Top 10 Google Ads mistakes to avoid in 2026

Written by Brad Geddes Optimize your PPC campaigns by tackling issues like inconsistent tracking, old negative keywords, blind reliance on AI, and more. Google Ads is constantly changing and evolving. With these changes come fresh mistakes PPC advertisers make in optimizing and managing their campaigns.  This article breaks down the most common mistakes of 2026 so you can avoid repeating them this year. Mistake 1: Inconsistent conversion tracking setup Optimization decisions rely on conversion data. If your tracking is inconsistent, your entire account data becomes skewed. When conversions use different attribution methods, count types, and conversion windows, the data applies unevenly across your account,…

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Google accused of downplaying ad price manipulation

by Nicola Agius  for Search Engine Land Google has been accused of downplaying how much it quietly increases ad auctions. The search engine admitted at the federal antitrust trial that it “frequently” inflates ad prices by as much as 5% without telling advertisers – sometimes 10%. But marketers are calling the search engine out for being too “conservative” with these figures as they believe the real number is significantly higher. Why we care. Advertisers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Google due to long-held suspicions around ad price manipulation and a lack of transparency. Although the industry accepts the search engine has a right to set minimum…

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