PPC is powerful, but even small mistakes can drain your budget. Learn which errors to avoid and how Mahi Media Solutions helps you run more efficient, profitable ad campaigns.
Poor Keyword Targeting
Choosing the wrong keywords is one of the most common and costly mistakes in PPC advertising. Many businesses either go too broad or fail to use negative keywords effectively.
Broad keywords may bring in irrelevant traffic, while not using negative keywords can waste budget on users who will never convert.
It’s essential to perform in-depth keyword research and align each keyword with user intent. Long-tail keywords often bring higher-quality leads.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to analyze keyword competitiveness and relevance before launching your campaign.
At Mahi Media Solutions, we provide comprehensive keyword research to ensure your ads reach the right audience.
Check out this Ahrefs guide to refine your keyword strategy.
Weak Ad Copy
A great PPC campaign can fail if your ad copy doesn’t capture attention or compel users to click. Generic or unclear messages hurt your click-through rate (CTR).
Ad copy should speak directly to the user’s intent, include strong calls to action, and match the keywords being targeted.
Businesses often forget to A/B test multiple ad variations to see which performs best across different demographics or devices.
Be concise, relevant, and compelling in your wording. Highlight benefits and use emotional triggers where applicable.
Our PPC team at Mahi Media Solutions crafts high-converting ad copy tailored to your goals.
Learn copywriting tactics from this Neil Patel article on PPC ads.
Not Optimizing Landing Pages
Sending PPC traffic to a generic or poorly optimized landing page can result in low conversion rates, even if your ad performance is strong.
Landing pages must be aligned with the ad content, offer a clear value proposition, and include one focused call to action.
Many businesses make the mistake of directing traffic to their homepage rather than a purpose-built page that supports the campaign.
Loading speed, mobile responsiveness, and trust signals also influence how users interact with your landing page.
Mahi Media Solutions designs and optimizes landing pages that match ad intent and boost conversions.
Explore this Unbounce guide for effective landing page strategies.
Ignoring Conversion Tracking
Without tracking conversions, it’s impossible to measure the ROI of your PPC campaigns. Many businesses overlook setting up proper tracking tools.
Conversion tracking tells you which ads, keywords, and audiences generate leads or sales—critical for optimization.
Google Ads and Facebook Ads both offer built-in tracking tools, but correct setup using tags or pixels is essential.
You should track not just clicks, but actions like form submissions, purchases, phone calls, or downloads.
At Mahi Media Solutions, we ensure complete analytics and tracking are in place for every campaign.
This Google support page explains conversion tracking setup in detail.
Not Reviewing Campaigns Regularly
A “set it and forget it” approach is one of the biggest reasons PPC campaigns underperform. Regular reviews are crucial for success.
Data changes constantly. You need to monitor impressions, CTRs, CPCs, and conversion rates weekly to stay ahead.
Failing to pause underperforming ads or adjust budgets based on performance can lead to lost opportunities and wasted spend.
A/B testing, bid strategy updates, and seasonal changes must be factored into your ongoing campaign management.
At Mahi Media Solutions, our PPC experts monitor and refine campaigns continuously for optimal results.
This Search Engine Journal article explains ongoing optimization techniques.
Failing to Use Geo and Device Targeting
Not every product or service appeals to the same people everywhere. Businesses often waste ad budget by targeting too broadly or not segmenting devices.
Geo-targeting allows you to focus on regions where your customers are, while device targeting helps optimize ads for desktop vs. mobile performance.
You may discover that mobile users convert better in certain areas or that your service only performs well in certain cities.
Neglecting these targeting options leads to reduced efficiency and higher cost per click (CPC).
Mahi Media Solutions sets up geo, device, and audience targeting for maximum precision and performance.
Check this WordStream article to master geo-targeting tactics.
