Read What The Other PPC Experts Read

For years, I worked for agencies, I worked in house, I write daily on LinkedIn, I write for the PPC industry.

Now, I am rewriting those PPC strategies for YOU (Business Owners)

Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen

When to Bring Google Ads In-House: Stop Paying Agency Fees for "Maintenance"

Most companies think they only have two options for running paid search campaigns: pay an expensive PPC agency retainer forever or fire them and go it alone.

There is a third option. Here is how to identify if your business has "graduated" from the PPC build phase, and how to switch to a strategic advisory model that saves agency fees while protecting PPC performance.

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AI In Google Ads Sarah Stemen AI In Google Ads Sarah Stemen

The Myth of Perfect Ad Copy: Why AI Needs Your Human Strategy

High-performing Google Ads ad copy is not about technical perfection; it's about strategic relevance and persuasion, which AI alone cannot deliver. This guide breaks down why executive-level strategy must supersede AI's surface-level polish. Learn how to use AI as a high-speed drafting co-pilot, not a replacement for human strategic thinking, to dramatically increase your conversion rates and ensure your ad spend drives true business value.

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Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen

The "More Is Better" Trap: Why Your Website Traffic Strategy Might Be A Leaky Bucket

More traffic doesn’t mean more profit — especially when Google’s defaults are designed to spend your budget, not protect your margins. In this article, I break down the three biggest leaks inside most Google Ads accounts, why broad targeting leads to low‑intent clicks, and how to build an exclusion architecture that turns your traffic from a leaky bucket into a predictable revenue engine.

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PPC Industry Truths Sarah Stemen PPC Industry Truths Sarah Stemen

Stop Believing the Lie: Why a Google Ads Certification Alone Won't Make You Rich

A Google Ads certification won’t make you a profitable specialist — and it won’t protect business owners from low‑quality management. In this article, I break down why certification is only a starting point, why true PPC expertise requires emotional burden, strategic thinking, and full‑funnel marketing knowledge, and how real specialists protect clients from costly mistakes that certified beginners never see.

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Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen

Stop Blaming Google: How to Solve Your "Rising Costs" with a Cost-Intent Strategy

If your Google Ads costs are rising, Google isn’t always the villain. In this article, I break down the real reason many advertisers overspend: a Cost‑Intent Mismatch. You’ll learn how intent tiers impact CPC, why non‑brand search is becoming an expensive trap in 2025, and the exact multi‑stage strategy I used to take a retail client from a ROAS of 2 to 8 by shifting spend into smarter, intent‑aligned campaigns.

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Sarah Stemen Sarah Stemen

The Agency Model Is Dying: Why Your Small Business Needs a Google Ads Coach, Not a Manager

The traditional Google Ads agency model is breaking down — especially for small businesses that can’t afford high fees or survive low‑quality management. In this article, I explain why the economics no longer work, why “button‑pusher” agencies are becoming obsolete, and why Google Ads coaching is the future for business owners who want control, clarity, and real results.

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PPC Industry Truths Sarah Stemen PPC Industry Truths Sarah Stemen

Exposed: 3 Shady Google Ads Agency Tactics That Steal Your Budget

Not all Google Ads management is real management. In this article, I expose three common tactics that look like “optimization” but actually waste your budget — from fake change‑history activity to meaningless bid tinkering to agencies charging premium fees for basic automation. If you want to protect your ad spend and understand what real PPC strategy looks like, this breakdown gives you the clarity you need.

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Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen

Stop Chasing High CTR! Focus on Qualified Clicks in Google Ads

CTR looks like a success metric, but it’s not your North Star — qualified clicks are. In this article, I break down why high CTR can actually hurt performance, how to align your ads with real search intent, and the exact strategies that lift CTR without attracting the wrong traffic. If you want more relevant clicks, better ad alignment, and stronger conversions, this guide shows you how to do it the right way.

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PPC Industry Truths, Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen PPC Industry Truths, Google Ads Strategy Sarah Stemen

Building Paid Search Campaigns Is Easy, Doing It Well Takes Skill

Paid search isn’t hard because of the platform — it’s hard because doing it well requires strategy, judgment, and real expertise. In this article, I break down why building campaigns is the easy part, why managing them well is the real skill, and what small teams need to know before offering paid search as a service. If you’ve ever wondered why PPC feels overwhelming or why clients churn, this explains the real reasons behind it.

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