The PPC Cave

In Episode 133 we recap what to do before using Manual CPC, and how it compares against automated bidding in Google Ads.Timestamps00:29 Before You Use Manual CPC

00:35 Start with Intentional Bids

02:05 Watch Search Terms, Impression Volume & Actual CPC

05:06 Let Conversion Data Determine Where You Raise and Lower Bids

08:37 The Bigger Point

09:46 Manual CPC vs Smart Bidding

10:02 When Should We Use Manual CPC

11:03 Automated Bidding Needs Good Data

12:15 When Automated Bidding Usually Makes Sense

12:59 When I'd Consider Manual CPC

16:50 Manual CPC Doesn't Fix a Bad Campaign

19:49 PPC Cave ChecklistGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 132, we talk about what happens when a Google Ads account needs to scale down instead of scale up — and why clients sometimes expect performance to stay exactly the same after a significant budget reduction.Timestamps03:09 Why Google Ads accounts don't always grow in a straight line

04:57 When reducing budget is actually the responsible move

06:35 Why cutting spend can reduce total lead volume even when efficiency improves

07:38 The difference between efficiency and total revenue

08:50 Why you can't always cut 25% of the budget and expect 100% of the previous resultsGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 131 Gene jumps into differences business owners and google ads managers should all be aware of when it comes to Google Ads vs Meta Ads.Timestamps02:56 WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?

04:16 META AND GOOGLE ARE DOING DIFFERENT JOBS

05:45 WHY "JUST DOUBLE THE BUDGET" CAN BACKFIRE

07:31 GOOGLE ADS IS A SYSTEM

08:35 ROAS EXPECTATIONS SHOULDN'T ALWAYS BE THE SAME

10:34 META AND GOOGLE ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHERGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 130 Gene dives into 3 important steps to take before using Manual CPC.Timestamps02:50 Start With Intentional Bids — Don’t Just Guess

05:36 Watch Search Terms, Impression Volume & Actual CPC0

8:37 Let Conversion Data Determine Where You Raise and Lower Bids

12:09 The Bigger PointGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 129 Gene answers a listener question on how to go about getting your first Google Ads client.Timestamps02:25 Being Good at Google Ads vs. Getting Someone to Pay You04:26 How Do You Prove You're Good Without Using Your Agency's Clients?06:58 Where I'd Actually Look for the First Client

10:42 Content vs. Paid Ads — I'd Keep Posting and Skip Meta for Now12:07 The 90-Day Game Plan

16:09 ClosingGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In our Episode 128 recap we highlight some of Gene & Ryan's most memorable points from Episode 128, covering Google's decision for Pmax to add channel prioritization controls.Timestamps00:14 What’s New02:04 Why This Matters03:41 PPC Cave DiscussionGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 128 Gene and Ryan debate whether more control will help advertisers or disrupt the automation that makes PMax effective.Timestamps03:54 What’s New

06:21 Why This Matters

08:24 PPC Cave Discussion

39:22 Takeaway

Gene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 127 Gene breaks down the real job of search campaigns inside an eCommerce strategy and explains why the smartest PPC managers use search and Performance Max together.Timestamps02:06 Main Idea

02:32 Don't Expect the Same ROAS

03:14 Search + PMax, Not Search vs. PMax

06:04 Brand Can Distort the Numbers

07:16 Find an Anchor Keyword

09:48 Manual CPC Still Has a Place

10:53 Search Is Market Research

11:44 Build Around Proven Intent

12:54 Incrementality over Campaign ROAS

13:53 Control the Investment, Don't Automatically Kill Search

17:49 Closing TakeawayGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 126 Google's new smart bidding update is now live as Gene discusses the right time to make the switch.

Timestamps

00:21 Intro — The August 17 Google Ads Update

03:10 So When Should We Actually Use Manual CPC?

04:10 Automated Bidding Needs Good Data

05:25 When Automated Bidding Usually Makes Sense

06:07 When I'd Consider Manual CPC

10:00 Manual CPC Can Be a Reset — Not the Destination

11:08 Don't Switch Because You Had Three Bad Days

11:56 Manual CPC Doesn't Fix a Bad Campaign

15:09 PPC Cave Checklist

15:55 Closing Takeaway

Gene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave

In Episode 125, Gene discusses understanding search intent in Google Ads...Timestamps05:08 Segment 1: Google's Job vs. Your Job

05:57 Segment 2: The Four Types of Search Intent

12:39 Segment 3: Walk Through the Real Search Terms

16:02 Segment 4: The Framework I Use

17:35 Segment 5: This Isn't Just Pest Control

18:55 Biggest Mistakes

19:49 Final TakeawayGene & Ryan are digital marketing professionals and co-hosts of The PPC Cave — a podcast focused on Google Ads, PPC, lead generation, eCommerce, Performance Max, shopping campaigns, and digital marketing strategies.We break down real-world Google Ads management, campaign optimization, industry news, Reddit questions, client scenarios, and advertising strategies for both lead gen and eCommerce brands.For Google Ads questions or business inquiries: [email protected]: reddit.com/r/ThePPCCaveYouTube:youtube.com/@UCLLY4cj6iCDwK0vHEEGP9nw TikTok: tiktok.com/@ThePPCCaveInstagram: instagram.com/ThePPCCaveRyan: caseflowppc.comGene: fiverr.com/gene_villanoztempus59.com www.instagram.com/tempus__59Subscribe and tune into The PPC Cave for weekly PPC conversations, strategies, and insights.OpteoFree 28 day trial!https://www.Opteo.com/ThePPCcave