conversion rate should I aim for?

A conversion rate around 30% is an ideal benchmark indicating a well-performing campaign.

When should I duplicate the campaign?

Only after the campaign is optimized and consistently delivering great results should you duplicate it to expand reach.

Key Takeaways

• Start your Google Ads campaign by targeting a single city.
• Focus on optimizing one campaign until it achieves roughly a 30% conversion rate.
• Be patient and allow one to two months for proper optimization.
• Accept that cost per lead may be higher during the initial phase.
• Duplicate campaigns only after reaching your desired performance metrics.