Running Google Ads can be extremely profitable, but it can also burn your budget fast if not optimized correctly. Many businesses think the only way to get more leads is to increase ad spend. In reality, smart optimization can reduce costs while improving conversions at the same time.
Here are 10 ways to cut your Google Ads cost while keeping your results strong.
1. Stop Bidding on Broad Keyword
Broad keywords bring traffic but not always buyers.
Instead of:
- “digital marketing”
- “web design”
- “real estate”
Use:
- “digital marketing agency in Rajkot”
- “website designer for small business”
- “Buy 2BHK flat in Gurugram.”
These long-tail keywords are cheaper and convert better.
2. Add Negative Keywords
Negative keywords stop wasted clicks.
Some example negatives:
- free
- jobs
- training
- internship
- course
This quickly makes your money go further and cuts out irrelevant spending.
3. Improve Your Quality Score
A better Quality Score means a lower cost per click.
Google favors ads that:
- Fit what people are searching for
- Have a lot of clicks
- Go to fast, helpful landing pages
Improve your ad text, keywords, and landing pages to lower your cost per click by as much as 30–40%.
4. Use Smart Bidding & AI Optimization
Use:
- Maximize Conversions
- Target CPA
- Performance Max
These AI bidding options will reduce your expenses for each lead over time.
5. Schedule Ads During High-Converting Hours
Not all hours are the same.
- Look at your data and stop ads during:
- Late at night
- Slow times
Only spend money when customers are active.
6. Improve Landing Page Conversion Rate
When more people convert on your page, your cost per lead drops.
Work on:
- Page speed
- Clear calls to action
- Simple forms
- Trust badges
- Mobile-friendliness
Even a small improvement can cut your cost per lead a lot.
7. Use Exact & Phrase Match Keywords
Don’t just use a general match.
Use:
- Exact match
- Phrase match
This gives you control and lowers wasted spending.
8. Retarget Instead of Cold Advertising
Advertising can be costly.
Retarget:
- Website visitors
- WhatsApp clickers
- Past leads
Retargeting leads to cheaper and faster conversions.
9. Stop Low-Performing Ads & Keywords
Optimize Weekly:
- Stop keywords that spend a lot but don’t convert
- Spend more on what works
- Change weak ads
Small changes can save you money.
10. Target by Location
- Only target cities or zip codes where people convert.
- Don’t use ads nationwide if you’re a local business.
One last thing, Google Ads isn’t costly. Poor choices make Google Ads costly. With the correct plan, small budgets can do better than big brands.
