When your Google Ads are not performing or running effectively, it is essential to address several common factors that could be impacting their performance. Google Ads require setup and optimization to deliver the desired results. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot and improve your campaign outcomes.
Common Causes of Poor or Delayed Ad Performance
1. Learning and Ramp-Up Phase
Google Ads campaigns, particularly Performance Max (PMAX) campaigns, undergo a learning and ramp-up phase during which Google’s system tests various audience and ad configurations. This phase is crucial for:
Ensuring that the system gathers enough data to optimize your campaign efficiently.
Testing the effectiveness of creative assets against audience signals.
If your ads aren’t performing as expected, verify whether your campaign is still within this phase. Allow it sufficient time to complete the ramp-up period before expecting optimal results. Additionally, it may take another day or so after issues are resolved or updates are made for the ads to activate fully.
2. Using Creative Assets and Audience Signals
To improve the performance of your Google Ads, ensure the following:
Add an asset group to your PMAX campaign, which includes creative assets and audience signals. These assets are used for optimization and testing across different ad placements.
Monitor the performance of these assets and adjust creatives accordingly to align better with your target audience.
Allow Google’s system a few days to process and implement updates after changes are made. This period enables effective ad delivery optimization and performance improvements.
What to Do If the Issue Persists
If you’ve confirmed that your campaign has passed the learning phase and implemented recommended optimizations without success:
Double-check your ad account settings to ensure no underlying issues remain.
Review the relevance of your creative assets, audience targeting, and overall campaign goals.
Monitor ad performance analytics within the dashboard to identify potential gaps or areas needing adjustment.
By understanding and addressing the above factors, you can improve the effectiveness and activation of your Google Ads. Persistent issues may warrant consultation with Google Ads support for further troubleshooting.