No Fluff, Just Results: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How We Work Together

Why my onboarding process is designed to save you time and get straight to the ROI.

One of the biggest friction points when hiring a Google Ads consultant is the "Black Box." You often don't know what the engagement looks like until you've already signed a contract.

I believe in radical transparency—not just in your ad accounts, but in how we interact from day one.

I recently recorded a behind-the-scenes tour of my CRM (HoneyBook) to show exactly how I manage leads. But for you, the business owner, the software matters less than the philosophy behind it.

Here is how I have designed my workflow to respect your time, filter out the noise, and get us to "action" as fast as possible.

1. The "Anti-Sales" Pitch

If you visit my website, you won’t find a generic "Contact Us" form that disappears into the void. You will find specific paths based on your actual problem.

I use detailed intake forms for a reason. In the past, I had calendars full of salespeople and "tire kickers." Now, I ask the hard questions upfront:

  • What is your budget?

  • What is the specific problem you are facing?

  • Are you the decision-maker?

This adds a little bit of "friction," and that is intentional. It ensures that when we do get on a call, we aren't wasting 20 minutes on pleasantries. We are diving straight into strategy and fit.

2. Choose Your Own Adventure (The 3 Paths)

I don’t believe in trapping clients in long-term retainers if that’s not what they need. My workflow is built around three distinct needs:

Path A: The "Gut Check" (Live Paid Search Audit)

Who it's for: You have a feeling something is wrong with your account, or you aren't confident in your current agency, but you don't want a long sales cycle. The Workflow: You book a time, pay the session fee, and upload your details. No long contracts, no waiting. The Outcome: We hop on a recorded call, I audit the account live, and you leave with immediate answers. It is efficient, transactional, and high-value.

Path B: The "Fresh Start" (Build & Train)

Who it's for: You are tired of being dependent on an agency and want to bring things in-house, but you need an expert to build the engine first. The Workflow: This goes through my Project Fit form. We discuss your goals, and I design a scope to build your campaigns and—crucially—train you or your team how to run them. The Outcome: You get a professional build and the independence to manage it yourself.

Path C: The "Roadblock" (Strategy Session)

Who it's for: You are managing ads yourself but have hit a plateau. You need a 60-minute deep dive to unstuck the account. The Workflow: A streamlined booking link that gets you directly onto my calendar.

3. Why I Use a Streamlined CRM (HoneyBook)

I manage my entire client flow through HoneyBook. Why does this matter to you?

  • Security & Ease: Proposals, contracts, and payments are handled in one secure portal. You aren't chasing PDF invoices or wondering if a check cleared.

  • Scheduling: No email ping-pong. You pick a time that works for you, and it syncs instantly to my calendar.

  • Focus: Because my admin side is automated, I spend my time in your Google Ads account, not in my inbox.

Summary: Your Success is the Priority

My website and my forms are designed with one goal: to put you in control.

Whether you need a one-time audit or a complete account rebuild, the process is built to be frictionless so we can stop guessing and start growing.

Ready to see which path is right for you?

Sarah Stemen

Bio written by Sarah Stemen

Sarah Stemen is your leading resource for PPC help and AI-powered campaign optimization. As the President of the Paid Search Association (PSA) and a globally recognized Top 100 PPC Strategist, she leverages her 17 years of Google Ads experience to deliver enterprise-level strategy and audits that generate 30%+ ROI improvements. A trusted contributor to Search Engine Land and Search Engine Journal, Sarah's insights are frequently shared on industry podcasts, YouTube, and Reddit. Find her data-driven strategy at thesarahstemen.com.

https://www.thesarahstemen.com
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