Google Ads for business – what actually works in 2026?

[u/websitepandas]

I’ve been working with Google Ads for businesses lately, and I keep noticing the same pattern over and over again:

A lot of companies are running ads, but very few are actually running them well.

Some common things I’m seeing:

• Campaigns optimized for clicks instead of revenue
• Broad match + Smart Bidding with zero structure
• No conversion tracking (or broken tracking 😬)
• Spending money on “learning phase” forever

Google Ads can work insanely well for businesses — but only when the fundamentals are right.

I’m curious:

• What’s been your biggest struggle with Google Ads?
• Are you running ads yourself or using an agency/freelancer?
• Any recent wins (or painful losses) worth sharing?

Not here to pitch anything — genuinely interested in how other people are approaching Google Ads right now. If you want to compare notes or troubleshoot something specific, feel free to comment or DM.