Google Ads Costs Up 10% YOY 2024
Google has us over a barrel!
Google Ads Costs 10% More Than A Year Ago.
Search ad benchmark report finds advertisers are paying more for leads and clicks, while Google continues to report record profits. Paid search advertising conversion rates have decreased across nearly all industries year over year. Meanwhile, the cost of generating leads through search ads continues to increase.
The report states this is due to “increased competition and intensified monetisation of the Google SERPs,” it’s hard not to wonder behind the scenes as Google keeps finding ways to justify higher prices despite not delivering equally greater returns for bigger investments from advertisers. Read more.
https://searchengineland.com/search-advertising-benchmarks-2024-440415
Read more on how the US Department hammer Google on Search Ad price manipulation – it’s quite enjoyable. https://searchengineland.com/doj-google-search-ad-price-manipulation-440207
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Reduce Hidden Costs and Wastage –
GEO-Targeting Health Check
Google’s geo targeting feels more like geo tricking these days. Keep your eyes peeled for those sneaky location settings – exclusions are your new best friend. Even if you select specific locations and change the setting to people in or regularly in my location”. Go to GA4 – check your Google Ad Geo locations and check if you need to add a lot of exclusions non-targeted countries.
Google Ads Opt Out of Auto Assets –
Just when we through we had controlled the out-of-control Google Ads automations. A Google rep showed us another area we needed to OPT OUT of that Google has auto opted in. It feels deliberately hidden. Here is how to find it: Click Assets on left menu. At top of the chart click the vertical 3 ellipses More. Click Advanced Settings. If you don’t want google Dynamically creating images, business logos, names and callouts. Turn them off.