Inside Google Ads with Jyll Saskin Gales

Should you be paying for ads when people are already searching for your business by name? This "brand tax" is one of the most debated topics in the Google Ads community, but the decision should be based on data, not a gut feeling. In episode 113 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, #1 Most Influential PPC Expert Jyll Saskin Gales dives into the branded search debate to help you determine if those clicks are actually incremental or if you are simply paying for traffic you would have received anyway.

Key topics discussed:
How to use Auction Insights to decide if bidding on your brand is necessary
Why keeping brand terms in PMax can be the best move for new campaigns
When to separate branded search and shopping into their own campaigns vs. keeping them in Performance Max
Choosing the right bid strategy for your branded campaigns
Why shifting from Manual CPC to Target ROAS or Target CPA can improve the quality of your branded traffic
How to handle "brand vs. competitor" search queries and the legality of using competitor names in your copy
You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for free at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113
 
Google Ads Coaching
Need some expert help with your Google Ads strategy or optimizing your campaigns? Book a call with Jyll! Learn more at https://jyll.ca/pages/google-ads-coach?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113

Inside Google Ads course
Join 400+ marketers like you who are mastering Google Ads with Jyll's Inside Google Ads membership course. You'll get exclusive access to JyllBot, and you can meet top industry experts at an exclusive live video call every single month. Learn more at https://learn.jyll.ca/iga?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
Do you need a Brand campaign in Google Ads? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/do-you-need-a-brand-campaign-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113
Should You Use Manual Bidding for Brand Campaigns in Google Ads? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/should-you-use-manual-bidding-for-brand-campaigns-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113
Should You Exclude Your Brand Name from Google Ads Search Campaigns? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/should-you-exclude-your-brand-name-from-google-ads-search-campaigns?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode113
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If you work in a so-called "Sensitive Interest Category" like healthcare, finance, legal, or real estate, you’ve likely stared at that "Eligible (Limited)" status in Google Ads with frustration. Operating in a sensitive interest category means that standard Google Ads tactics like retargeting or basic demographics are often off the table. But "limited" doesn't mean "impossible." In episode 112 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, host Jyll Saskin Gales breaks down why being in a restricted category isn't a dead end, but rather a call to get more strategic with the tools you still have at your disposal.

Jyll shares three counterintuitive strategies that help her Google Ads coaching clients thrive despite targeting restrictions. From the vital importance of offline conversion tracking to using creative as your primary targeting filter, this episode is a masterclass in navigating policy-heavy industries.

Key topics discussed:
The "can’ts" vs. the "cans" of sensitive interest categories.
Why offline conversion tracking (OCT) is the non-negotiable foundation for success.
Challenging the "privacy-first" pushback from in-house counsel.
Strategy 1: When going wider with Broad Match and Demand Gen actually works.
Strategy 2: Non-linear targeting - finding your customer before they hit the "intent" phase.
Strategy 3: Creative-led targeting - using your ads to attract the right leads and repel the wrong ones.
You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for free at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112
Google Ads Coaching
Need some expert help with your Google Ads strategy or optimizing your campaigns? Book a call with Jyll! Learn more at https://jyll.ca/pages/google-ads-coach?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112

Inside Google Ads course
Join 400+ marketers like you who are mastering Google Ads with Jyll's Inside Google Ads membership course. You'll get exclusive access to JyllBot, and you can meet top industry experts at an exclusive live video call every single month. Learn more at https://learn.jyll.ca/iga?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
What is Non-Linear Targeting in Google Ads? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/what-is-non-linear-targeting-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112
5 Must-Have Tools for Accurate Google Ads Conversion Tracking https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/5-must-have-tools-for-accurate-google-ads-conversion-tracking-in-2024?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112
Navigating Google Ads' Sensitive Interest Categories: A Guide for Advertisers https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/navigating-google-ads-sensitive-interest-categories-a-guide-for-advertisers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode112
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It's frustrating to watch those Google Ads bills roll in while your campaigns have zero conversions! Whether you're an experienced agency pro or a business owner managing your own account, this is one of the most common Google Ads challenges you'll experience. In episode 111 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, host Jyll Saskin Gales walks you through the exact process she uses with her Google Ads coaching clients to diagnose and solve conversion issues. In this real life example, Jyll figures out why a client's search campaign hadn't seen a single conversion in six weeks. Then, Jyll uncovers the truth behind a suspiciously high view rate in a YouTube campaign. This episode is all about understanding the "why" behind your Google Ads metrics, and learning how to distinguish between green flags and red flags in your account.

Key Topics Discussed:
The three root causes of zero conversions, and the order in which you should audit and solve them
How to identify if the Search Partner Network is inflating your metrics with low-quality traffic
The danger of using click-focused bid strategies like Manual CPC
Establishing benchmarks for YouTube View-Through Rates (VTR) across In-stream, In-feed, and Shorts.
What your campaign demographics can reveal about performance fluctuations

This episode is adapted from a popular issue of Jyll's free bi-weekly Google Ads newsletter, The Insider. Read the original issue here: https://learn.jyll.ca/newsletters/the-insider/posts/google-ads-metric-traps ?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111

You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for free at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111
 
Google Ads Coaching
Need some expert help with your Google Ads strategy or optimizing your campaigns? Book a call with Jyll! Learn more at https://jyll.ca/pages/google-ads-coach?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111

Inside Google Ads course
Join 400+ marketers like you who are mastering Google Ads with Jyll's Inside Google Ads membership course. You'll get exclusive access to JyllBot, and you can meet top industry experts at an exclusive live video call every single month. Learn more at https://learn.jyll.ca/iga?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
- "I'm getting impressions and clicks, but no conversions in Google Ads." https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/i-m-getting-impressions-and-clicks-but-no-conversions-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111
- Google Ads isn't recording my leads as conversions. Why? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/google-ads-isn-t-recording-my-leads-as-conversions-why?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111
- Should you use Maximize Conversions or Manual CPC bidding in Google Ads? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/should-you-use-maximize-conversions-or-manual-cpc-bidding-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode111

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Running Google Ads for B2B is notoriously more complex than any other vertical. With longer sales cycles and higher stakes, the usual "best practices" and "ALWAYS do this" don't apply. In episode 110 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, Google Ads Coach Jyll Saskin Gales maps out the essential frameworks she's developed specifically for B2B advertisers to attract high-value business customers while repelling low-value consumer leads.

She starts with the non-negotiable foundation: full-funnel conversion tracking. Jyll explains why optimizing for simple form fills is a recipe for failure and why you must connect your CRM to feed Google data on marketing qualified leads (MQLs) instead. From there, we dive into the "Day in the Life" exercise to move beyond basic job-title targeting, the strategic use of Demand Gen campaigns to create a halo effect over your search efforts, and why high CPCs in the B2B world can actually be a sign of success. Finally, learn how to use intentional friction in your ad copy and landing pages to filter out the "hay" and find your "needles" in the haystack. This episode is a must watch/listen for anyone running Google Ads with a business-to-business objective.

Key Topics Discussed:
Why your B2B strategy must move beyond tracking simple form fills.
Connecting your CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.) to optimize for MQLs and SQLs.
The "Day in the Life" exercise for better audience targeting.
Allocating budget to Demand Gen and Video for a 30% reduction in search CPL.
The "Magnet, Needle and Haystack" analogy for using broad match and smart bidding.
Using intentional friction in creative and landing pages to disqualify poor leads.

Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode for a new Insider Challenge to solve!

You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for free at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110
 
Google Ads Coaching
Need some expert help with your Google Ads strategy or optimizing your campaigns? Book a call with Jyll! Learn more at https://jyll.ca/pages/google-ads-coach?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110

Inside Google Ads course
Join 400+ marketers like you who are mastering Google Ads with Jyll's Inside Google Ads membership course. You'll get exclusive access to JyllBot, and you can meet top industry experts at an exclusive live video call every single month. Learn more at https://learn.jyll.ca/iga?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
Should B2B advertisers use broad match or exact match keywords? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/should-b2b-advertisers-use-broad-match-or-exact-match-keywords?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110
PMax vs. Demand Gen: Which is Right for Your B2B Google Ads Strategy? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/pmax-vs-demand-gen-which-is-right-for-your-b2b-google-ads-strategy?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110
Performance Max vs. Search: Which is Best for B2B Lead Generation? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/performance-max-vs-search-which-is-best-for-b2b-lead-generation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode110
Follow Jyll on social media
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Performance Max is no longer the "black box" it used to be; it's now a "clear box" offering full transparency. So how do you USE that transparency to optimize your Performance Max campaign? In special episode 109, Inside Google Ads host Jyll Saskin Gales shares an exclusive excerpt from her SMX Master Class, "Google Ads Beyond Search." You'll learn how to interpret the latest reporting features - including search term reports, channel performance, and asset-level data - to understand exactly where your budget is going and how to steer it.

Key Topics Discussed:
The "Clear Box" Evolution: Understanding the shift in how PMax works today vs 2022
New Transparency Reports: How to use Search Term, Channel Performance, and Asset-level reports
Lead Gen vs. E-commerce: Nuances for optimizing by business type
 Creative as Targeting: Using images, video, and copy to guide the algorithm to your ideal customer
Bidding Foundations: The functional differences between Maximize Conversions and Target CPA
It's not too late to join Jyll's SMX Master Class! Use code JyllVIP for 15% off at https://events.searchengineland.com/smx-master-classes-april-2026/?ref=jyll

You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for free at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109

Google Ads Coaching
Need some expert help with your Google Ads strategy or optimizing your campaigns? Book a call with Jyll! Learn more at https://jyll.ca/pages/google-ads-coach?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109

Inside Google Ads course
Join 400+ marketers like you who are mastering Google Ads with Jyll's Inside Google Ads membership course. You'll get exclusive access to JyllBot, and you can meet top industry experts at an exclusive live video call every single month. Learn more at https://learn.jyll.ca/iga?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109

Check out more Inside Google Ads episodes about Performance Max
The PMax Lie: Why Audience Signals & Search Themes Feel Like Control (But Aren't) https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/105?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109
Is PMax the best or the worst campaign type in Google Ads? https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/87?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109
PMax vs. Shopping vs. Search: Which is best for ecommerce? https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/99?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109
What's the best structure for Performance Max campaigns? https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/90?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode109

Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
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