Paid Search & PPC

Expert Tips, Insights, and Analysis

PPC experts Anna Borchert, Emily Martin and Steve Kroll at conference

Welcome to your hub for Paid Search & PPC know-how. Uncover actionable tips and strategic insights, all scrutinized by industry experts. Navigate the intricacies of cost-per-click, ad auctions, and keyword targeting. Our goal is to turn the complex PPC landscape into a stroll through a well-lit park.

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Competitor Brand Terms

Pros and Cons – PLUS: 9 Examples Analyzing the Most Sophisticated Performance Marketers. The Temptation of Bidding on Another Company’s Brand Terms in Google Is it wise to bid on a competitor’s brand keywords in Google Ads? For anyone with experience utilizing strategy, it can feel a bit like taking a blow torch to your[…]

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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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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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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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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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Proactive Conversion Tracking: The Script Every Google Ads Account Needs

One of the biggest nightmares for a digital marketer is realizing your conversion tracking has broken—especially if it’s been down for days without you noticing. It’s something that a PPC pro shouldn’t have to check every day, but unfortunately, this scenario is more common than you might think. At Granular, we wanted to ensure our[…]

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Improving Advertising Efficiency, Part One: Understanding Incrementality

Part 1 of 2. To read the first installment, Improving Advertising Efficiency, Part Two: Measuring Incrementality, click here! It’s late 3rd quarter and budget planning has begun at your company. In the off-site working session attended by the heads of all departments, the CEO announces a bold 20% revenue growth goal for the next fiscal[…]

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Mastering Custom Reports with Google Ads Extensions for Google Sheets

Have you ever needed to pull specific data from Google Ads for analysis or client reporting, only to find that Google Ads just didn’t have the report you were looking for? You’re not alone and we are here to help! The Google Ads Extension for Google Sheets is free, easy-to-use add-on allows you to create[…]

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The Click Brief: Simplifying Paid Media’s Biggest Moves

Updated 11/05/2025 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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How to Enhance Conversion Tracking with Google Tag Manager & HubSpot

Before diving into the technical steps of enhancing conversion tracking with Google Tag Manager (GTM) and HubSpot, let’s look at a real-world success story. Argo Translation, a leader in the language services industry, faced challenges with ineffective tracking of their investment into PPC campaigns. By leveraging the strategies outlined in this blog, they achieved an[…]

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How to Change Attribution Settings in Meta Ads

How to Change Attribution Settings in Meta Ads

Accurate attribution is the key to unlocking actionable insights from your Meta Ads campaigns. Without it, you might misjudge performance or leave optimization opportunities on the table. Fortunately, Meta Ads Manager provides customizable attribution settings for Leads and Sales campaign objectives that allow you to track and analyze conversions effectively. This guide will help you[…]

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2024 Google Ads Recap: Innovations to Propel Your Marketing Success

The digital landscape moves fast, and keeping up can feel overwhelming. But with the right tools, staying ahead becomes second nature. Google Ads’ 2024 updates were built to simplify, optimize, and elevate your campaigns. Whether you’re a small business or a seasoned marketer, these updates are designed to connect you with your audience and drive[…]

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A PPC Managers’ Website Migration Guide

If your company or client is planning to move their website to a new platform and you run PPC ads, there are a few things you need to know before getting started. We’ve built a handy checklist to help you plan your process and set the right timeline and expectations for your new website launch.[…]

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New Meta Ad Features Just In Time For The Holidays

With the holiday season just around the corner, Meta has launched a series of ad updates to help businesses maximize their campaigns and connect with shoppers in fresh, engaging ways. Promo Codes Directly In Ads Promo codes are one of the most effective ways to incentivize shoppers. Meta’s new feature allows businesses to integrate promo[…]

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5 stages of Customer Awareness Banner

Navigating the Five Stages of Customer Awareness in Digital Marketing

Understanding the psychological journey of your customers is pivotal for creating effective digital advertising strategies. Often overlooked when crafting ad copy, creative content, and landing pages, these stages shouldn’t be ignored. Regularly revisiting it can help you craft experiences that encourage potential customers to convert. Inspired by Eugene Schwartz’s framework in Breakthrough Advertising, this guide[…]

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