Paid search, explained plainly
Paid search is the set of text ads above and below the regular listings on Google and Bing. You pay when someone clicks. Looking after it means keeping several parts in order:
- Keywords and match types, which decide the searches you can appear for.
- Negative keywords, which keep you out of searches that do not fit.
- Ads and assets: the headlines, descriptions, sitelinks and callouts people see.
- Bidding and budgets, which govern what you spend and how the platform bids.
- Conversion actions, the form fills or other events you count as a lead.
The auction belongs to Google or Microsoft. These settings shape what you enter it with and how you count what comes back.
Bidding, budgets and conversion actions
These three settings are linked, and most problems in small accounts come from one of them being out of step with the others.
Conversion actions come first. Each one counts an event, such as a quote form submission. Only the events you would call a lead should be marked primary, because automated bidding learns from whatever is marked primary.
Bidding can be manual or automated. Automated strategies such as Target CPA need a steady flow of conversions to work; a new account with little data often starts on manual or enhanced CPC and moves later.
Budgets are set per campaign as a daily average. Google can spend above that on a busy day and below it on a quiet one, so the manager checks spend against the month rather than the day.
Before you request a search ads quote
A provider can give a clearer quote if you have a few answers ready. You do not need all of them, and the notes box on the quote form is fine for rough answers.
- Do you already have a Google Ads or Microsoft Advertising account, and is it active?
- Roughly how many services or product lines would you advertise?
- Do you serve the whole US or specific states?
- What monthly ad spend range are you considering?
- Is your quote form already sending form fills somewhere you can see them?
- Is anything about your offer regulated, so ad wording needs care?
The partner who picks up the request will ask follow-up questions before scoping anything.
Questions about search ads management
Who owns the ad account?
You should. The account should be created under your business email and billed to your payment method, with you holding admin access. The provider works through a manager account link or a user invite that you can remove. That way the keyword history and conversion data stay with you if the arrangement ends.
What counts as a conversion?
Whatever you decide is a lead, set up as a conversion action in Google Ads. For most B2B sites that is a completed quote form. Smaller actions such as page views can be recorded but should not be marked primary, because automated bidding learns from primary conversions.
Does sending the form commit me to anything?
No. Your request is passed to a service partner who does the work. They will ask about your accounts, services and budget, then agree scope and quote you directly. Nothing is agreed until you accept their terms. See how it works for the steps.
If your ads, pages or follow-up need attention, describe the problem and get a scoped quote.
Describe the workOther services
Social ads management
Ongoing campaign upkeep: new creative, audience tests, budget pacing and lead form syncing to your CRM.
Landing pages and forms
Single-purpose pages for your ads, with a clear offer, a short form, consent text and conversion tracking set up together.
Lead routing
Form fills and platform lead forms sent into HubSpot, Salesforce or Pipedrive with campaign source fields filled in.