Brandon Bateman welcomes Garrett Cragun back to the Collective Clicks podcast, focusing on the common mistakes that Google Ads users make. They discuss the overwhelming amount of advice and information that Google reps and agencies provide, which can often lead to confusion rather than clarity. The episode begins with a light-hearted conversation about health issues related to softened water, setting a relaxed tone for the serious topic ahead.

Garrett shares insights into the tiered structure of Google reps, explaining that not all reps are directly trained in marketing strategies. Many are incentivized to push increased spending rather than prioritize campaign performance. The duo warns listeners against automatically applying Google’s recommendations, citing a personal experience where a client was negatively impacted by automatic settings being reinstated after they were previously turned off.

They explain how Google Ads reps often promote various features—like broad match keywords and auto-apply recommendations—that might not be beneficial for every campaign. Brandon advises against following their recommendations blindly, suggesting that the optimization score presented by Google can be a misleading metric for account health. Instead, they advocate for a more nuanced approach that involves understanding when certain strategies work and applying them selectively, rather than jumping on every trend.

The episode serves as a cautionary tale for those managing Google Ads, encouraging them to critically assess advice and recommendations rather than accepting them at face value.

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