You have decided to stop fiddling with Google Ads on your own. Maybe the budget kept disappearing without much to show. Maybe a friend convinced you it is time. Either way, you are starting Google Ads with an agency for the first time.
Good move. But the experience can feel strange at first. So let us walk through exactly what to expect.
1. Starting Google Ads with an agency begins with your business
A good agency does not start with bids and budgets. It starts with questions. Who are your customers? What do they pay for? Which products earn you the most?
This sounds basic, but it shapes the whole campaign. The best ads in the world will fail if they target the wrong customer or sell the wrong thing.
2. Setup takes longer than you think
When starting Google Ads with an agency, the first month is mostly setup. Keyword research. Campaign structure. Ad copy. Landing page checks. Conversion tracking. Negative keyword lists.
Done properly, this groundwork takes two to three weeks. Skip it and you will waste budget for months. A first time Google Ads campaign built on solid setup outperforms a rushed one almost every time.
What good setup looks like
A trustworthy agency walks you through everything before going live. You should see the keywords being targeted. You should approve the ad copy. You should know what each campaign is meant to do.
If your agency builds it all in the dark, that is a red flag.
3. The first month is about learning, not winning
Google Ads needs data to work properly. The first thirty days are mostly about gathering it. Which keywords convert? Which ads get clicked? Which landing pages bring in enquiries?
So do not panic if month one looks ordinary. The point is to learn. Month two is where the optimisation begins, and that is when the cost per lead usually drops.
4. You will see reports, but they should be readable
Every good Google Ads agency in Pretoria sends monthly reports. They should answer three questions clearly. How much did we spend? What did we get for it? What are we doing next?
If the report is full of jargon and acronyms, ask for plain English. You are the client. You deserve clarity.
What good reporting includes
Look for spend, clicks, conversions, cost per conversion, and conversion rate. A good agency will also include notes on what changed during the month. And what they plan to test next.
5. Running Google Ads campaigns is a partnership
The best results come when the agency and the business work together. Tell them when sales picked up. Share which leads converted. Mention which products are seasonal.
Agencies are not mind readers. Your context shapes the strategy. The more you share, the better your campaigns get over time.
Red flags to watch out for
A few warning signs are worth knowing about:
- The agency promises page-one results in the first week.
- You cannot log in to your own Google Ads account.
- Reports never mention conversions, only clicks.
- The contract locks you in for a year with no exit clause.
According to WordStream’s industry benchmarks, average click-through rates and conversion rates vary widely by sector. A good agency will benchmark you against your industry, not a generic average.
Ready to start?
Starting Google Ads with an agency works best when expectations are clear from day one. Honest setup. Patient learning. Clear reporting. Open communication.
Want to know whether Google Ads is right for your business? Contact our team for a no-pressure consultation.
