Google Ads is often hailed as the ultimate tool for driving traffic and boosting sales. And while it’s true that Google Ads can be incredibly powerful, it’s also one of the most misunderstood platforms in the digital marketing world. Many businesses blindly follow Google's recommendations, believing that the tech giant's advice is always in their best interest. But what if the very strategies you’re using are designed to benefit Google more than they benefit you?
In this article, we’re going to shatter some of the biggest myths about Google Ads. If you’re ready to stop being a Google Ads sheep and start taking control of your ad spend, read on.
1. Google Knows Best
Misconception: Google’s recommendations are always in your best interest.
Reality: Google’s suggestions often prioritize their revenue over your results. Question everything.
Google's automated suggestions and optimizations may seem like a helping hand, but they’re often designed to increase your ad spend. Whether it’s bidding more for clicks or expanding your audience, these recommendations are geared towards maximizing Google's revenue. To really make Google Ads work for you, you need to critically evaluate each suggestion and understand how it impacts your bottom line, not just Google's.
2. You Have to Share Everything
Misconception: You need to provide Google with all your data—budgets, targets, conversions—to succeed.
Reality: The more you share, the more Google tailors their algorithms to maximize their profits, not yours. Guard your data.
It’s easy to think that feeding Google more data will lead to better campaign performance. However, the more data you provide, the more you’re helping Google optimize their algorithm to extract more money from your pocket. By guarding your data and being selective with what you share, you can maintain control over your campaign performance and prevent Google from using your own information against you.
3. Everyone Plays by the Same Rules
Misconception: You have to follow Google’s playbook to win at Google Ads.
Reality: Following the crowd just makes you a sheep. To really succeed, you need to break away from the pack.
Google Ads has a standard playbook that most businesses follow, but this often leads to mediocre results. To really stand out and get the best return on investment, you need to think differently and break away from the herd. The most successful advertisers are those who are willing to experiment and challenge the conventional wisdom that everyone else is following.
4. Trust the Algorithm
Misconception: Google’s algorithm will always optimize your ads for the best performance.
Reality: The algorithm is designed to maximize Google’s revenue. It’s up to you to take control and optimize for your own success.
While Google’s algorithm is powerful, it’s not necessarily optimized for your success. Its primary goal is to maximize Google's revenue, which can sometimes come at the expense of your own. Don’t blindly trust the algorithm—take control of your campaigns by setting manual bids, refining your targeting, and constantly testing different strategies to see what works best for you.
5. More Data, Better Results
Misconception: Feeding Google more data will always improve your campaign performance.
Reality: More data often just trains Google’s algorithm to extract more money from you. Be selective with what you share.
It’s a common belief that the more data you feed into Google Ads, the better your results will be. However, this isn’t always true. By providing too much information, you’re giving Google the tools to optimize their profits, not necessarily your conversions. Be strategic about the data you share, and focus on what’s essential for your own campaign goals.
6. ROAS Transparency Benefits You
Misconception: Telling Google your desired ROAS helps you achieve it.
Reality: Revealing your ROAS to Google can backfire, leading them to optimize for their own gains rather than yours.
Sharing your Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) targets with Google might seem like a smart move, but it can actually work against you. When Google knows your ROAS goals, they might adjust your campaigns in a way that benefits them more than it benefits you. Keep your ROAS targets close to the chest and take a more hands-on approach to achieving them.
7. Bidding High Guarantees Success
Misconception: The highest bidder always wins the best spot and the most conversions.
Reality: High bids often just inflate costs, benefiting Google more than your bottom line. Smart bidding, not high bidding, wins.
There’s a widespread belief that bidding higher will automatically win you the best ad placements and the most conversions. However, this approach often leads to inflated costs and lower ROI. Instead of simply outbidding your competitors, focus on smart bidding strategies that prioritize quality over quantity and help you get the most out of your ad spend.
Take Back Control Of Your Google Ads Strategy
Everyone uses Google Ads the same way—sharing data, trusting the algorithm, and playing by the rules. But is that really in your best interest?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you tell Google your ad budget?
- Do you tell Google your campaign targets?
- Do you tell Google your conversions, values, and ROAS?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re a Google Ads Sheep. Google preys on the data you share to maximize their revenue, not yours. By playing by the rules and giving Google this data, you’re actively helping to train their algorithms to make the most money for Google, not for you.
But with Order Legend, we do things differently.
We don’t play by Google’s rules—we break them. Our budget is practically infinite, and we set an agreed target with you without revealing how much money you’re making. Instead, we only tell Google how much we make, training their algorithms to believe we have razor-thin margins between our ad spend and commission earnings. This forces Google to work harder, delivering high-intent inventory at low costs that they wouldn’t typically want you to access. While others are bidding on the same ad inventory to inflate Google’s revenue, we bid cheap and smart, capturing valuable opportunities that drive real, incremental revenue for you.
Don’t be a Google Ads Sheep. Install Order Legend and take back control:
- ROAS, Budget, and Target Privacy
- Incremental Revenue
- Zero-Upfront Costs
- A Fixed ROAS on Orders Generated
Ready to break away from the pack and make Google Ads truly work for you? Get started with Order Legend here.
