Marketing
SEO or paid ads: where to start with a limited budget
How search engine optimization and paid advertising differ, when each tends to fit, and the foundations to fix before spending on either.
· 7 min read
Paid advertising
PPC audit service that shows where your ad budget is going
If you are not sure your ad spend is working, an audit gives you answers. We go through your accounts, tracking and landing pages, and show you what is wasting money and what to fix first.
You may need this if
- You don't trust the numbers in your ad accounts
- Cost per lead or sale has crept up
- You want a second opinion on your current agency or freelancer
- You are about to raise your ad budget
What's included
What our PPC Audit service covers
Tracking check
Are conversions counted correctly, once, and for the right actions?
Account structure
Campaign and ad group setup reviewed against your goals.
Keywords and search terms
Wasted spend found in irrelevant searches and match types.
Ads and audiences
Ad copy, assets, targeting and audience overlap reviewed.
Landing pages
Speed, message match and forms on the pages your ads send people to.
Action plan
A ranked list of fixes, with what to do first.
How it works
Four clear steps.
The exact scope and timeline are agreed in writing before any work starts.
Access
You give us read-only access to your accounts.
Review
We go through every area in detail.
Report
A clear report in plain English.
Walkthrough
A call to explain the findings and answer questions.
Which platforms do you audit?
Google Ads, Microsoft Ads and Meta Ads. We can also review LinkedIn and TikTok accounts.
Do you need full access?
No. Read-only access is enough for an audit.
Will you tell my current agency?
No. The audit is for you. You decide what to share and with whom.
Do I have to hire you after the audit?
No. The report is yours to use with your own team or another partner.
Paid advertising
Related services
- Google Ads ManagementGoogle Ads management services: search, Performance Max and shopping campaigns set up, tracked and improved weekly, with clear reports on cost and leads.Explore
- Meta Ads ManagementMeta ads management for Facebook and Instagram: audiences, creative, pixel and Conversions API tracking, and weekly testing to find ads that sell.Explore
Further reading
All guidesStart a project
Planning or reviewing paid campaigns?
Tell us which platforms you use, what you sell, and what counts as a good lead.