Transferring the ownership of a Google Ads account can be a hassle, especially for managers who have so much on their business plate. In addition, it can cause a nuisance both for the business owners and the clients as well.
However, if the process is carried out efficiently, it can add value for your client. And this is especially true if you get the job done right the first time of asking.
In addition, this can lead to a stronger mutual relationship between your PPC agency and your clients. Keep reading as we elaborate:
Did you know, an average person is estimated to encounter over 10,000 Ads every single day
One of the most significant advantages of taking over a client’s existing Google Das account is that there is already something you can work on.
It does not matter how bad the existing ad campaign is. Taking over an existing Google Ads accounts gives you a foundation to work from.
When you take over a client’s Google Ads account and start working on it, there’s always a protracted bedding-in period where you align everything according to your way.
Unfortunately, you may get impatient when you don’t know where to start. However, it is integral to remember that it’s all about your relationship with the client.
Before jumping into managing a client’s Google Ads account, the first thing you need to consider is that it’s all about business-client relationships.
In agencies, you cannot build successful relationships with your clients before learning the ins and outs of account management.
However, the steps listed above will help you build successful, long-term relationships with your clients.
You may wonder that you can impress your client with your initial setup, but this is a common mistake every beginner account manager makes.
Your client will not appreciate all the changes to the old campaign because all they seek are positive results.
Therefore, your client pays you to get positive results without making specific changes to the initial campaign.
But this doesn’t mean that you can’t and shouldn’t make any changes. If you think that your client’s initial campaign requires specific changes to make it better, go for it.
However, if the existing campaign is decent enough, you should not make any changes to impress your client.
The most important step o add value to your client is learning everything about their business.
While understanding the products and services of your clients is equally beneficial, understanding the long-term goals of your clients is way more important.
Ask yourself these questions. Does my client want to go public? Do they want to expand their business to specific demographics and markets shortly?
How does your client perceive the industry landscape? You can better understand the context your client is working on by putting up Google alerts for your client’s brand and that of their competition.
Moreover, you can conduct annual business reviews to illuminate the previous and current goals. Additionally, it will help you elucidate previous strategies that you can still implement.
Tracking is one of the most crucial things you must advocate for. However, when you start a new campaign, always set a specific goal for for-profit and other metrics you need to achieve.
Tell your client that their campaign ad needs to run for at least seven days with the entire tracking installed. This will give you an idea of what the campaign is doing and see which parts should be kept.
Before installing tracking when running campaigns, you may have occasionally received calls from angry clients complaining about decreased leads and sales soon after you launched a particular campaign.
There may have been times where you saw increased conversions and sales from the new campaign, but due to a drop in another source of marketing, it may have made it seem like you were responsible for the decline in leads.
Hence, make sure you take steps to avoid these situations in the future. For instance, installing tracking before launching the new campaign will help you back up your statements when you argue with a client.
For instance, you have been running your campaign for a while b just making minor changes. Yet, you have an excellent overall campaign with essential metrics.
However, you notice that a PPC manager changes your campaign’s bidding, structure, and metrics. Therefore, the algorithm of Google Ads will take time to examine whether these new changes will be effective or not.
While you should have the same score as before, even after making a few changes, Google tends to lose a substantial amount of money if your new campaign is not as good as before.
In addition, there may be a possibility that your audience will click on lesser expensive Google ads. Therefore, if you are planning to make a certain amount of changes to your campaign, make sure you roll them out over tie instead of making those changes all at once.
When relaunching your client’s new campaign, make sure you change the bidding according to the new and existing data. Do not take extra time to rethink whether a specific keyword will receive a higher bid.
Although your client’s old Google ads will not last them much longer and new Google ads will take over, the previous ads may control and enable you to troubleshoot.
Changing the keywords or the entire ad completely may not give you an idea about the source behind a particular problem when the CTR, conversion value, and conversion rates show a significant drop.
Nevertheless, old Google ads can have a substantial impact on the results of your new campaign.
You must reuse your client’s negative keywords list. There are chances your client may have done in-depth negative research for keywords that hold much value for your new campaign.
However, you must avoid copying and passing the entire list as it is. It may deteriorate the performance of your ad if it has a vast range of negative keywords.
Instead, use as much of the existing data, and negative keywords list you think will be enough for your campaign but do not overdo it.
Research shows that 68% of online experiences start with a search engine that has high-quality keywords.
Every beginner Google Ads accounts have used broad match for many years with little success. However, there have been cases where specific campaigns have performed better just using broad match.
Google conducts checks on quality keywords for broad match. Ultimately, this means that if you put a broad match keyword, Google will decide whether it is relevant enough.
Therefore, if you open a clint’s Google ads account that has good quality broad match keywords, be considerate when including broad match keywords because it is unpredictable whether you will get the same results or not.
When managing a client’s Google Ads account, make sure to communicate on daily, weekly, or monthly reports.
For instance, if your bid modifier for a specific location produces a higher ROI, send your client an email right away.
Communicating with your clients ad keeping them updated is key to building successful, loyal relationships.
Keeping your clients in the loop will build trust and prevent them from wandering into their accounts, making assumptions about how well the advertiser is handling the account.
However, some clients can be challenging to deal with, and once they are disappointed with something, it gets tough to turn things around.
Sending performance reports to your clients is a great way to keep them I the loop. Additionally, make sure you grant them full access to any services or tools you use to run the campaign.
For example, PPC accounts and site analytics. Finally, staying clear ad transparent with clients is a great way to build trust.
Clients can explore the tools you use to understand better how you are making things work.
It is essential to openly discuss the goals and expectations of your campaign with the client. Hear out what your client expects from the campaign and present them with suggestions accordingly.
Remember, the conversation needs to be honest. It is terrific to lower the expectations of your client. However, it is better to tell them everything honestly when setting goals for the campaign rather than justifying why it performed a certain way later on.
Don’t let your clients get locked into unrealistic goals. Instead, explain the entire process of investigating and researching the account to your client.
The client may have higher expectations, assuming that you will quickly take over the account that the previous marketer left. Ence, it is essential to elucidate your approach towards the campaign.
It is essential to address that every client is different. For example, you may b appointed by an organization with an entire marketing team to lend a little helping hand.
On the other hand, a single person could also hire you to help them with their campaign. In both cases, do not leave your creativity behind.
You may likely have a better idea for the client’s campaign to move their marketing strategy to the next level.
It would help if you spent extra time on keyword research. You must know what keywords perform better and generate the majority of your results and conversations.
Moreover, it is vital to address keywords that you think are hurting the performance of your campaign. Conduct extensive keyword research.
Remember, there’s always a possibility of valuable keywords that the old agency could not target.
Every time you get a new client, you have a fresh opportunity to begin from. A new client means you have a new and better chance to generate revenue for your advertising agency or you as a marketer alone.
Moreover, it can provide you with a unique learning experience as a marketer.
However, it can be hard to manage things when taking over a client’s Google Ads account. For example, picking up a campaign that an old PPC marketer left can be a hassle. This is especially true if they violated terms of service (even unwittingly) and got the client’s Google Ads account suspended.
Take your time to understand the intricacies of the new account. It is essential to maintain a good relationship with your client to run the campaign successfully.
Follow the steps above to effectively manage a new Google Ads account and take your marketing portfolio to the next level!
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Launching an online course is easy once you’ve created your content. Filling your virtual classroom with motivated, paying learners is a little more challenging. Advertising strategies aren’t intuitive no matter how user-friendly a platform might be, and trying to guess at how to market your courses online can feel like you’re shouting into the void. But with a little knowledge and some expert PPC ad strategies, you can get your courses in front of people who are hungry to learn what you teach.
With precise targeting, a professional strategy, budget control, and regular tracking, a PPC ad campaign can transform your course into a thriving program. The key is knowing how to structure your ad campaigns for both clicks and hot leads that convert.
Unlike search engine optimization (SEO), which can take months to gain even a little traction, PPC provides you with immediate visibility right where your target users are hanging out. SEO is important but it’s a long-term game that should be executed alongside PPC ads for the best results. While you’re waiting, PPC generates immediate clicks and drives traffic to your website on the spot.
The best part is that when done right, PPC ads offer a high ROI compared to many other advertising methods. According to the data, businesses earn an average of $2 for every $1 they spend on Google Ads, making PPC a powerful resource for course providers. Here’s everything you need to know about mastering PPC to generate hot leads for your online courses.
1. Understand the learner’s journey
If you want your PPC ads to generate leads ready to buy and not just curious clicks, you need to align your ad strategy with how learners make decisions. Signing up for an online course is not an impulse purchase. It’s a journey that usually starts with curiosity and then moves to research and comparison. When successful, that journey ends with enrollment.
A one-size-fits-all ad won’t work because a student who is just browsing isn’t ready for the same pitch as someone about to hand over their credit card. Understanding the different parts of the funnel, and tailoring your ad campaigns to match each stage, is what will make your course successful. A typical buyer’s journey for learners involves the following stages:
At this stage, your potential students are still exploring broad ideas related to the courses you’re offering. They may not know exactly which course or platform is right for them, but they’re actively looking for options. You’ll need to use a certain type of keyword phrase to capture their attention.
Searches like “learn coding online,” “how to get TEFL certified,” and “language courses for beginners” will work well at this stage. PPC ads in this phase shouldn’t hard-sell enrollment, but rather, focus on positioning your course as credible and informative.
Think free guides, introductory webinars, and blog posts that answer frequently asked questions about your topic. By nurturing your leads’ interests and providing value right off the bat, you’ll have an easier time becoming a trusted brand that people keep in mind as they move deeper into the journey.
During the consideration state prospects know what they want but they’re comparing their options. They’ve narrowed down their choices and are considering factors like price, flexibility, depth, instructor quality, platform, and accreditation. Ideal search terms in this phase are related to specific things that your prospects value or want to achieve like “affordable Python bootcamp,” “online MBA with scholarships,” or “best UX design course with certification.”
Your PPC ads should also highlight unique selling points for your course like “self-paced learning,” “industry-recognized certificate,” or “job placement success.” It’s at this stage where comparison charts, testimonials, and detailed course previews are highly effective. The goal is to show your prospects why your program beats the competition.
At this point, hesitation is minimal. Prospects are ready to sign up but might need one last push. This is where urgency, social proof, and simplicity make all the difference. Ads should feature strong calls to action like “Enroll Today,” limited-time incentives like “Save 20% - Ends Sunday.” This is the perfect time to showcase real student success stories. Landing pages for ads in the decision stage should remove all friction. Avoid long forms and distracting links. Just provide a clear and simple path to enrollment.
Keep in mind that most of your ideal market will encounter your brand multiple times along their journey across different devices and platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Mapping your PPC ad campaigns to these three stages ensures you’re showing up with the right message at the right time. When done correctly, focusing on all three stages with separate messages will turn casual searchers into qualified leads ready to buy your course.
The backbone of every PPC campaign is your keyword selection. You can write the most convincing ad copy in the world, but if you’re bidding on the wrong phrases you’ll either waste your budget or attract people who have no intention of enrolling.
Your goal isn’t just to drive traffic to your site. You need to drive qualified traffic – people who are serious about learning what you teach and are ready to invest in themselves. This requires targeting a mix of high-intent keywords, longtail phrases, and negative keywords.
Broad keywords like “data science” and “coding” cast a net that’s too wide. You’ll get clicks but most will be from people who are just curious or looking for free resources. To reach people who are committed, you need to target high-intent keywords that show purchase intent. Phrases like “enroll in our data science course” and “online JavaScript certification with ongoing support” will attract users who are actively seeking instruction.
You’ll pay more for high-intent keywords but they deliver more value and higher conversion rates, and that will increase your ROI when you choose the right ones.
Longtail keywords are used to target a smaller pool of people and that’s a good thing. Since these keywords are more focused, the traffic they generate is more valuable. Instead of competing for saturated, general terms like “learn graphic design online,” you target specific phrases like “best graphic design program for working professionals with evening classes.” The people searching with this level of specificity already know what they want, which means they’re more likely to convert.
If you skip targeting longtail keywords you’re leaving money on the table. Data shows that 70% of all online searches involve longtail phrases – it’s just how people naturally search when they know what they want.
Your negative keyword list is how you’ll preserve your budget and prevent wasting money on irrelevant clicks. Without a list of words you don’t want your ads to show up for, you’ll end up paying for clicks that never convert.
Build a negative keyword list of words that indicate someone is looking for something free or irrelevant to your course. For example, words like “free,” “PDF,” “torrent,” and “Reddit” are usually used in searches when someone is looking for shortcuts and freebies. Adding these and similar words to your negative keyword list will filter out tire-kickers and boost ROI by preserving your ad budget for relevant prospects.
Once you have the right keywords that generate impressions, your ad copy has to do the work to get clicks. Your ads need to grab people right away to prevent them from scrolling and possibly clicking on another course provider’s ad. For e-learning, your ads need to inspire people. Instead of talking about your course you want to highlight what your course will do for the learner. This is accomplished with benefit-driven messaging, emotional triggers, and strong calls-to-action (CTAs).
· Benefit-driven messaging. Most course providers list features like “40 hours of video content” and “downloadable PDFs,” but these details aren’t going to capture attention at first glance. In fact, telling learners they’re going to need to sit through 40 hours of content right off the bat might be a deterrent.
Instead, your ads should highlight tangible outcomes like “land high-paying clients with our program,” or “start a new career as a web developer in just 12 weeks.” Benefits speak directly to a person’s goals and aspirations, which is far more compelling than a list of specs.
· Emotional triggers. Emotional triggers are the heart of every marketing strategy, including PPC ads. People make emotional buying decisions and buy courses because they’re chasing a dream, avoiding a fear, or seeking transformation.
Great ad copy taps into these emotions and creates a sense of urgency. For instance, “Don’t miss the enrollment deadline” plays into the fear of missing out, while “Join 10,000 successful graduates” leverages social proof. The right emotional triggers will give people a good reason to act now rather than bookmarking your page and forgetting about it.
· Clear CTAs. Irresistible ad copy includes a direct, compelling call-to-action that tells the prospect what to do next. Generic instructions don’t cut it. “Learn more,” “Click here,” and similar phrases don’t communicate urgency or value. Choose CTAs that direct prospects to sign up for your course. For example, “Start your free trial” and “Reserve your seat today” work well.
In a crowded marketplace where hundreds of course creators are competing for the same attention, clarity and emotion will generate better results. Lead with benefits and tap into people’s emotions and your ad copy will generate serious leads.
Generating clicks from your ads is only the first half of the equation. Once a prospect clicks your landing page needs to convert them to a paying customer or your ad spend goes to waste. Your landing page is like the final pitch where prospective students choose whether to enroll in your course or move on. If your landing pages create any confusion, friction, or distrust, your prospects will lean toward other course creators. On the other hand, an optimized landing page can become a conversion generating machine.
Your landing pages should be simple and clean without too much information. The page content should be specifically designed to direct people to sign up for your course. You want to eliminate navigation menus and sidebars to prevent people from clicking away from the page and getting distracted. Each landing page should have one end goal, either to get sign-ups/purchases or apply for acceptance if required. Too many options will create cognitive overload and reduce the chance of any action.
It’s crucial to include trust elements on your landing pages. When people are thinking about investing their time and money in an online course, they’re naturally going to be skeptical. This is where trust signals can help. Testimonials, instructor bios, refund guarantees, and case studies will help build your course credibility. The goal here is to reassure people that your program is legitimate and worth their investment.
Clicks are important but they’re somewhat of a vanity metric when measured on their own. The only time clicks matter is when you’re looking at your conversion rate. If you generate 100 clicks and get 40 people to enroll that’s much better than generating 1,000 clicks and only getting one person to enroll in your course.
The metrics that matter most are your conversion rate, your cost per lead (CPL), and lifetime customer value (LTV). For instance, you’ll want to track completed signups, demo requests, and enrollments rather than overall clicks.
Cost per lead is a simple measurement that can tell you how efficient your campaign is. For instance, if you’re paying $50 per lead but your average enrollment fee is $500, your margins are good. If your CPL is too close to your revenue then your course might be priced too low or you need to adjust your targeted keywords.
For e-learning, many students invest in more than one course or renew their subscription, which increases their lifetime value to your business. Tracking LTV will help you determine how much you can afford to spend acquiring each new student. For example, if your LTV average is $1,500, it makes sense to spend $200 to acquire each lead. This long-term view helps you maintain profitability and allows you to outbid your competitors who aren’t willing to spend much.
PPC ads require fine-tuning and you can’t just “set it and forget it.” What works today might underperform tomorrow or not perform at all on other platforms. Even small changes can make a huge difference in conversions and that’s why it’s important to test variations. For example, Dell is just one example of a company that saw a 300% increase in conversions from A/B testing.
By running experiments to test different elements you can identify what resonates most with your target audience and optimize your ads based on those results. The most important elements to test are your headlines, CTAs, and images.
· Testing headlines. Your ad headline is usually the first thing a prospect sees. Testing different headlines can help identify which promises resonate most. For example, “Land your dream job” might appeal to people looking for a new career, while “Get certified in 12 weeks” might hook people in a hurry. If you get more conversions from the former, your main audience is likely people looking for a new career, and you can tailor your ads to that group.
· Testing CTAs. A strong CTA can generate more clicks, but what works will depend on your audience. For example, “Get started today” might work for some courses while “Reserve your spot” works better for others. Avoid vague CTAs like “Learn more” that don’t instruct people to take action.
· Testing visuals. Images can put people off or draw them closer. Visuals are processed faster than text and are perceived in a split-second. A single image can make or break an ad. For instance, sometimes a photo of an instructor works well, but other times it’s better to use abstract graphics.
Split testing isn’t optional when you’re running PPC ads. It’s the only way to know which elements make your ads more effective.
At the end of the day, PPC is a great way to build a pipeline of motivated students who want to enroll in your courses. By aligning your campaign with the learner’s journey and optimizing your ads and landing pages for conversions, you can turn your PPC campaign into a reliable growth engine. As the e-learning market becomes more competitive, ads that hit hard are a must.
If you’re ready to stop wasting ad spend and start filling your online classrooms with qualified leads, it’s time to bring in PPC experts. At PPC.co, we specialize in turning clicks into enrollments through high-converting campaigns that deliver qualified leads for online course creators . Contact our team today and let’s build campaigns that fill your classroom.
Pay-per-click (PPC) remains one of the fastest paths to pipeline, but the economics vary widely by industry and are shifting as AI reshapes the SERP. CPCs are up versus prior years, conversion rates have improved in many categories, and lead quality is increasingly a function of how well advertisers feed first-party data into bidding models.
The table below summarizes 2025 search-PPC benchmarks by sector—CPC, conversion rate (CVR), and cost per lead (CPL)—so you can compare what “good” looks like in your niche and calibrate ROI assumptions.
Use these numbers as directional guardrails, then layer in your own close rates and LTV to get to the only metric that matters: profitable growth.
In short, AI is changing the way PPC campaign management is occurring, and it's happening FAST.
ROI ≈ (Close-Rate × Avg Customer LTV ÷ CPL) − 1
Example (legal): if close-rate 12% and LTV $6,000 on CPL $132 → ROI ≈ (0.12×6000 / 132) −1 ≈ 4.45x (345% net). Improve any one input (faster intake bumps close-rate; better routing lowers CPL) and ROI jumps. Benchmarks for CPL/CVR above provide solid starting points. LocaliQ
PPC will keep paying when two things are true:
(1) you can convert and qualify leads quickly, and
(2) your bidding models are trained on the outcomes that actually make you money.
As AI compresses differences in targeting, the edge shifts to first-party data, creative velocity, and value-based bidding.
Treat the benchmarks above as starting points, then rebuild your ROI math from the ground up: ROI ≈ (Close Rate × LTV ÷ CPL).
Contact us today for your customized PPC audit to see how we can improve your search engine marketing ad spend.
