Here's Why Your Google Ads Aren’t Working 🛠️🤔

A lot of business owners tell us: “We tried Google Ads… but they didn’t work.”

Here’s the hard truth: it’s usually not the ads that are failing - it’s the landing page you’re sending people to 😬.

Simply put, Google Ads reward relevance. That means your keywords, ads, and landing page all need to speak the same language. If there’s a mismatch:

• Your Quality Score drops
• You pay more per click
• You get fewer leads

Before you give up on Google Ads, take a close look at your landing page 🕵️‍♂️. 

1️⃣ Make Everything Match

Google wants searchers to find exactly what they’re looking for. Example:

• Keyword: “Emergency plumber Jacksonville”
• Ad headline: “24/7 Emergency Plumbing Services”
• Landing page: instead of “Welcome to XYZ Plumbing” ❌ use something like “Fast, Reliable Plumbing Service in [City] – 24/7 Emergency Help When You Need It!” ✅

Mismatching will almost always lead to higher costs and fewer clicks ✅. 

Your landing page should always reflect your ad message. It sounds like basic advice, but many businesses fall into the trap of writing great website copy simply because they’re passionate about what they do. That’s wonderful - but if the copy doesn’t align with your ads, it won’t convert.

Save that storytelling language for your Home or About Us page. On your landing page, especially in the H1 (headline) and all the copy above the fold (before someone scrolls), the content must match what you’re advertising on Google and what people are actually searching for.

This alignment is what reassures users that they’ve come to the right place, and it’s what turns clicks into customers.

2️⃣ Don’t Send Traffic to Your Homepage

Homepages = distractions. Menus, blog posts, multiple services… it’s overwhelming 😵.

A focused landing page has one job: guide visitors to take the next step. Whether that’s “Book Your Free Estimate” or “Claim Your Offer”, keep it simple and aligned with the ad they clicked.

Sending ad traffic to your homepage almost always tanks performance. It forces people to dig for what they came for. Instead, match the promise of your ad with a dedicated page built to convert.

Sending ad traffic to your homepage almost always tanks performance because people have to dig for what they came for. A dedicated page solves that problem and converts way better.

If your website is just one long homepage (and you don’t have extra pages to work with), don’t worry - you’re not stuck. There are quick landing page builders like Unbounce, Leadpages, Carrd, Squarespace, or even Canva websites that let you spin up a clean, ad-specific page without rebuilding your whole site.

3️⃣ Make Your Offer Crystal Clear

Vague buttons like “Contact Us” won’t seal the deal. Que the yawn 🥱. Give your visitors a specific, irresistible reason to act:

• “Book Your Free Roof Inspection” 🏠
• “Schedule a Same-Day Plumbing Call” 🚰
• “Get 15% Off With Code WASH15” 💸

Clarity > cleverness every time.

💡 Pro tip: Your offer should highlight both what they’ll get and why it’s valuable now. “Get a Free Quote” is fine… but “Get a Free Quote in 24 Hours” is better. Adding urgency or a unique perk can double your conversions.

And remember - your call-to-action should match the promise of your ad. If your ad says “Save 15% Today,” don’t make the button say “Learn More.” Consistency builds trust and gets clicks.

4️⃣ Build Trust Fast

People buy from companies they trust. If visitors don’t feel confident right away, they’ll bounce. Make sure these classic trust-builders stand out:

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews
• Before-and-after photos
• “Trusted by 1,000+ Jacksonville Homeowners”
• Logos of partners or certifications (BBB, Google Guaranteed, etc.)

💡 Pro tip: Don’t bury these signals at the bottom of the page. Place them above the fold or right next to your call-to-action so people see them before making a decision. Even one strong testimonial next to your button can be the difference between a click and a bounce.

Trust and confidence = more clicks turning into calls.

5️⃣ Landing Page Example 

Enough talk… we’ll just show you how it worked for our Jumpstart Jax Advertising Package Giveaway, which earned over 600 entries. Pay close attention to how we utilized the strategies listed above. 

Let’s Get Serious About Your Ads

If your Google Ads aren’t performing, the problem usually is what happens after the click.

Google wants to see ads, keywords, and landing pages working together. And your customers want a page that’s clear, fast, and trustworthy. Put the extra work into fix that, and suddenly your ad budget goes a lot further 🚀.

If you want to put in the extra work, but don’t have the time 👉 We’ll audit your Google Ads + landing page combo in a free strategy call. Our award-winning team will show you exactly where the leaks are before you spend another dollar. Now that’s what we call working smarter 🤓.