Google Ads Strategy Hub

Sarah Stemen
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing

Welcome to The Google Ads Strategy Hub, the podcast for every business owner who wants to take control of their Google Ads. You don't need another generic tutorial. What you need is a plan for your paid search account. Host Sarah Stemen is a Google Ads coach & consultant who specializes in empowering small business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers to build and manage their own successful Google Ads campaigns. Each episode dives into the core strategies behind effective Google Ads—the "why" behind the "how." Sarah will tackle the most common questions, uncover proven techniques, and help you think like a pro. From setting up your first campaign to understanding what's really working, this podcast is designed to give you the confidence to run your own ads and achieve real results.

  1. 4d ago

    Why Did Performance Dip When I Went To Performance Max?

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses various aspects of Google Ads, focusing on targeting strategies, the importance of clean conversion signals, and common challenges faced by advertisers. She emphasizes the need for strategic targeting and understanding automated bidding to optimize ad performance. Book A Coaching Call: https://www.thesarahstemen.com/google-ads-coaching Visit My Website: https://www.thesarahstemen.com/ Takeaways Google Ads requires strategic targetingClean conversion signals are crucial Chapters 00:00 Understanding Google Ads Targeting02:52 Optimized Targeting vs. Business Goals06:11 Automated Bidding Insights07:55 The Importance of Clean Conversion Signals09:55 Common Google Ads Challenges11:50 Keyword Strategy in Google Ads15:13 Managing Google Ads Budgets Effectively

  2. Oct 23

    Why Is Google Ads So Expensive

    Google Ads is so expensive because it is doing what you asked and the market supports it. If a single lead costs $150 in a competitive industry like law, HVAC, or B2B software, it’s because a competitor with better conversion rates or a higher lifetime customer value (LTV) can pay $150 and still turn a massive profit. Google doesn't set prices in a vacuum advertisers push bids up until marginal profitability hits zero for the least efficient player. In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses the complexities of Google Ads pricing, particularly for small local businesses, and emphasizes the importance of understanding auction dynamics, keyword selection, and ad quality. She provides insights into how businesses can optimize their Google Ads strategies to achieve better results without incurring excessive costs. Takeaways Understanding auction dynamicsImportance of ad quality Chapters 00:00 The Cost of Google Ads Explained02:58 Optimizing Your Google Ads Strategy05:47 Contextualizing Google Ads Decisions

  3. Oct 22

    Too Much AI In Google Ads

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses the impact of AI on Google Ads, particularly focusing on the concept of 'AI layering' and its implications for ad performance. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining human elements in advertising to avoid generic and uninspired content. While tool additions like AI video generators, automated asset creation, and smart bidding promise efficiency, they might actually be creating silent vulnerabilities in your ad strategy, wasting budget, diluting brand voice, and stripping away strategic control. If you've been feeling like Google Ads is pushing AI too far, this video breaks down what’s really happening under the hood and why advertisers need to pull back the reins. Takeaways AI layering dilutes creativityHuman touch enhances ad effectiveness Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Google Ads02:58 The Dangers of AI Layering05:51 Balancing AI and Human Creativity

  4. Oct 21

    Google Ads Coaching: How to Fix Rising Ad Costs

    Google Ads Coaching: How to Fix Rising Ad Costs (Real Client Case Study & Audit) Are your Google Ads costs surging while lead quality drops? In this video, I take you behind the scenes of a real client audit for an auto repair business to show you exactly how I diagnose campaign issues, restructure accounts for high-intent leads, and create a scalable strategy. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to work with me in a coaching or consulting capacity, this video gives you a transparent, step-by-step look at my process—from identifying flawed data to building clear contingency plans. 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Video: The Hidden Trap of Smart Campaigns: Why cheap CPCs and "keyword themes" often deliver unqualified leads, accidental display clicks, and uncontrollable cost growth.Why Higher CPCs Aren't Always Bad: Why a brand-new non-brand search campaign initial launch shows higher cost-per-click and how a strong Click-Through Rate (CTR) proves you're reaching high-value buyers.Intent-Based Account Structuring: How to balance Smart Campaigns, Performance Max (PMax), and Non-Brand Search to capture high-lifetime-value repair jobs instead of low-margin service requests.Managing Initial Data Without Panicking: Why the 10-to-14-day learning phase matters, how to monitor conversion lag time, and when to start targeted pruning and negative keyword additions.Data-Driven Contingencies: How we set clear Scenario A and Scenario B paths so you always have control over your ad spend and bid strategies (Maximize Clicks vs. Target CPA/ROAS).Do you want to work with me too: https://www.thesarahstemen.com/google-ads-coaching Takeaways Focus on quality leadsMonitor performance metrics Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Campaign Analysis02:55 Understanding Campaign Performance Metrics06:12 Strategic Recommendations for Improvement09:03 Monitoring and Future Planning

  5. Oct 19

    Why Are We Obsessed With Adding Negatives?

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses the increasing trend of adding negative keywords in Google Ads campaigns, emphasizing a balanced approach rather than an aggressive one. She shares insights on how to evaluate when to add negatives and the importance of understanding ad rank and match types. Takeaways Balanced approach to negativesImportance of ad rank evaluation Chapters 00:00 The Epidemic of Negatives in Google Ads03:05 Evaluating Ad Rank and Match Types

  6. Oct 16

    The Loudest Google Ads Content

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses the challenges of navigating Google Ads advice found online, emphasizing the importance of context and tailored coaching. She highlights how differing perspectives and the nuances of individual business situations can lead to varying results in Google Ads strategies. Takeaways Context matters in adviceTailored coaching is essential Chapters 00:00 Navigating the Google Ads Maze02:57 Understanding Perspectives in Advice05:59 The Role of Context in Google Ads11:59 The Importance of Tailored Coaching15:02 Critical Thinking in Applying Advice

  7. Oct 15

    Google Ads Channel Prioritization

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses Google's new channel prioritization and budget allocation features, highlighting their implications for advertisers. She provides insights into how these changes will affect campaign management and budget distribution across different channels. Brooke's Article on SEJ: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ads-introduces-channel-prioritization-and-budget-allocation/592833/ Google's Post: https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/channel-prioritization-budget-allocation/ My Website: https://www.thesarahstemen.com Takeaways Google introduces new advertising controlsAdvertisers can prioritize budget allocation Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Google's New Features03:08 Understanding Channel Prioritization and Budget Allocation

  8. Oct 15

    Should You Pause Google Ads When You Are Away

    In this conversation, Sarah Stemen discusses the best practices for managing Google Ads while on vacation. She emphasizes the importance of pausing ads instead of lowering budgets to maintain campaign performance. Takeaways Pause ads for better performanceAvoid low budget settings Chapters 00:00 Managing Google Ads During Vacations

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About

Welcome to The Google Ads Strategy Hub, the podcast for every business owner who wants to take control of their Google Ads. You don't need another generic tutorial. What you need is a plan for your paid search account. Host Sarah Stemen is a Google Ads coach & consultant who specializes in empowering small business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers to build and manage their own successful Google Ads campaigns. Each episode dives into the core strategies behind effective Google Ads—the "why" behind the "how." Sarah will tackle the most common questions, uncover proven techniques, and help you think like a pro. From setting up your first campaign to understanding what's really working, this podcast is designed to give you the confidence to run your own ads and achieve real results.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Stemen
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sarah Stemen

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