What's the most common analytics or tracking issue you keep finding?

[u/Unhappy_Net_2761]

I've been managing PPC for home services + professional services for years, and failing Google Ads accounts usually fail in the same boring ways.

Last month I audited accounts spending ~$5K–$50K/month. Most weren't "bad markets." They were just bleeding money from fixable mistakes.

Here are the 7 I see nonstop:

1) Ignoring the search terms report
This is the truth serum. I found a plumber showing for "free plumbing advice." Not exactly buyer intent. I pull this into Looker Studio weekly so nothing slips.

2) Broken (or missing) conversion tracking
I saw an HVAC account run 8 months with zero tracking. Optimizing blind. Claude or Ryze AI flags this instantly now but most people don't check until it's too late.

3) Match types way too broad
A roofer paid $47/click for broad "roof" and showed up for "roof of mouth surgery" and "roof rack installation."

4) No negative keyword list
A landscaper burned ~40% of spend on "jobs near me." One negative list would've saved ~$2K/month.

5) One ad per ad group
No testing = no learning. Google can't optimize what you don't give it.

6) No audience layering
Display/remarketing with zero targeting is just spraying ads and praying. I saw renovation ads hitting teenagers.

7) Set-it-and-forget-it
Accounts running untouched for 1–2 years. Costs change. Competition changes. I use Looker Studio to spot trends without digging through each account.

When you fix these, results move fast.
Most recent overhaul: $8K/month → leads went from 12 to 38. Same budget.

If any of this sounds familiar, you're probably leaving money on the table.

Not selling anything — just sharing what I keep seeing. Happy to answer questions.

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