What do you like best about Google Ads?
In my case, this was the second campaign I’ve run using Google Ads for my own small business, so I already had a rough idea of how it worked, but this time I was able to get more value out of it. What I like most is the level of control you have over who sees your ads. Being able to choose keywords, adjust location targeting, and set a daily budget helped me avoid spending blindly like I did in my first campaign.
One feature I used a lot was the keyword planner and search terms report. After launching the campaign, I kept checking which searches were actually triggering my ads, and I ended up removing a few keywords that were bringing the wrong audience. That alone made a noticeable difference in how the budget was being used.
From a workflow perspective, it helped me organize things better compared to my first attempt. Instead of just setting the campaign and leaving it, I was checking performance every couple of days—adjusting bids, pausing ads that weren’t working, and testing different ad copies. It’s not something you just “set and forget,” but once you get into that habit, it becomes more manageable.
In terms of UI, it’s not the simplest platform at first, but once you understand where things are (campaigns, ad groups, keywords), it starts to make sense. I wouldn’t call it intuitive right away, but it gives you a lot of data to work with, which is valuable if you actually pay attention to it.
Something I didn’t expect is how useful the recommendations and automated suggestions can be. I didn’t follow all of them, but a few helped me adjust bids and improve visibility without increasing the budget too much.
On the ROI side, I did see better results compared to my first campaign. I was more intentional with targeting and budget, and that translated into more relevant traffic instead of just more clicks. It still requires monitoring, but it felt more worth it this time.
Overall, what I value most is the combination of control + data. It’s not perfect and it takes some trial and error, but once you start understanding how to read the metrics, it becomes a useful tool to bring in the right kind of traffic. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
What do you dislike about Google Ads?
The main issue for me is how easy it is to spend money without fully realizing what’s happening, especially at the beginning. During my first campaign (and even a bit in the second), I noticed that if you don’t check things frequently, the budget can go toward searches that aren’t really relevant. For example, I had keywords that looked fine at first, but when I checked the search terms report, some clicks were coming from queries that didn’t match what I was actually offering. That directly impacted how efficient the budget was.
From a UI/UX perspective, it’s not very beginner-friendly. There’s a lot of information on the screen, and it’s not always clear where to go if you want to make a specific adjustment. Things like editing keywords, changing match types, or understanding where recommendations are applied can feel a bit overwhelming at first. It improves with use, but the learning curve is real.
Another downside is the recommendations and automation. While some suggestions are helpful, others seem more focused on increasing spend rather than improving performance. If you apply them without reviewing carefully, you can end up raising your budget or bids without fully understanding the impact.
In terms of performance and ROI, results aren’t guaranteed unless you actively manage the campaign. It’s not a “set it and forget it” tool. If you don’t monitor keywords, bids, and search terms regularly, you can end up paying for traffic that doesn’t convert. That can make it feel expensive, especially for small businesses.
Support and onboarding could also be better. Most of what I learned came from trial and error rather than clear guidance inside the platform. There are tutorials, but when you’re actually running a campaign, it’s not always easy to find quick answers to specific issues.
Overall, I think the platform is powerful, but the downside is that it requires constant attention and a bit of experience to avoid wasting budget. It would improve a lot if the interface were simpler and if the recommendations were more focused on efficiency rather than just increasing spend Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
