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Should I be paying for Google Ads?

The short answer

Google Ads can be worth it when you have a clear budget, specific ready-to-buy searches to target, and a landing page built to convert. It's pay-per-click (PPC) advertising: you pay each time someone clicks. It delivers fast, measurable results, while SEO builds visibility that lasts.

When ads make sense

  • You need leads now, not in six months
  • People search for your service with clear intent, like “roof repair near me”
  • You can track calls and form submissions back to the ad
  • You have a page built specifically to turn clicks into customers

When to wait

If your website is slow, confusing, or has no clear next step, ads will send paying traffic to a page that doesn't convert. Fix the foundation first.

Ads and SEO work best together

Ads fill the gap while SEO builds momentum. Your ad data also shows which searches bring real customers, which helps you decide what to write about.

The bottom line

Ads are a tool, not a strategy. With the right targeting and tracking, they pay for themselves. Without them, they're an expensive way to learn what doesn't work.