Getting Granular – PPC Blog

Digital Marketing, PPC, eCommerce and Lead Gen

The Click Brief: Simplifying Paid Media’s Biggest Moves

Updated 03/09/2026 It’s tough to keep up with every platform update, new ad format, and industry shakeup—that’s where we come in. Each month, the Granular team curates the most important changes in paid media, breaking them down with expert insights on why they matter for your bottom line. We keep it concise, actionable, and focused[…]

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YouTube Subscriber Growth Campaigns in 2026: Strategy, Setup, and When They Actually Work

Subscriber growth is back in the spotlight.As Google continues to position YouTube as a core growth channel, not just an awareness play, more advertisers are asking whether YouTube subscriber growth campaigns are worth the investment. The short answer: sometimes. Subscriber growth campaigns can be a powerful part of a long-term YouTube advertising strategy, but only[…]

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Quick Fix: How to Disable Google Ads Auto-Applied Recommendations

If Google Ads is making changes you don’t remember approving, auto-applied recommendations are likely the culprit.These settings allow Google Ads to automatically apply “optimizations” to your account, often without clear notification which can impact spend, targeting, and performance. What is sold as a helpful way to improve account management efficiency can absolutely destroy your carefully[…]

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2026 Minimum Ad Spend Guide: Navigating Budgets for Digital Success

Are you struggling to decide how much to spend on digital advertising and where to allocate your budget for the best ROI? In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, understanding the nuances of advertising spend across different channels can significantly impact your strategy’s success. Whether you’re a small business owner, a marketing professional, or simply[…]

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How to Grow With a Client for 7 Years (Without Burning Out the Strategy)

Managing the same account for seven years in digital marketing doesn’t happen often. Most partnerships don’t last that long, priorities change, budgets shift, results stall, private equity comes in and changes things for no reason…you know the drill. But when it does work, it’s because both sides are willing to adapt and grow. That’s exactly[…]

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Simple Steps to Keep Hackers Out of Your Ad Accounts

A few weeks ago a past client reached out after discovering their Meta ads account had been hacked. More than $30K was spent in a single day, far beyond their usual daily budget. We helped them file a fraud claim with Meta and start the reimbursement process. We have been told by Google that they[…]

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PMax vs AI Max: Which Should You Use? (If Any?)

Which Max is the best Max? And how do you even know when either is right for your company? If you’ve spent any time in Google Ads lately, you’ve probably seen the new campaign type called AI Max. It’s being positioned as the next evolution of Search, powered by Gemini, loaded with automation, and (in[…]

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Creative Diversity and Product Positioning: The Secret to Scalable Marketing

A good product is the starting point, but creative diversity is what fuels growth. Brands that depend on a single type of ad, such as only promos or only product demos, eventually hit a plateau. Meta, YouTube, and TikTok perform best when you supply a mix of creative that connects with different audience mindsets. That[…]

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Reverse Engineering the Algorithm: How Ads Know You

Recap from my talk at Data Driven Wisconsin – MSOE When RJ Nowling asked me to give a talk on Granular’s behalf at the Data Driven Wisconsin conference, I told him we should chat first so I could better understand the type of audience him, Randy Kirk and the organizers of Data Driven Wisconsin have[…]

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Google’s Brandformance LA 2025 Summit: Granular Insights

Last month, Granular was invited to Brandformance LA 2025 at the Spruce Goose campus in Los Angeles. This was an invite-only, closed-door event: a sign of how seriously Google takes our role as trusted partners for our clients. Jordon and I were there representing our team and clients, gaining first-hand access to Google’s product leadership[…]

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Mastering Hyperlocal Reach: How to Use Zip Code Targeting on TikTok Ads

Are you running TikTok Ads but struggling to drive foot traffic or leads in specific local areas? You’re not alone. Many advertisers overlook one of TikTok’s most powerful (yet hidden) features: zip code-level targeting. Whether you’re running campaigns for a local business, multi-location franchise, or trying to own a high-value neighborhood, hyperlocal targeting on TikTok[…]

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How to Use Zapier to Automatically Export Meta Lead Gen Ads to a Google Spreadsheet

Generating leads on Meta is a powerful way to grow your business. But what happens after those leads roll in? We have seen leads sit in Meta unanswered for days or weeks before getting answered, which is bad for business. Manually exporting and organizing them is time-consuming and prone to errors. Fortunately, Granular came up[…]

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All Available Bid Strategies in Google Ads (Updated for 2025 Best Practices)

Choosing the right bid strategy in Google Ads can feel like navigating a maze. With so many options, which one will actually help you hit your goals? Whether you’re aiming to drive traffic, boost conversions, or grow your revenue, this guide breaks down all of Google Ads’ bid strategies, updated for 2025, to help you[…]

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How to Run a Like or Follower Campaign on Facebook and Instagram (With Pro Tips & Common Pitfalls to Avoid)

Growing your audience on Facebook and Instagram isn’t just about posting great content—it’s about ensuring the right people actually see it. That’s where Like and Follower campaigns come in. These paid strategies help you: But here’s the thing: simply hitting “Boost Post” won’t cut it. Without strategic targeting, budgeting, and ad creatives, you risk wasting[…]

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Prime Day FOMO? Why Skipping the Hype Might Boost Your Bottom Line.

Every year, Amazon Prime Day draws in millions of shoppers hunting for the best deals on everything from electronics to home goods. For many brands, it’s a golden opportunity to boost sales. But what if you’re not offering any major discounts? Should you still participate – and more importantly, should you still increase your Amazon[…]

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Turn TikTok Views Into Revenue: How to Run Conversion Objective Ad Campaigns

TikTok isn’t just for dance trends anymore. It’s grown into a real performance channel with over a billion active users and some of the strongest engagement you’ll find on social media. But likes and views don’t pay the bills. If your goal is purchases, leads, or installs, you need a campaign that’s built to deliver[…]

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The Feed Factor: eCom Growth Tactics for 2025 [Webinar Recap + Key Takeaways]

Granular’s latest webinar, “The Feed Factor,” takes a hard look at one of the most underrated tools in eCommerce success: your product feed. With 70% of purchase decisions starting from a feed, this isn’t just backend data, it’s the difference between profitable scale and wasted spend. Whether you missed the live session or want to[…]

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Granular Mentorship Unfiltered: 2024–2025 Cohort

For the second year, we welcomed a group of local college students into our Mentorship Program—a low-pressure, high-impact way to explore the world of digital marketing. The idea behind the program is simple: connect with the next generation of marketers, give them a behind-the-scenes look at our work, share the culture we’re building and show[…]

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Improving Advertising Efficiency, Part Two: Measuring Incrementality

Part 2 of 2. To read the first installment, Improving Advertising Efficiency, Part One: Understanding Incrementality, click here! Using Geo Experiments for Incrementality Measurement In part 1 of this article we defined incrementality measurement, the problem it attempts to solve and a common scenario in digital advertising where it is needed. This article will focus[…]

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The Ultimate Girl Scout Cookie & Ice Cream Pairing – 2025 Edition

At Granular, we’re no strangers to asking the tough questions; the ones that keep marketers up at night. Like: What’s the best thing to pair with a Girl Scout Cookie? Over the past few years, we’ve made it our mission to find out. The Rules Were Simple Each member of the Granular team picked a[…]

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How GA4’s Latest Updates Are Impacting Google Ads Attribution

If you’re running Google Ads, you’ve probably noticed some funky changes in how your conversions are getting credited lately. That’s not your imagination Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is shaking things up. GA4’s latest updates are designed to give you a clearer picture of what’s actually working in your paid search campaigns. But the shift is[…]

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How to Use Zapier to Export LinkedIn Lead Gen Ads to a Google Spreadsheet

Generating leads on LinkedIn is a powerful way to grow your business. But what happens after those leads roll in? Manually exporting and organizing them is time-consuming and prone to errors. Fortunately, Zapier makes it easy to automate this process, saving you time and ensuring your data is always up to date. In this guide,[…]

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How to Connect Google Merchant Center to Shopify in 5 Easy Steps

Integrating your Shopify store with Google Merchant Center is a no-brainer to help promote your products across Google’s available ads inventory. Without this key step, you won’t be able to operate Product Listing Ads campaigns or any similar Shopping ad types on Google Ads, so it’s imperative to complete this process before starting any advertising. […]

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Unlocking Programmatic Growth: Geofencing, ABM, and CTV | Webinar Recap & Key Takeaways

Digital advertising is constantly evolving, and programmatic strategies have become essential for brands looking to maximize their ad spend while reaching the right audience at the right time. In our recent webinar, “Programmatic Growth Unlocked: Geofencing, ABM, and CTV”, we explored three cutting-edge strategies that are transforming how businesses target and engage with their customers.[…]

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Granular is Ten-Time Google Premier Partner

Granular Celebrates a Decade of Excellence: Achieves Google Premier Partner Status for the 10th Consecutive Year

March 19, 2025 | Milwaukee, WI Granular, a leading Milwaukee-based digital marketing agency, proudly announces its 10th consecutive year as a Google Premier Partner, placing it among the top 3% of Google Partners in the U.S. This milestone coincides with Granular’s 10-year anniversary, reinforcing its reputation as a top-performing ad agency that delivers measurable results[…]

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Overcoming Ineligible Product Issues in Amazon Ads 

Advertising on Amazon offers immense sales potential, but navigating its intricate advertising ecosystem can often be daunting. Amazon’s strict advertising guidelines and fee structures can result in challenges that eat into your margins, particularly when dealing with product ineligibility issues. However, with the right strategies or agency partner, these obstacles can be lessened. Here are[…]

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