The Paid Search Podcast | A Weekly Podcast About Google Ads and Online Marketing

Google Ads is hiding more and more search term data, and it’s becoming a serious problem for advertisers. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp In this episode, Chris Schaeffer explains why search terms—not keywords—are the foundation of successful Google Ads management, why Google’s increasing lack of transparency matters, and what you can do to protect your campaigns. You’ll lea...

This week Chris Schaeffer answers questions from listeners and discusses 4 ways to break your Google Ads account. Don't make these key mistakes that can result in an unrecoverable campaign. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

Chris Schaeffer and Joey Bidner discuss Google AI Mode and Google Ads AI Max in this week's episode of The Paid Search Podcast. AI is a growing aspect of the Google universe and advertisers have an opportunity to expand their marketing efforts in ways that were not possible just a few years before. But is it always the right choice for everyone? Let's talk about that! Try Opteo for free...

Let's talk about how to manage your keywords using this keyword risk process. Using low, moderate, and high risk keywords allow you to control the spend of your Google Ads search campaigns. Be sure and download the free PDF resource linked below! Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Keyword Risk PDF: https://files.chrisschaeffer.com/xGNjxsAZ Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chri...

In today's episode Chris Schaeffer answers a question from a listener that disagrees with him! Let's talk about manual bidding verses automated bidding. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

Today Chris Schaeffer is talking about three big announcements that Google has made about Google Ads and why they should matter to you. We're talking about the upcoming "upgrade" from DSA to AI Max. Also the big push to get ads in the AI mode of Google. And using AI Max for Shopping campaigns. All of this and more in today's podcast show! Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https:...

Answering questions from listeners this week! Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

Getting an expert opinion about your Google Ads campaigns is always a good thing, right? Well let's talk about that. In today's episode Chris Schaeffer and Joey Bidner discuss the three types of audits you can get. Free, Paid, and AI. What should you expect from an audit and what should you avoid? All of that plus more in this week's Paid Search Podcast! Try Opteo for free for 28 da...

Do you know how Google determines the age, gender, and income of your paid traffic? Well that's an important question to ask! In today's podcast we discuss why you should not exclude traffic based on obscure demographics that have no real analytical weight in the performance of your account. Don't settle for the chicken nuggets of PPC, pull up a chair and enjoy the real meat being s...

This week Chris Schaeffer a Google Ads expert manager and consultant discusses the state of Google Ads in 2026. There are a lot of things that have changed and these topics are weighing heavy on today's advertisers. Let's talk about the wide diversity in today's google ppc ads. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Sub...

It's sad but true. People lie. Companies lie. And there are real victims. Google Ads expert Chris Schaeffer discusses 9 ways that Google Ads experts lie to their clients and how you can spot those scams to avoid being a victim. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

If you had to build a business that would be more likely to succeed in Google Ads what would it look like? Well that's the topic of this week's show. Chris Schaeffer discusses 3 ways to make a brand new campaign succeed in Google Ads using unique strategies and tactics that could make a huge difference in the performance of your account. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com...

There really are settings and features in Google Ads that are hidden. And some of these settings can make a big difference in the performance of your search campaigns. In today's podcast Chris Schaeffer, an expert of Google Ads with 23 years of experience, discusses 10 settings and where to find them. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrissch...

Let's talk about competitor campaigns on Google Search. Should you run ads against competitors? Is it worth it? In today's episode Chris Schaeffer discusses the best way to proceed if you plan to spend money on competitor bids. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

This week Chris Schaeffer answers questions from listeners. He covers topics around conversion actions in your campaigns, hidden search terms, image assets and display campaigns. And Joey Bidner shares a great tip for optimizing your product title in your product feed! Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https:/...

Feed the algorithm! That's the secret we are talking about in today's podcast. Learn how to create a campaign that can be trained to generate better traffic than other traditional methods. This strategy focuses on using a website that drives a large number of conversions which then drives positive signals for the Google Ads bidding algorithm. Let's talk about that! Try Opteo for fre...

How do you start over in Google Ads? Is manual bidding a practical option for busy managers? Have you tried Portfolio Bidding Strategies? All of this and more in this week's Paid Search Podcast with Chris Schaeffer. Answering questions from listeners around the world who have questions about Google Ads search campaigns! Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer -...

If you are not using ad groups to break up your broad match keywords then you are missing a big part of Google's methodology of keywords matching. In today's podcast Chris Schaeffer discusses the best way to get more out of your broad match keywords. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paid...

This week Chris Schaeffer discusses the truth behind how exact match keywords work in 2026. Let's talk about what Google says an exact match keyword is allowed to do and what really happens when you run an exact match keyword.  Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

This week Joey Bidner discusses Performance Max campaigns. Let's try and demystify this often confusing PPC campaign type. Also Chris Schaeffer discusses the often forgotten tool, Google Ads Editor. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Joey Bidner - https://joeybidner.com Submit a Question - https://www.paidsearchpodcast.com

This week Chris Schaeffer answers 6 questions from listeners. Great questions covering a wide variety of topics like the dying industry of home services on google ads, AI, the future of PPC on Google, how to recover from a crashing campaign, and if sitelinks are good or bad for performance. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com Submi...

Let's get to the point, your Google Ads is wasting money! This week Chris Schaeffer talks about the three most common reasons your account is wasting money. Keywords do not represent the real traffic you are getting, some bid strategies do not allow cost per click management, and the goals you set in Google Ads do not reflect the results you are getting! Let's talk about that. Try Opteo...

Have you heard about the new mandatory changes coming to Google Shopping campaigns? This week Joey Bidner joins Chris Schaeffer to talk about the upcoming changes and how you need to respond. Also, Chris discusses three ways you can stand out in a PPC interview when you are trying to get a job with an agency or as an in-house marketing manager. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/ps...

Let's talk about your biggest questions in Google Ads. These questions come directly from listeners and Chris Schaeffer provides answers to the big issues that haunt PPC managers today. This week we are talking about how to deal with a sudden drop in performance, the recommendation system, the many different campaign types, and the "bid for new customers" option in search campaigns....

This week Chris Schaeffer discusses issues around the home service industry in Google Ads. The market has changed and many businesses are lowering their budgets and changing their strategies for ppc in the home services industry. Let's talk about why the ppc home service industry is dying. Try Opteo for free for 28 days - https://opteo.com/psp Chris Schaeffer - http://www.chrisschaeffer.com S...