Do Google Ads work for small businesses?
Short answer: Yes — when set up correctly. Google Ads can deliver leads within days for local businesses, but wasted spend is common without tight targeting, negative keywords, and a strong landing page. Plan to test for 30–90 days to reach profitability.
When Google Ads work well
- People search with high intent (“emergency plumber near me”).
- You have a clear offer and a landing page built to convert.
- Your margins can absorb a cost per lead and still profit.
Why they fail
- Targeting too broad — burning budget on the wrong searches.
- No negative keywords — paying for irrelevant clicks.
- Weak landing page — clicks that never convert.
- No conversion tracking — flying blind on what works.
A realistic budget
Most local small businesses need $1,000–$3,000/month to gather enough data to optimize. Judge success by cost per lead, not clicks.
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