PPC Management — Google Ads for Professional Service Businesses — The Search Marketing Group
PPC Management — The Search Marketing Group

Paid Ads That
Actually Convert.

Google Ads done right is one of the fastest ways to put your firm in front of qualified buyers. Done wrong, it's an expensive way to generate clicks that never turn into clients. We know the difference.

Expert PPC management for law firms, medspa groups, dental practices, healthcare providers, and B2B professional services in St. Louis, New Orleans, Chicago, and nationwide.
4x
Average client ROI on ad spend
40%
Average cost-per-lead reduction
94%
Client retention rate
#1
Ad placements delivered across STL, NOLA & CHI
100%
Transparent reporting — always
3
Specialty markets · Nationwide reach
Why paid search works

Your Clients Are
Searching. Are You
Showing Up First?

When someone searches "personal injury attorney St. Louis" or "medspa near me Chicago," the businesses at the top of the results page get the call. Google Ads puts you there — immediately, predictably, and in front of buyers who are ready to act right now.

Unlike SEO, paid search delivers results from day one. No waiting months for rankings to build. If someone is searching for your services today, a well-managed Google Ads campaign makes sure they find you today.

The key word is well-managed. Most PPC campaigns underperform because of poor campaign structure, weak keyword strategy, and zero bid optimization. We fix all three — and we show you exactly what your money is doing every month.

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"We don't run campaigns and hope for the best. Every dollar is tracked, every conversion is measured, and every month we tell you exactly what changed and why."

Paid search works best when it's built around buyer intent — the specific searches that signal someone is ready to hire, not just browsing. We build campaigns around those searches, with ad copy and landing pages designed to convert.

And we don't mark up your ad spend. You pay Google directly. We charge for the strategy, management, and optimization — not a percentage of your budget. That means our incentives are aligned with your results, not your spend.

What's included
Everything in Our
PPC Engagements.
Every PPC engagement is built around your specific market, industry, and goals. No cookie-cutter campaign structures — everything is built from the ground up for your business.
01
Campaign Architecture & Setup

Properly structured campaigns with tightly themed ad groups, logical keyword organization, and conversion tracking built from the ground up. A strong structure is the foundation everything else depends on.

02
Keyword Strategy & Match Types

Deep keyword research focused on high-intent searches — the terms people type when they're ready to hire, not just browsing. Precise match type strategy so your budget goes toward buyers, not browsers.

03
Negative Keyword Management

An aggressive negative keyword list that prevents your ads from showing on irrelevant searches. This is where most agencies leave money on the table. We don't.

04
Ad Copy & Creative Testing

Compelling ad copy written for your industry and tested across multiple variations. We find what resonates with your audience and continuously improve click-through and conversion rates.

05
Bid Management & Budget Optimization

Active bid management and budget allocation across campaigns to maximize your ROAS. We adjust daily based on performance data — not once a month when it's too late to matter.

06
Landing Page Strategy

Recommendations on landing page structure, copy, and calls to action that convert clicks into calls. A great ad that sends traffic to a weak page wastes every dollar you spend.

07
Conversion Tracking & Analytics

Full conversion tracking setup — calls, form fills, and live chats — so we know exactly which ads and keywords are generating leads, not just clicks.

08
Google Local Services Ads

For qualifying businesses, we manage Google Local Services Ads alongside standard Google Ads — giving you premium placement above organic results and paid search for the highest-intent local searches.

09
Monthly Reporting & Strategy Calls

A clear monthly report covering cost-per-click, cost-per-lead, conversion rates, and ROAS — with a strategy call to review what moved and what we're adjusting. No hiding behind vanity metrics.

How we work
From Audit
to First Call.
Most well-structured PPC campaigns begin generating qualified leads within the first 30 days. Results compound as we optimize over time.
01
Free PPC Audit

If you're already running ads, we audit your existing campaigns — structure, keywords, ad copy, landing pages, and spend efficiency. We show you exactly what's working, what's wasted, and what needs to change.

02
Strategy & Campaign Build

We build your campaign from scratch — or rebuild what you have. Keyword strategy, ad group structure, ad copy, negative keyword list, and conversion tracking all set up before a single dollar is spent.

03
Launch & Active Management

We launch and watch closely — adjusting bids, pausing underperformers, testing new ad variations, and expanding what's working. The first 30–60 days are the most active as we learn your market.

04
Optimize, Report & Scale

Monthly reporting, strategy calls, and continuous optimization. As performance data builds, we get smarter about exactly where to spend your budget to maximize cost-per-lead and ROAS.

How it compares
PPC vs. SEO vs.
Social Advertising.
PPC — Google Ads
Speed to results
Immediate — leads from day one
Lead intent
Very high — active search queries
Cost over time
Consistent — optimizes with data
When traffic stops
Pauses — restarts immediately
Best for
Immediate lead generation
SEO — Organic Search
Speed to results
3–6 months to meaningful movement
Lead intent
High — buyer-intent searches
Cost over time
Decreases as authority builds
When traffic stops
Rankings hold after work stops
Best for
Long-term compounding growth
Social Advertising
Speed to results
Fast — awareness-stage traffic
Lead intent
Lower — interruption-based
Cost over time
Increases as competition grows
When traffic stops
Stops immediately
Best for
Brand awareness & retargeting
Common PPC problems we fix
Signs Your Current
Campaigns Aren't Working.
What bad PPC looks like
✗
High spend, low leads

You're spending thousands a month and the phone isn't ringing. Budget is burning on clicks that never convert — wrong keywords, weak ads, or poor landing pages.

✗
No negative keyword list

Your ads are showing for searches that will never become clients. Without aggressive negative keywords, you're paying for irrelevant traffic constantly.

✗
Broad match keywords everywhere

Broad match keywords cast too wide a net. Without precise match types and tight ad groups, your budget is spread across searches that have nothing to do with your business.

✗
No conversion tracking

You don't know which ads or keywords are actually generating calls. Without proper tracking, optimization is impossible — you're flying blind.

✗
Reports full of impressions and clicks

Your agency shows you traffic numbers but never talks about leads or cost-per-acquisition. Clicks don't pay your bills — clients do.

What our clients experience
✓
Lower cost-per-lead month over month

As we optimize, your cost-per-lead decreases. We track it monthly and show you exactly how efficiency is improving over time.

✓
High-intent traffic that actually calls

We build campaigns around buyer-intent searches — the terms people type when they're ready to hire. Higher quality clicks, higher close rates.

✓
Full conversion visibility

Every call, every form fill, every chat tracked back to the specific ad and keyword that generated it. You always know where your leads are coming from.

✓
Transparent reporting on what matters

Monthly reports showing cost-per-lead, ROAS, and conversion rates — not impressions. You know exactly what your ad spend is doing every single month.

✓
A strategist who knows your account

One dedicated person manages your campaigns — not a rotating junior team. They know your market, your clients, and your goals inside and out.

Industries we serve
PPC Built for
Professional Services.
We specialize in high-intent, high-value PPC campaigns for professional service businesses where every lead matters and cost-per-acquisition directly impacts profitability.
Law Firms & Attorneys

Legal PPC is the most competitive category in local paid search. We know how to win it — with tightly structured campaigns, high-intent keywords, and ad copy that speaks to someone who needs an attorney right now.

Personal injury
Criminal defense
Family law
DWI / DUI
Medspa & Aesthetics

High-value aesthetic services with excellent margins — Botox, fillers, laser treatments — that justify aggressive PPC investment when the campaigns are built to convert.

Botox & fillers
Laser treatments
Skin clinics
Wellness
Dental Practices

New patient acquisition through paid search — targeting high-value procedures and local searches that bring in patients ready to book. Implants, cosmetic work, and general dentistry campaigns built to fill your schedule.

Implants
Cosmetic dentistry
General dentistry
Orthodontics
Healthcare Providers

Private practices and specialty providers competing for patients in a complex, regulated search category. We build compliant, high-performing campaigns that fill your appointment calendar.

Private practice
Specialty care
Urgent care
Multi-location
Home Services & Contractors

Emergency and high-intent home services searches convert fast — roofing, HVAC, restoration, remodeling. PPC puts you at the top when someone needs help right now and is ready to call.

Roofing
HVAC
Restoration
Remodeling
Financial & Professional Services

CPA firms, financial advisors, insurance brokers, and consultants competing for high-value B2B and consumer clients in a credibility-driven search environment.

CPA firms
Financial advisors
Insurance
Consulting
Client results
What Our PPC
Clients Say

"Our PPC cost-per-lead dropped 40% in the first quarter. The level of detail in their reporting is unlike any agency we've worked with."

Camille T. — Dental Group, New Orleans

"Mac and her team carefully watch expenses to make sure we're only spending in areas showing a positive return. If Mac says they will do it, they 100% deliver."

Robert Barger — Rapid Collections, St. Louis

"We went from invisible to booked solid within 60 days of launching our Google Ads campaign. They know exactly what they're doing."

Claire M. — Medspa Owner, Chicago
Common questions
PPC Questions,
Straight Answers.
How much should I budget for Google Ads?

It depends on your market, industry, and goals — but most professional service businesses see strong results starting at $1,500–$3,000 per month in ad spend. Highly competitive categories like personal injury law in a major metro require more. We'll tell you honestly what's realistic for your market before you commit to anything.

Do you take a percentage of my ad spend?

No. You pay Google directly for your ad spend — we never touch those funds. We charge a flat management fee for strategy, campaign management, and optimization. That means our interests are aligned with your performance, not your budget size.

How quickly will I see results?

Most well-structured campaigns begin generating leads within the first 2–4 weeks. The first 60–90 days are the learning and optimization phase — we're gathering data, adjusting bids, and tightening targeting. Results typically improve significantly after the first quarter as optimization compounds.

Can you fix my existing Google Ads account?

Yes — and this is often where we see the fastest results. We audit your existing campaigns, identify what's wasting budget, and restructure from there. Most inherited accounts have significant inefficiencies that we can address quickly to improve performance without increasing spend.

Do you run ads on Facebook or Instagram too?

Our specialty is Google Ads — search, display, and Local Services Ads. For professional service businesses, search intent targeting almost always outperforms social advertising because you're reaching people who are actively looking for your services, not interrupting them while they scroll. We'll tell you honestly if social makes sense for your specific goals.

How do you measure success?

We track what actually matters — cost-per-lead, cost-per-acquisition, and ROAS. Not impressions, not clicks, not "reach." Every month you get a report showing exactly what your ad spend generated in leads and what each one cost. That's the only metric that tells you whether the investment is working.

Ready to get started?

Let's See What
Your Ads Are
Actually Doing.

Start with a free PPC audit. If you're already running ads, we'll show you exactly what's working, what's wasted, and what a well-built campaign could do differently. No commitment, no sales pitch.

No commitment required · We'll tell you honestly if it's not the right fit
What's in the consultation

A real review of your current paid search presence — not a generic report. Built around your market, your competitors, and your goals.

Campaign structure review — how your account is organized and where it's leaking budget
Keyword analysis — what you're bidding on, what you should be, and what's costing you
Negative keyword gaps — the irrelevant searches your budget is currently paying for
Ad copy review — what's underperforming and what a stronger message would look like
Conversion tracking check — whether you're measuring what actually matters
Competitor analysis — who's beating you in paid search and what they're doing differently