Inside Google Ads with Jyll Saskin Gales

We were promised that AI would save us so much time, we could lie on the beach while automation handled our business. The reality so far? Quite different! In this conversation between Fred Vallaeys, CEO of Optmyzr, and Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads Coach & host of the Inside Google Ads podcast, we discuss how AI isn't actually making our jobs shorter, it's pushing us to work harder, think deeper, and become better marketers.

Join us for special episode 127 to find out what it truly means to be an AI-powered marketer. We talk about why human creativity and business data are your ultimate competitive advantages as Google's tools become more automated. We also dive into some contrarian strategies, including why you might want to rethink your entire approach to negative keywords, and I pull back the curtain on how I use my own custom "JyllBot" to manage my content creation.

Key topics discussed:
Why AI acts as an "average maker" and how you can use unique business data to get excellent results.
The negative keyword debate: why removing massive legacy lists might actually improve your ROAS.
How I used Claude Cowork to help overcome blank-page syndrome while writing my upcoming second book.
 Keeping up with rapid industry shifts through peer communities rather than just feature logs.
What highly personalized search results mean for the future of your ad formats and delivery.
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=episode127

Resources mentioned in this episode
Episode 126: Is Google Ads Dead? Why I’m More Excited Than Ever for the Future https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/126?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode127
Fred Vallaeys' latest book, the AI-Amplified Marketer: https://aiamplifiedmarketer.com
Jyll Saskin Gales' latest book, Inside Google Ads: Everything you need to know about Audience Targeting: https://jyll.ca/book?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode127
Start your free trial of Optmyzr: https://www.optmyzr.com/?ref=ywu3y2m [affiliate link]
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=episode127

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=episode127

Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
https://www.youtube.com/@the_google_pro
https://www.instagram.com/the_google_pro
https://www.threads.net/@the_google_pro

Is it still worth learning Google Ads, or is AI making us obsolete? In episode 126 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, host Jyll Saskin Gales addresses the growing apprehension and fear surrounding the future of Google Ads and the PPC industry. While the shift away from traditional keyword control and the rise of AI-driven search experiences feels different, these changes actually present the most significant opportunity yet for strategic marketers.

By breaking down the platform into its three core components - bidding, targeting, and creative - Jyll illustrates how artificial intelligence acts as an efficiency multiplier rather than a human replacement. The episode explores advanced tools like AI Max, branded controls, and AI Brief, demonstrating how practitioners can steer automation to achieve superior results. While AI raises the floor for average performance, your human expertise is required to "raise the roof." Whether you manage accounts for a small business or a major agency, this conversation will help you adapt your mindset and approach for the next chapter of digital advertising.

Key topics discussed:
The reality behind the statement that advertisers can no longer choose keywords."
How incremental bidding innovations like smart bidding exploration and customer lifecycle goals support human-led strategy.
Why AI Max is the future for Search and Shopping campaigns. 
The strategic value of AI Brief for guiding targeting and messaging.
Why marketing foundations and landing page quality matter more than ever in an AI-first SERP.
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=episode126

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=episode126

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=episode126

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
Smart Bidding Exploration in Google Ads: Everything you need to know https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/smart-bidding-exploration-in-google-ads-everything-you-need-to-know?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode126
Google Ads Journey Aware Bidding: The next bid strategy for lead generation? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/google-ads-journey-aware-bidding-the-next-bid-strategy-for-lead-generation?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode126
Google Ads Customer Lifecycle Goals: What You Need To Know https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/google-ads-customer-lifecycle-goals-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode126
Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
https://www.youtube.com/@the_google_pro
https://www.instagram.com/the_google_pro
https://www.threads.net/@the_google_pro

Customer Match is the holy grail of modern marketing, yet many Google Ads practitioners still aren't using it. In episode 125 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, host Jyll Saskin Gales explains why uploading your first-party customer data to Google is one of the single greatest competitive advantages you have left in the AI era. As third-party tracking declines, Customer Match serves as a critical bridge to campaign stability, allowing you to reactivate dormant clients, cross-sell new offers, and feed invaluable signals to smart bidding algorithms.

Jyll breaks down the requirements for using Customer Match, including the $50,000 lifetime spend threshold, while showing why smaller advertisers should still upload their lists to gain valuable audience insights. You will learn the strategic applications of Customer Match, from tailoring campaign exclusions to utilizing advanced customer lifecycle goals and conversion-based customer lists. Finally, the episode covers step-by-step implementation, match rate expectations, and critical privacy policy compliance rules.

Key Topics Discussed:
Why first-party data is your best weapon against competing smart bidding algorithms
The account requirements for Customer Match and why you should upload your list anyway
How to use Customer Match for audience targeting and exclusions in search, shopping, and video campaigns
Implementing customer lifecycle goals and the 1% rule for medium to large advertisers
Step-by-step instructions for manual uploads, CRM integrations, and monitoring your match rate
Essential compliance requirements, including user consent and navigating sensitive interest categories
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=episode125

Resources mentioned in this episode
Inside Google Ads Book: Everything you need to know about Audience Targeting https://jyll.ca/book?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode125
Inside Google Ads Episode 118: Assets Explained https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/118?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode125
Inside Google Ads Episode 112: Sensitive Categories https://jyll.ca/insidegoogleads/112?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode125
Google Ads RLSA: How to Retarget Your Search Campaigns https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/google-ads-rlsa-how-to-retarget-your-search-campaigns?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode125
Google Ads Customer Lifecycle Goals: What You Need To Know https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/google-ads-customer-lifecycle-goals-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode125

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=episode125

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=episode125

Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
https://www.youtube.com/@the_google_pro
https://www.instagram.com/the_google_pro
https://www.threads.net/@the_google_pro

If you're used to the way search ads work, switching to Demand Gen can feel like an insurmountable challenge. In episode 124 of the Inside Google Ads podcast, Google Ads Coach Jyll Saskin Gales shares a real world example of two agency marketers who were struggling with ad fatigue. When your audience sees the same image too many times, they can stop noticing your ads entirely. Jyll walks through the exact steps she took with her clients during a live account audit for a flooring company to refresh their Demand Gen performance.

You will learn why benefit rich headlines matter more than keywords in this visual format, and why showing people in your photos is a major factor for engagement. Jyll also breaks down her 5x5x5 rule to ensure your ads are eligible for every possible placement across Google's platforms. By the end of this episode, you will know exactly how to check your Demand Gen asset reports and how to know when you have enough data to optimize.

Key Topics Discussed:
How to find and use the Demand Gen asset details report correctly.
Jyll's 5x5x5 rule for Demand Gen creative.
Why human centric imagery performs better than product swatches.
The difference between search headlines and Demand Gen headlines.
Identifying ad fatigue and using statistical significance to guide your optimizations.
Sneaky settings to avoid that can hurt your campaign performance.
You can get Inside Google Ads episode transcripts delivered to your inbox each week, and sign up for Jyll's free bi-weekly newsletter - The Insider - at https://free.jyll.ca/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode124
 
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=episode124

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=episode124

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
My "5x5x5" rule for Demand Gen success https://learn.jyll.ca/newsletters/the-insider/posts/demand-gen-creative-ad-fatigue?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode124

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=episode124

How to avoid ad fatigue in Google Ads https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/how-to-avoid-ad-fatigue-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode124

Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
https://www.youtube.com/@the_google_pro
https://www.instagram.com/the_google_pro
https://www.threads.net/@the_google_pro

Yes, keyword research still matters in Google Ads. And no, AI can't do it for you! The most successful Google Ads advertisers are the ones who provide campaigns with the foundation they need to learn from, and that includes properly selected and themed keywords. In episode 123 of Inside Google Ads, Google Ads Coach Jyll Saskin Gales explains why keyword research is still your steering wheel for Google's most powerful AI features like Smart Bidding, Broad Match and AI Max for Search campaigns. She shares her 10-step process for effective keyword research, moving from initial customer data and keyword selection to ad group structure and analyzing the search terms report. You will learn how to protect your budget with negative keywords, how to use Keyword Planner correctly, and why you should avoid relying on AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude for your keyword lists.

Key topics discussed include:
Why keyword research is still vital for keywordless targeting.
Jyll's 10-step process for effective keyword research.
How to use Keyword Planner to find real search data.
Strategies like non-brand competitor conquesting.
Transitioning from exact match to broad match safely.
How to align your paid and organic search strategies for better results.
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=episode123

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=episode123

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=episode123

Read more about this topic on Jyll's Google Ads Blog
How to Predict Your CPCs with Google Ads Keyword Planner https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/how-to-predict-your-cpcs-with-google-ads-keyword-planner?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode123
When to use Keyword Planner, Performance Planner, Reach Planner in Google Ads https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/when-to-use-keyword-planner-performance-planner-reach-planner-in-google-ads?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode123

How Many Keywords Should Be in One Google Ads Ad Group? https://learn.jyll.ca/blog/how-many-keywords-should-be-in-one-google-ads-ad-group?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode123

Follow Jyll on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales
https://www.youtube.com/@the_google_pro
https://www.instagram.com/the_google_pro
https://www.threads.net/@the_google_pro