Intro:
You launch PPC ads. Traffic comes in. Clicks are cheap. You’re thinking it’s working.
But sales? Dead.
Here’s what 99% of people ignore when they run paid traffic — and what you need to fix right now.
1. Wrong Intent = Wasted Budget
Clicks don’t mean interest.
If your ad shows up for “free marketing software” and you’re selling a $499/month tool, you’re inviting broke window-shoppers.
Fix:
- Run search term reports weekly.
- Negative out any keywords with “free,” “cheap,” “review,” etc.
- Use exact match for high-converting terms only.
Example:
Instead of “facebook ads,” go for:
✅ “hire facebook ad expert”
✅ “facebook ads agency for ecom”
2. Landing Page Disconnect
People click expecting one thing and land on something else. That’s a bounce.
High CTR + low conversion = you’re burning cash.
Fix:
- Your ad headline and landing page headline should mirror each other.
- Keep one CTA above the fold.
- Remove distractions. No nav bars. No fluff.
Pro move: Use dynamic keyword insertion to auto-update headlines to match the search term.
3. No Offer. Just a Price Tag.
Most people advertise products, not offers.
Your ad says “Buy Now – $39.99” while your competitors say “Buy 1 Get 1 Free + Free Shipping Today.”
Fix:
Stack your offer. Make it stupid-easy to say yes.
Components of an irresistible PPC offer:
- Scarcity (Only 12 Left)
- Urgency (Today Only)
- Bonus (Free Setup / Free Consultation / Free Gift)
- Guarantee (30-Day Refund)
4. Wrong Funnel Stage
You’re targeting cold traffic with a “Buy Now” CTA.
They don’t know you. They don’t trust you. They won’t pay you.
Fix:
Match ad types to funnel stages:
- Cold: YouTube/Meta short videos, lead magnets
- Warm: Retargeting with testimonials, offers
- Hot: Search intent, discount ads, urgency ads
Don’t push cold traffic to a checkout. Warm them up first.
5. No Retargeting = Lost Sales
96% won’t convert the first time.
If you’re not retargeting, you’re wasting every click.
Fix:
- Retarget with testimonials, use-cases, urgency.
- Dynamic product ads for abandoned carts.
- Use exclusion audiences to avoid showing cold ads to warm leads.
Pro tip: Set up a 7-day + 30-day retargeting funnel separately. Short window = urgency, long window = nurturing.
Conclusion
Clicks don’t pay the bills.
Conversions do.
Running PPC without understanding intent, funnel stage, offer psychology, and page alignment is just donating money to Google or Meta.
Dial in these 5.
And your ads won’t just get clicks — they’ll print cash.