The Paid Search Podcast | A Weekly Podcast About Google Ads and Online Marketing

Chris Schaeffer, one of the best Google Ads managers in the world, discusses two big Google Ads news items and then digs into a heavy topic answering the question about why finding a real PPC expert is so difficult today. The decline of the Google Ads skill has brought some negative aspects to the advertising space. Learn why this decline has happened and what has caused it.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Joey Bidner discusses the upcoming sales season in this week's episode. Learn about the best way to pace your spending not just during the Black Friday season but also the weeks leading up to the big sales event. You will hear about unique methods of tracking and measuring the sales and conversions themselves. Plus a bonus section answering a question from a listener on how to track a complex situation using the best conversion method.

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Joey Bidner - https://joeybidner.com/

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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In this episode, Chris Schaeffer, one of the top Google Ads managers in the world, gives three examples of unique PPC mysteries that are from real campaigns that experienced dramatic performance drops. It is our job to figure out the reason for the change! This is a unique way to test your Google Ads problem solving skills and learn how to diagnose problems in PPC campaigns.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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In this episode, Chris Schaeffer, one of the top Google Ads managers in the world, breaks down how to separate confusing campaign "noise" from actual underlying problems. Chris tackles five of the most common headaches advertisers face—from spam leads and runaway budgets to zero clicks. You'll learn why exact match keywords and tight bid strategies might be stifling your momentum, along with practical copy adjustments to stop unqualified traffic. Stop chasing symptoms and start diagnosing what’s really breaking your Google Ads campaigns.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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In this episode, Chris Schaeffer (the best Google Ads manager in the world) breaks down how Responsive Search Ads (RSAs) actually work and why a "Poor" Ad Strength rating directly causes higher CPCs, fewer impressions, and lower search positions. We uncover three massive misconceptions search marketers make, including why RSAs optimize for clicks instead of conversions, why Dynamic Keyword Insertion isn't a magic shortcut for asset diversity, and why writing throwaway headlines backfires when Google only displays two lines. Plus, we explore a real-world audit example where bad ad copy triggered a costly feedback loop targeting job seekers instead of clients.

To wrap up, Chris Schaeffer reveals his exact formula for structuring ad copy: a headline-pinning framework that locks in your core message while letting machine learning test your supporting features, benefits, CTAs, and trust factors. Tune in to stop wasting budget and start driving the right clicks!

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Chris Schaeffer, one of the best Google Ads managers in the world, breaks down semantic intent in this episode—exposing how Google attempts to read the minds of both you and the searcher by matching underlying goals rather than literal words. If your high-ticket whole-house filter ads are triggering on DIY searches or cheap plastic pitchers, Google's natural language processing is to blame. We unpack how this guessing game wastes ad spend across Broad, Phrase, and Exact match types, revealing the hidden traps of close variants, inflated CPCs, and plummeting Quality Scores.

You'll get actionable strategies to stop Google's assumptions from draining your campaign budgets. We highlight the six primary victims hit hardest by semantic intent, including high-ticket service providers, low-budget accounts, and niche industries that Google fails to comprehend. Tune in to discover where semantic intent is misinterpreting your target audience and learn how to defend your spend using smarter keyword strategies and negative keyword control.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Thinking about bidding on your rival’s brand name? It sounds like an aggressive, high-reward growth strategy: bid on a competitor’s name or trademarked product, show up at the top of the page, and offer a compelling alternative to pull high-intent buyers away from the competition. While Google Ads policy permits this strategy at the keyword level, the financial reality behind these campaigns tells a completely different story.

In this episode, Chris Schaeffer tears down the myth of "conquesting" and explains why these efforts are better labeled vanity campaigns or kamikaze bidding—strategies that burn your budget just to feed an ego.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Learn how value based bidding can be used to improved the quality of your leads. In today's podcast Chris Schaeffer discusses how offline conversion tracking works and how you can get setup for this kind of bidding strategy.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Guest host Joey Bidner discusses the huge changes in the Google Ads Merchant Center that have recently been released. If you are an e-commerce advertiser looking to get more out of your shopping and Performance Max campaigns this is an important announcement that you need to hear!

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Joey Bidner - https://joeybidner.com/

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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How long does it take to be successful in Google Ads? Today Chris Schaeffer discusses the major number and the one factor that can either slow that process down or speed it up. Reaching success in Google is not guaranteed but with this simple rule you will have a better chance at success!

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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I've spent nearly 2,000 hours teaching and coaching people all around the world how to build, optimize, and manage their Google Ads accounts. These are the eight things I've learned after speaking to people that need help with their accounts.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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I tried ChatGPT Ads! Let's talk about the differences between Google Ads and ads on ChatGPT, where the advantages of each are, and what the future made hold for both marketing networks.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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This week Chris Schaeffer answers questions from listeners about Google Ads. The topics include how to deal with high CPCs, how call reports work in Google Ads, Performance Max vs Search, and Limited by Budget questions.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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In this episode of the Paid Search Podcast, Chris Schaeffer shares the framework he uses to help businesses get the most from their Google Ads campaigns. Learn why ownership of your Google Ads account, website, and tracking assets matters, how to set goals that lead to long-term success, and why your budget should follow business value—not search volume.

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Chris also covers the four phases of campaign success, what to expect in your first 90 days, and how to become a better partner to your PPC manager by asking the right questions and providing the feedback that matters.

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Google is changing TCPA bidding and this will affect everyone!

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Joey Bidner guest hosts this week's podcast and explains what changes are coming with bidding and why it has so many people upset.

Joey Bidner - https://joeybidner.com/

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Google just made one of the biggest Search Partner Network changes in years… but is it actually useful?

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For the first time, Google Ads advertisers can see which Search Partner sites are displaying their ads in Search, Shopping, and App campaigns. After more than 20 years of treating Search Partners as a black box, Google has finally added placement reporting.

So why am I still frustrated?

In this episode, Chris Schaeffer breaks down exactly what Google’s new reporting includes, what it leaves out, and why this update is both a step forward and a major missed opportunity.

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Google Ads is hiding more and more search term data, and it’s becoming a serious problem for advertisers.

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In this episode, Chris Schaeffer explains why search terms—not keywords—are the foundation of successful Google Ads management, why Google’s increasing lack of transparency matters, and what you can do to protect your campaigns.

You’ll learn:
* The critical difference between keywords and search terms
* Why search terms are the first step in measuring paid search quality
* How hidden search terms make optimization more difficult
* Why less visibility leads to more wasted ad spend
* How this shift especially impacts small advertisers
* Why transparency has always been one of Google Search’s biggest advantages
* How broad match negative keywords can help reduce unwanted traffic

Google Ads wasn’t built on showing ads to people who might be interested. It became the world’s most powerful advertising platform because it reached people at the exact moment they were searching for a product or service.

That’s why understanding what people actually searched is so important.

Your keywords are only what you tell Google to target. Your search terms reveal where your advertising dollars are really going.

If Google continues hiding that information, advertisers lose one of the most valuable tools they have for improving performance and holding the platform accountable.

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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This week Chris Schaeffer answers questions from listeners and discusses 4 ways to break your Google Ads account. Don't make these key mistakes that can result in an unrecoverable campaign.

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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Chris Schaeffer and Joey Bidner discuss Google AI Mode and Google Ads AI Max in this week's episode of The Paid Search Podcast. AI is a growing aspect of the Google universe and advertisers have an opportunity to expand their marketing efforts in ways that were not possible just a few years before. But is it always the right choice for everyone? Let's talk about that!

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Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

Joey Bidner - https://joeybidner.com

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Let's talk about how to manage your keywords using this keyword risk process. Using low, moderate, and high risk keywords allow you to control the spend of your Google Ads search campaigns. Be sure and download the free PDF resource linked below!

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Keyword Risk PDF: https://files.chrisschaeffer.com/xGNjxsAZ

Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com

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