If you run a Google Ads campaign, you want all of the people who view your ads to be legitimate prospects.
But sometimes an ad campaign can receive clicks that are malicious competitors who want to waste your ad budget? And what if some traffic is coming from bots?
This is what is known as ineligible clicks or invalid click’s. This article describes everything you should know about ineligible clicks.
If you watch your site statistics carefully, you probably know it receives its share of spam traffic, especially if you have a comments page. Bot comments are irritating and can fill your inbox and waste time. But what are invalid click’s about?
The term means an action that a bot or person takes where the link you paid for is clicked on by accident or a system did it. Invalid click’s are usually due to:
Spambots can be really annoying by clicking constantly on the paid link, costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. When you remember that some popular keywords cost more than a steak dinner for two, it can have a really big effect on your ad budget.
Some malicious competitors may try to damage you by draining your budget. Others may work for click farms who click paid ads as well as social media site posts. Believe it or not, click farms are out there and they are profitable for the site owners.
Or a malicious link could be done by someone with an ax to grind.
When you first set up your account, you have an option to customize data views. The default is ‘people in or who are interested in your target locations.’ This is recommended, but if you don’t alter it, you could have some PPC fraud or abuse going on.
You can change the campaign settings and reduce some of the ineligible clicks by changing your recommended settings. Choose ‘People in your targeted locations.’
Next, if you click Campaigns, you will notice 3 columns. Select ‘modify’ and you can add another column to see ‘invalid click’s’ and ‘invalid click rates.’ After you add them, you can review in seconds the campaigns that are being hit with invalid click’s
Google attempts to track invalid click’s and you may see a refund in your account for them from time to time. The refund part of your bill will be noted. You also can see invalid click’s that you won’t get charged for in your ad campaign.
Invalid click’s and click fraud may sound the same but they aren’t. The result is mostly the same but the reasons are quite different.
As we have explained, invalid click’s and ineligible traffic are usually caused maliciously or by accident. You’re paying for every click so repeated clicks can drain your account fast.
Click fraud, however, means that the clicks are malicious in nature and want to defraud the site owner or Google. Click farms are definitely click fraud. So would your angry ex-girlfriend who clicks on your website’s ads.
Google keeps track of these behaviors. It has processes set up to shield you from repeat clicks and automated clicks. The search engine watches timings, IP addresses and other questionable activity to protect advertisers.
Google tries to reduce the impact of invalid click’s and click fraud on customers’ ad budgets. But the invalid click’s Google finds and pay you back for are often a fraction of the real cost.
We’ve gone over what ineligible clicks are, how they happen, and other vital information. Now we’ll detail how to prevent ineligible clicks from damaging your PPC campaigns:
Change your ad campaign stat data by adding several columns that relate to your campaign’s invalid click’s. It’s important to remember that you will not be charged for clicks that Google says are ineligible. However, you can still be paying for bogus clicks that Google missed.
Some site owners purchase a click fraud prevention program that tells you exactly the clicks that are invalid. However, if you don’t want that, it’s possible to find them yourself. But you have to watch and really understand your ad campaign stats. Then you can see sudden spikes and other sketchy activities.
You should carefully go over any time there is a change in your account’s KPIs. Be on the lookout for the biggest sudden changes. Are they explainable or a mystery? For example, a major change could be because of changes you made in your campaigns recently. On the other hand, they could be a sign of a bogus click attack that Google didn’t spot.
Display network advertisements are one of the most frequent sources of ineligible clicks and invalid traffic. The Google Display Network has many benefits and a lot of vendors get excellent traffic. However, there are too many low-quality sites and sketchy website owners.
They could click advertisements on their own site to make an extra buck and get no results for you. If you don’t remember to block them with an automated solution, it’s your job to review your ad placements and exclude sites that don’t convert.
After you include the most important columns, review the campaigns that are seeing the most invalid click’s. Attempt optimization by going over your settings for keywords and targeting.
Approve the changes and check if the invalid click ratio decreases. Google also says you should pinpoint and improve areas of your account with low conversions.
Ineligible clicks and invalid click’s can be a real problem for advertisers. With the above ideas and tips in mind, you can regain control of your advertising campaign and delete those ineligible clicks.
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When this apartment complex client partnered with PPC.co, their goal was clear: generate more qualified leads through Google Ads. In just 60 days—from January to March 2025—we transformed their paid acquisition performance. Total conversions more than tripled, jumping from 10 to 32, while the overall conversion rate soared by over 300%. At the same time, we drove down the cost per conversion by 44%, delivering significantly more leads at a much lower cost.
By strategically combining Performance Max and high-intent Search campaigns, we not only increased lead volume but improved overall efficiency and ROI. This rapid and measurable improvement underscores the value of data-driven optimization and expert campaign management.
This case study is a testament to what can happen when a well-structured campaign meets expert strategy and continuous optimization. Whether you're launching a new property or looking to boost occupancy in a competitive market, PPC.co delivers real results—fast.
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If you run a fashion or apparel brand, you already know how fierce the competition is. One scroll through Instagram and you’re up against influencer capsule collections, fast fashion giants, and a dozen other brands selling something that looks eerily similar to what you just launched last week.
So how do you rise above the noise?
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising can be one of your most powerful weapons…if you know how to use it right.
PPC isn’t just about throwing money at Google or Meta and hoping for the best. It’s about strategy. Precision. Timing. And a deep understanding of what makes your ideal customer click, scroll, save, and, most importantly – buy.
This article will show you exactly how successful fashion brands are using PPC to grow fast, scale smart, and stay ahead.
Whether you’re a DTC startup or an established apparel line looking to boost your online sales, you’ll walk away with clear steps to sharpen your strategy and drive real results.
Before launching a single ad, the best fashion brands get laser-focused on who they’re talking to. Not just demographics like age and gender – but psychographics, style preferences, income levels, and buying behavior.
You need to know:
Use Meta’s Audience Insights, Google Analytics, TikTok Creator Marketplace, or post-purchase surveys to dig deep into the habits of your buyers. The more you understand your buyer persona, the easier it is to write ad copy, choose images, and build irresistible offers that convert.
Here’s a pro tip for you. Many successful brands create different audience segments and run tailored ads for each. One segment might respond to lifestyle-focused creative. Another might want free shipping and a clear price. By segmenting the audience into different buckets, these brands are able to consistently deliver ads and creatives that are more likely to convert for each demographic.
In the fashion world, your creative is your first impression. With just a second or two to capture attention, your ad needs to stop the scroll cold. Successful fashion brands do this by focusing on movement, people, and something we like to refer to as “microhooks.”
When it comes to getting people to stop scrolling, movement is the best way to grab attention. Research shows that short-form video (6–15 seconds) outperforms most static images across Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest. (Think quick outfit transitions, close-up fabric reveals, or behind-the-scenes clips.) You can also use stop motion or cinemagraphs to add subtle animation to product shots without producing full video. And for TikTok or Instagram Reels, use fast-paced cuts, trending sounds, and quick outfit changes to match user expectations on the platform.
As for people, do your best to feature user-generated content (UGC) from happy customers wearing your products. (You can reach out to repeat buyers or incentivize customers to tag you for a chance to be featured.) You can also collaborate with micro-influencers to shoot content that feels natural, not like an ad.
Finally, leverage microhooks. This is ad copy that highlights the unique benefits that your audience gets with your products. One way to do this is by asking questions that expose a current pain point and insinuate that your products do the opposite. For example, “Wearing stiff jeans in 2025?” or “Tired of leggings that show everything?”
One of the biggest PPC mistakes you can make? Launching a campaign, watching it flop, and declaring, “PPC doesn’t work for fashion.”
Top brands don’t just test – they test smart. Here’s how you can do the same:
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The objective is to keep refining it until it runs smoother and faster.
Most people won’t buy the first time they visit your site – and that’s not a failure. It’s just how online shopping works, especially in fashion. Shoppers might be comparing prices, waiting for payday, or simply scrolling while distracted.
But successful apparel brands don’t let those warm prospects slip away. They use retargeting to stay top-of-mind and guide potential customers back to the cart.
With tracking pixels installed on your site, you can identify who visited what, how long they stayed, and which products they interacted with. From there, you can serve hyper-relevant ads that feel personal – not generic.
If someone browsed your linen jumpsuit but didn’t add it to their cart, you can show them that exact product again later – this time with a timely offer like “Free Shipping Ends Tonight” or “Only 3 Left in Your Size.”
For cart abandoners, you might highlight a hassle-free return policy, reviews from other buyers, or even a quick video showing how to style the item. Retargeting works because it removes the guesswork and friction that keep shoppers from checking out.
More advanced brands go even further by segmenting their audiences based on behavior. For example, someone who lingered on a high-ticket leather jacket might get a different follow-up sequence than someone who looked at a discounted tee. Some campaigns re-engage past customers with complementary products (“Bought the dress? Here’s the perfect bag.”), while others reach back out to lapsed buyers with a loyalty discount. The goal isn’t to stalk – it’s to stay relevant, helpful, and persuasive at exactly the right moment.
If you’ve already paid to get someone to your site, don’t let that investment go to waste. Retargeting is how you turn passive interest into real sales – and it often delivers the highest ROI of any campaign in your entire funnel.
Successful brands don’t rely on aesthetics. They give people a reason to act now. That’s where the offer stack comes in – everything your customer gets when they click “buy.”
Think about:
But don’t make the mistake of jamming every offer into every ad. Instead, match your offer to the audience and funnel stage. For example:
Make sure your offer feels like a win – not some gimmicky trap to get people to buy something. There has to be a level of consistency with your brand that people recognize and resonate with.
Not all PPC platforms are created equal – and the most successful fashion brands understand that. Instead of putting all their ad spend into one platform, they diversify based on their audience, product category, and buying behavior. They choose channels that align with how people shop for their specific type of apparel. Here’s how smart brands match platform to product:
Google Shopping Ads
If you’re selling products people are actively searching for – like “vegan leather boots” or “wool pea coat men’s” – Google Shopping Ads are your best friend. These ads show up directly in search results with product photos, prices, brand names, and ratings. This format is ideal for intent-driven shoppers who already know what they’re looking for and are ready to compare options. For fashion brands with a strong product-market fit and clear differentiators like price, materials, or shipping perks, Shopping Ads can drive highly qualified clicks that convert.
To get the most out of Google Shopping, successful brands optimize their product titles and descriptions with keywords, upload high-quality images, and keep their feed clean and accurate. This is a volume play – great for staples, seasonal items, or products that meet specific needs.
Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram)
Meta is where most fashion brands start – and for good reason. It’s visually driven, highly customizable, and perfect for storytelling. You can build full-funnel strategies here: introduce your brand with engaging lifestyle video, retarget product viewers with carousel ads, and upsell past customers with limited-time bundles. Meta’s strength lies in its ability to create desire through imagery and social proof.
The most successful apparel ads on Instagram and Facebook pair compelling visuals with aspirational copy. Think: “Your new favorite weekend hoodie,” or “Outfits made for airport looks and coffee runs.” These platforms are especially strong for trend-based products, impulse buys, or highly aesthetic pieces like dresses, outerwear, or coordinated sets.
Pinterest Ads
Pinterest is a hidden gem for fashion brands – especially those targeting women, occasion-based shoppers, or DIY fashionistas. It acts like a visual search engine, which means users are actively planning their next look, vacation wardrobe, or event outfit. Unlike Meta, where ads interrupt, Pinterest ads blend seamlessly into content users are already curating for inspiration.
What works well here? Seasonal collections, bridal and maternity wear, capsule wardrobes, and anything that taps into life milestones. Brands that do well on Pinterest often repurpose lookbooks, blog content, or style guides into promoted pins that link back to product pages or collections. And because pins have a long shelf life, Pinterest campaigns can continue driving traffic well after the ad spend stops.
TikTok Spark Ads
If your brand skews younger – or if you’re trying to reach trendsetters – TikTok is super important. But it’s not about polished brand videos. The content needs to feel native, raw, and personal. That’s where Spark Ads shine. These are paid boosts of organic content (either your own or from creators) that blend seamlessly into the feed.
Fashion brands win on TikTok by showing products in motion, using trending audio, and leaning into humor, storytelling, or transformation-style videos (like before-and-after outfit reveals). Fast fashion, streetwear, bold accessories, and viral-friendly products do especially well here. You can work with creators to show “how it looks on” or do mini hauls that demonstrate fit, stretch, and styling versatility.
This channel is less about direct conversion and more about top-of-funnel discovery. And when it’s done right, it creates cult followings fast.
YouTube Shorts and Pre-Roll Ads
YouTube is an underrated but powerful channel for fashion brands looking to show off movement, build trust, and drive longer engagement. YouTube Shorts (their answer to TikTok) can showcase outfits in action, quick styling tips, or model walk-throughs in 60 seconds or less. Pre-roll ads, on the other hand, give you more control over brand storytelling.
Think of YouTube as a storytelling and branding platform. It’s especially strong for higher-ticket items like outerwear, formalwear, or custom-tailored pieces where the buyer needs more confidence before purchasing. Brands that leverage YouTube well often blend influencer partnerships, educational content (like “how to build a capsule wardrobe”), and in-depth product demos to establish authority and build affinity.
Clicks are worthless if the landing page doesn’t convert.
Once someone clicks your ad, they expect to land on a page that matches the promise of that ad. If they don’t see the product, price, or offer you teased? They bounce.
Here’s what winning landing pages include:
As a final note: Don’t forget to use Dynamic Product Ads (DPAs) where possible, so your landing page and ad are in perfect sync.
Did you know that less than 25 percent of PPC ads industry-wide actually produce conversions? That’s because most PPC agencies are doing it wrong.
At PPC.co, we don’t just pump out ads and try new creatives. We have concrete, proven strategies and frameworks that ensure you get the results you’re looking for.
Want to learn more? Contact us today and we’ll show you how we get results.
