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The "Money Wasters": Settings that Drain Budget

Default settings you must change immediately.

Google’s default settings are designed to spend your budget, not necessarily to save it. Check these first:

1. Network Selection (The #1 Mistake)

By default, Google checks "Include Google Search Partners" and "Include Google Display Network."

Uncheck both. If you are running a Search campaign, you want to be on Google Search only. The Display Network will burn your budget on low-quality app clicks.

2. Location Options (The Hidden Toggle)

You select "United States," but Google’s hidden setting says "People in, or showing interest in, your targeted locations." This means someone in another country can see your ad just by searching "New York."

Go to Settings > Locations > Location Options and switch it to "Presence: People in or regularly in your targeted locations."

3. Ad Schedule (Dayparting)

Are your ads running 24/7?

If you are a B2B business, consider turning off ads on Weekends and Midnight - 5 AM. There is no point paying for clicks when no one is there to answer the phone.

Bidding & Budget Controls

Ensuring you don't overspend on Day 1.

4. Bidding Strategy

Are you using "Maximize Conversions"?

For a brand new account with zero data, "Maximize Conversions" often fails because Google doesn't know what a conversion looks like yet. Consider starting with Maximize Clicks (with a bid cap) or Manual CPC to control costs during the learning phase.

5. Daily Budget Amount

Did you type 500 instead of 50?

Double-check your decimal points. Remember, Google can spend up to 2x your daily budget on high-traffic days (though it won't exceed your monthly limit).

6. Keyword Match Types

Are all your keywords "Broad Match" (no punctuation)?

Broad match is dangerous for new campaigns. Ensure you are using "Phrase Match" ( "keyword" ) or [Exact Match] to keep traffic relevant.

Technical & Tracking Verification

The plumbing must work before you turn on the water.

7. Conversion Tracking Status

Go to Tools > Measurement > Conversions.

Does the status say "Recording Conversions" or "Unverified"? If it is unverified, do not launch. You will be flying blind.

8. Ad Rotation

Ensure this is set to "Optimize: Prefer best performing ads."

This allows Google to automatically show your winner ad more often.

9. Landing Page URLs

Click your own ads in the preview tool. Do they actually load?

Ensure you haven't made a typo in the URL (e.g., www.yoursite.com/product vs www.yoursite.com/products). A 404 error is the fastest way to waste money.

The "ClickSambo" Safety Check

Item #10 - Protecting your launch

10. Tracking Template & Auto-Tagging

Have you connected your campaign to ClickSambo?

Ensure Auto-Tagging is enabled (Settings > Account Settings > Auto-tagging).

Check the Tracking Template field in your Campaign Settings. It should contain the ClickSambo tracking code (starting with https://ping.clicksambo.com...).

Without this, we cannot block bots or refund invalid clicks.

🚀 Ready to Launch? If you checked all 10 boxes, your campaign is safe, targeted, and ready for clean traffic.