Is my PPC agency wasting money?

Most agencies aren't wasting money on purpose, but it's easy for spend to drift when nobody outside the agency looks at the account. You can check the basics yourself in an afternoon, without needing to understand every setting.

Do you own the account?

You should have your own access to the Google Ads account, ideally as the owner. If the agency owns it, you may lose your history if you leave.

Ask for admin access to the account itself
Make sure billing is in your business name
Check that conversion tracking is set up on your website, not only in the agency's tools

Are the reports showing real results?

Compare reported conversions with the leads or sales you actually received. A big gap means the reports are counting something else.

Clicks, impressions and 'engagements' are not results. Ask which conversion actions are counted, and what each one measures.

Want Google Ads done for you?

You approve your plan. Claritad builds your account, ads and tracking, then optimizes within agreed limits. No contract, cancel anytime. You pay Google directly for clicks.

$299$49/month launch offer

Launch offer: $49/month (regularly $299/month). Locked in for as long as you stay. Ends Dec 31, 2026.

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No contract, cancel anytime. You pay Google directly for clicks.

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The plan preview is free, no card needed. Managed has a flat monthly fee; cancel anytime.

Where does the budget go?

Open the search terms report and sort by cost. If the top searches aren't things your customers would type, budget is leaking.

Spend on searches with no recorded conversions
Searches outside your service area
Your own brand name taking a large share of spend

What are you paying for?

Separate the management fee from ad spend and ask what changed in the account last month.

The account's change history shows what was actually changed and when. Long periods with no changes, while fees continue, are worth a conversation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my agency's work without being technical?

Ask for access, compare reported conversions with your real leads, and look at the costliest searches. A read-only audit tool can do this for you in plain language.

Should I fire my agency if I find wasted spend?

Not necessarily. Share what you found and ask how they'll fix it. Good agencies welcome a second opinion.

Will Claritad interfere with my agency's work?

The free diagnostic does not change your ads. Managed does run campaigns, so agree who manages the account before starting alongside another provider.