A Google Ads audit
in plain English.
Not sure if your Google Ads account is set up well? I'll go through it piece by piece and tell you exactly what's wasting money, what's working and what to fix first — whether you hire me afterwards or not.
Sound familiar?
If any of these hit home, you're in the right place.
Why a Google Ads audit is worth doing
Most small business Google Ads accounts aren't broken in one obvious way. They leak money in lots of small ways: a setting left on default, a keyword matching searches it shouldn't, a conversion that counts page views instead of real enquiries, a campaign showing ads at 3am in states you don't serve. Each one looks minor. Together they can mean a large share of your budget isn't reaching real customers.
An audit is a structured way to find those leaks. Instead of guessing, we look at what's actually happening in the account and compare it to how it should be set up for a business like yours. The goal is a clear picture of where your money goes and a short list of the changes that will matter most.
What I check in your account
Conversion tracking. This comes first, because every other decision depends on it. I check whether calls, form submissions, bookings or purchases are tracked, whether anything is double-counted, and whether Google's automated bidding is being trained on the right goal.
Campaign settings. Location targeting (including the commonly missed 'presence or interest' setting), networks, ad schedules, devices, bidding strategy and budgets. A lot of waste hides here.
Keywords and search terms. I look at match types and, more importantly, the actual searches that triggered your ads. This is usually where the clearest wins are: irrelevant searches to block, good ones to give their own focus.
Ads and assets. Are your ads specific to what people searched for? Do they use sitelinks, calls and other assets well? Do they give a reason to choose you?
Landing pages. Where clicks end up, how fast the page loads on a phone, whether it matches the ad and whether it's easy to take the next step.
Account structure and history. How campaigns and ad groups are organized, what's changed recently and whether automated recommendations have been applied without review.
What you get from the audit
You get a written, prioritized list of fixes in plain English: what I found, why it matters and what I'd do about it, ordered so you know what to tackle first. I'll walk you through it on a call so you can ask questions. There's no obligation to hire me; you can hand the list to your current manager or make the changes yourself.
If you'd like me to take it from there, I can implement the fixes and move into ongoing Google Ads management. Many business owners also find the audit helpful when deciding between a freelance Google Ads manager and an agency.
If you don't run ads yet but want to know whether your website is ready for paid traffic, start with the free website check instead.
What I do
Every piece works together to grow your business.
Tracking review
Confirm that real calls, forms, bookings and sales are measured correctly.
Settings check
Locations, networks, schedules, devices and bidding — the defaults that quietly cost money.
Search term review
See the real searches you paid for and which ones to block or build on.
Ad & asset review
Whether your ads match intent and use every asset Google offers.
Landing page review
Speed, clarity and how easy it is to contact you from a phone.
Prioritized fix list
A plain-English action list ordered by what matters most.
Why work with a freelancer instead of an agency?
Case study
Real client story coming soon
I'm putting together a detailed write-up of a real campaign for this page. In the meantime, I'm happy to walk you through examples on a call.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to give you for an audit?
Read-only or standard access to your Google Ads account, plus a short call or note about your goals, service area and what a good lead looks like for you.
Do I have to hire you after the audit?
No. The fix list is yours to keep. You can use it with your current manager, do it yourself, or ask me to implement it.
How much does an audit cost?
I quote each audit based on the size and complexity of the account. Get in touch and I'll give you a custom quote.
Will you change anything in my account during the audit?
No. I only review. Nothing changes unless you ask me to make the fixes afterwards.
I'm in another state — can you still audit my account?
Yes. Audits are done remotely for businesses anywhere in the United States.
Find out where your ad budget is really going.
Send me a few details about your account and goals. I'll tell you whether an audit makes sense and give you a custom quote.
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