Google Ads can be a powerful driver of sales, but it’s also easy to waste money if you’re not careful. Here are some of the most common mistakes businesses make:

1. Targeting too broadly. Many businesses think more reach means more customers, but showing ads to people who aren’t actively searching for your product just burns through budget.

2. Ignoring negative keywords. Without negative keywords, your ads might appear for completely irrelevant searches. This not only wastes money but can hurt your click-through rates.

3. Sending clicks to the homepage. A generic homepage rarely converts. People click ads because they want a solution now—not to dig through your site looking for it.

4. Not testing ad copy. Running one version of an ad and hoping it sticks is a missed opportunity. Even small wording changes can dramatically impact performance.

5. Setting it and forgetting it. Google Ads isn’t a one-time setup. Regular monitoring and optimization are what separate profitable campaigns from money pits.