Google Ads audit
Google Ads not working? Let's find out why.
If you're spending money on Google Ads and it doesn't feel like it's paying off, an audit gets you a straight answer. I work out what's going on, explain it in plain English and tell you exactly what to do next.
Sound familiar?
You don't need to know what's wrong. Knowing something is wrong is enough.
- You're spending money and can't tell what you're getting back
- The enquiries have slowed down, or never really started
- Leads come in, just not the kind you want
- The reports you get don't mean much to you
- You set it up yourself and it's never quite taken off
- You know something has to change, but not what
Why start with an audit
When Google Ads isn't working, the usual reaction is to spend more, switch agencies or turn it off. All three are guesses. Spending more on a setup that isn't right just costs more. Switching without knowing the cause is a bit like changing mechanics when nobody has worked out what's wrong with the car. You might get lucky, or you might pay to start over and end up in the same spot. Turning it off can mean walking away from a channel that would work well with the right setup.
An audit gets to the root of it before you make any of those calls. Often it comes down to how the account is structured, which decides where your budget goes and who sees your ads. A good structure gets more from the same spend, and a poor one quietly wastes money every month. Sometimes it's a handful of settings, and sometimes the ads are fine and people drop off after they click. Either way, you know what to fix, and the next dollar goes somewhere useful.
What you get out of it
The report is yours. Take it to your agency, hand it to your team or have me sort it.
A straight answer
Whether Google Ads can work for your business, what's holding it back and how much of your budget is being wasted.
A plan in the right order
The few changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked, with a 90-day plan for what happens when.
Confidence in your next move
Whether to keep your agency, change your budget or bring in help, you'll be deciding with facts.
What I look at
You don't need to follow any of this. That part is my job.
- Whether your enquiries and sales are being tracked properly
- Where money is being spent with nothing coming back
- Who your ads are reaching, and whether that's the right people
- Your ads and the pages people land on
- How the budget is split, and whether it should be
- Whether you own your account and data
Why me
In 15 years of marketing, I've managed Google Ads for law firms, finance businesses and travel brands spending hundreds of thousands a month, including Marketing Director roles at iProspect, part of dentsu, and Overdose Digital. I've worked agency-side and in-house, so I understand both sides of the relationship and what it takes to get an account performing.
Automated tools will happily give you a list of 60 things to fix. What makes the difference is knowing which three matter for your business. That takes someone who understands what a customer is worth to you and what happens after they get in touch. This is paid, independent advice, and the findings stand on their own.
Pricing
A fixed price, based on the size of your account. We'll confirm which one fits on our first call. Prices exclude GST.
One Google Ads account spending up to around $10,000 a month.
Spend up to around $50,000 a month, or more than one account.
Larger budgets, several markets or industries with strict advertising rules, such as legal and finance. Quoted after a call.
Smaller budget?
If you're spending a few thousand dollars a month or less, ongoing management is often the better fit. I review the account as I take it on, then make improvements over time as part of the monthly work.
Running Meta or LinkedIn ads too? They can be added to any audit. For tracking, SEO or a wider look at your marketing, talk to me about what you need.
How it works
- 01
We talk
A 30-minute call about your business, what's going on and what you want from Google Ads.
- 02
You share access
View-only access to your Google Ads and Google Analytics. I'll walk you through it if you're unsure how.
- 03
I dig in
I go through everything in detail. Nothing changes in your account.
- 04
We go through it
You get the report and a call to talk it through, so you know exactly what to do next.
Common questions
Why isn't my Google Ads working?
The most common reasons are an account structure that doesn't match how your customers search, ads showing to the wrong people, automated settings left switched on and tracking that doesn't count enquiries properly. Sometimes the ads are fine and the website or follow-up is where people drop off. An audit finds which one applies to you.
I don't really understand Google Ads. Is this for me?
Yes. Most businesses I talk to don't, and they shouldn't have to. The report and walkthrough are in plain English, and the plan tells you what to do without needing to learn the platform.
Do I need an audit, or just a new agency?
Start with the audit. It tells you whether your current setup can be fixed, what a good agency or specialist should be doing and what questions to ask them.
How much does a Google Ads audit cost in NZ?
My audits are a fixed price based on the size of the account: $2,500 for one account spending up to around $10,000 a month, $4,500 for spend up to around $50,000 a month or several accounts, and from $6,000 for larger or more complex accounts. All prices exclude GST.
How do I know if my Google Ads budget is being wasted?
Usually the account has drifted over time. Google adds new settings, tracking breaks quietly and the business changes while the campaigns stay the same. An audit gives you an independent view of where the money goes, which you can talk through with whoever manages your account.
Do I need my agency's permission?
No. Your Google Ads account should belong to you, and you can give me view-only access yourself. If you don't have access to your own account, that's worth fixing whether or not you go ahead with an audit.
My budget is small. Is an audit still worth it?
For smaller budgets, ongoing management is often the better fit. I review the account as I take it on and make improvements over time, so the review and the fixes happen together. The audit suits businesses that want a detailed report and plan up front.
Can you fix it for me afterwards?
Yes, if you want me to. The plan works just as well in the hands of your current agency or your own team.
Do you audit other channels?
Meta and LinkedIn ads can be added to any Google Ads audit. I also review tracking, SEO and AEO, and marketing as a whole. Get in touch and tell me what you need.
Tell me what's going on.
A quick note about your business and what's not working is enough to start. I'll come back to you to set up a call.