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marlinsem.com
MarlinSEM
@marlinsem.com
The nerd-powered Google Ads management company. 🤓 Based in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Helping businesses everywhere.
🚨 For many advertisers, these settings will waste your money and kill your chances of success from the start. #googleads
7 Default Settings in Google Ads to Avoid
In Google Ads, several default settings are preselected for you. In this post, I explain which settings to disable and why – especially if you have a limited Google Ads budget.
marlinsem.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by MarlinSEM
Hidden search terms in Google Ads are back in the news, following a new report by @searchengineland.bsky.social. Here's how to check how much you're spending on these questionable clicks.
How Much Search Term Data is Google Ads Hiding from You?
Google hides up to 80% of search terms that trigger your ads. Here's how to check how many term are hidden from your account, and why it matters.
marlinsem.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by MarlinSEM
If you're getting spam leads from @GoogleAds, you're probably doing something wrong. 🤔 #ppc #googleads
Google Ads Bots & Spam: How to Stop It & Why It Happens
Are you receiving bogus clicks and spam leads from Google Ads? In this post, I explain how to stop Google Ads bots & spam -- and why it happens in the first place.
marlinsem.com
June 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Google Ads support is not what it used to be. 😩 But there are ways to get your ticket in front of the right people. ✅
Proven Tactics for Getting Better Google Ads Support
Google Ads support can be frustrating, but there are ways to get your case escalated. In this post, I share my most effective tactics for getting better help from support reps.
marlinsem.com
April 14, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Want more control over who sees your Display ads in #GoogleAds? Turn off optimized targeting. Here's how.
How to Turn Off Expansion and Optimized Targeting in Google Ads
Here's how to turn off audience expansion and optimized targeting in Google Ads (and why it matters).
marlinsem.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Will #GoogleAds work for your small business? 🌻 Setting the right expectations is a crucial first step.
8 Misconceptions about Google Ads for Small Business
See common misconceptions about using Google Ads for a small business and why it's so crucial to set the right expectations.
marlinsem.com
March 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
New reason #7: Spam and bot traffic. 😩 Here's what you need to consider before using Performance Max in #GoogleAds
7 Reasons Not to Use Performance Max in Google Ads
Are You Considering Performance Max Ads for Your Small Business? Be Careful. Here are 7 Reasons Not to Use PMax for Google Ads (and Why).
marlinsem.com
February 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by MarlinSEM
🚨 Did you know there's a hidden section of auto-asset settings in #GoogleAds (which can alter your ads even if all other auto-apply recommendations are disabled?)

To turn them off, go to: Assets > More > Account-Level Automated Assets > More > Advanced Settings 😩
February 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
In #GoogleAds, negative keyword match types function differently than their positive counterparts. Here's a handy cheat sheet. 🙌 #ppc
Negative Keyword Match Types in Google Ads (Cheat Sheet & Printable PDF)
In Google Ads, choosing negative keyword match types is not always intuitive. That’s partly because the negative match types don’t function the same as their positive counterparts.  In this post, I e...
marlinsem.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Search terms in PMax are marked as “private” if they’ve been searched by fewer than 50 unique users within a 90-day period.
#ppc #paidsearch #googleads
Google Ads revealing low-volume search terms as 'Private'
Google Ads now displays private search terms in Performance Max campaigns, offering insights into low-volume queries.
searchengineland.com
January 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A recent report revealed that Google Ads is hiding up to 80% of search term data from advertisers. 😱 Here’s how to check how much is missing from your campaigns (and why it matters). #googleads
How Much Search Term Data is Google Ads Hiding from You?
A recent report in Search Engine Land estimates that Google Ads is hiding between 20% to 80% of search term data from advertisers. While this is not news for most of us in the Google Ads community, it...
marlinsem.com
September 23, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by MarlinSEM
I nearly shrieked when I saw all the broad match keywords in my client's #GoogleAds campaign. 😱 But I was even more shocked when I saw the CPAs ...
Have We Been Too Harsh on Broad Match Keywords?
Broad match keywords have long been viewed as the rotten egg of match types in Google Ads. Due to their loose keyword targeting (and the high risk of wasting money on unwanted clicks), broad match is ...
marlinsem.com
August 19, 2024 at 7:38 PM
One of the most common questions we hear from first-time advertisers is "How much does Google Ads cost?" 🤔 Short answer: it's up to you. ✅ Here's a handy guide.
marlinsem.com/how-much-do-...
How Much Do Google Ads Cost? [2025 Pricing Guide]
A Guide to Google Ads Pricing  The cost of using Google Ads depends on several factors, including your desired budget and competition from other advertisers. You control how much you spend each day. B...
marlinsem.com
August 12, 2024 at 12:03 PM
A simple tip so you don't need to click over to the Conversions page or Reports. #ppcchat #googleads
How to View Conversion Actions in Campaign View (Google Ads)
View your conversion actions as a table row Here’s a simple little tip for checking which conversion actions your ads are generating in Google Ads – without clicking off the page. You can view your c...
marlinsem.com
June 19, 2024 at 12:57 PM
Here's a simple calculation for new advertisers who want to try #GoogleAds on a small budget before scaling. 🤩
How Much Should You Spend on Google Ads? | Try this Formula
Tips for Setting Your Google Ads Budget Determining how much to spend on Google Ads is one of the first decisions an advertiser must make before launching a campaign. While this decision is unique to ...
marlinsem.com
June 11, 2024 at 6:28 PM
See 8 common culprits (and how to stop them): marlinsem.com/google-ads-l...
May 22, 2024 at 6:26 PM
What's the best Google Ads campaign for a small business? Here's our answer: marlinsem.com/which-google... #googleads
Which Google Ads Campaign is Best for a Small Business?
Selecting a campaign type in Google Ads should be based on the specific goals of the advertiser. However, a search campaign is usually the best type of campaign for most small businesses, because of i...
marlinsem.com
April 2, 2024 at 6:05 PM
After Google Ads loosened the power of match types, checking search terms has become more important than ever.

marlinsem.com/check-google...
Why You Should Be Checking Your Search Terms in Google Ads Every Day
Reviewing search terms in Google Ads has always been important, as these terms are invaluable for understanding the intent of your target audience and whether your ads are serving them appropriately. ...
marlinsem.com
March 15, 2024 at 7:27 PM
The verification process for locksmiths using #GoogleAds is unlike anything we’ve seen before. 😅

#PPC #ppcchat marlinsem.com/google-ads-f...
Google Ads for Locksmiths: Why So Stinkin’ Difficult?
Using Google ads is a great way for locksmiths to advertise their services locally, but the process for getting started can be surprisingly challenging.  To be permitted to run Google Ads for locksmi...
marlinsem.com
March 4, 2024 at 3:51 PM
If your ad group hasn't had any impressions in 13 months, Google Ads will shut that puppy down. 🤷

(via Search Engine Land / Nicola Agius) #ppc #googleads #ppcchat
Google Ads will automatically start pausing ad groups with low activity
Advertisers will have the option to unpause cad groups but are advised to only do so if they expect impressions in the coming weeks.
searchengineland.com
March 1, 2024 at 8:14 PM
What's a half conversion in #GoogleAds? Here's what you need to know. marlinsem.com/what-is-a-ha... #ppc
February 22, 2024 at 4:32 PM