Last updated: November 2026 · Answers by Andrew Gorton, freelance PPC specialist based in Chorley, Lancashire

Each answer leads with the short version. Prices are in pounds sterling and reflect the UK market as of November 2026.

28 questions on this page

Do Google Ads work for small businesses?

Yes, when they are focused. Small businesses do best targeting a few high-intent services in the areas they actually cover, with tight keywords, strong reviews in ads and a landing page that makes it easy to call or enquire. Small business PPC →

Is PPC good for small businesses?

Yes. PPC lets small businesses appear above larger competitors for specific searches, control spend to the pound, and see exactly which pounds produce enquiries. It is less suitable if the business cannot handle more work or has very thin margins.

How do I use Google Ads for a small business with a small budget?

Pick your most profitable service, target a tight radius, use exact and phrase match, schedule ads for when you can answer, use call assets and send traffic to a specific service page. Expand only after it pays for itself.

Is PPC good for tradespeople?

Yes. Searches such as "emergency plumber near me" or "electrician Preston" carry strong, urgent intent. Combining Search campaigns with Local Services Ads and call tracking works well for most trades. PPC for trades and home services →

How much do Google Ads cost for a plumber?

UK plumbing clicks commonly cost £2–£8, with emergency terms higher. Many plumbers spend £500–£2,000 a month on ads, depending on area and how many jobs they want.

Are Google Ads worth it for electricians?

Usually yes, especially for higher-value work such as rewires, EV charger installs, consumer unit upgrades and commercial jobs. Focus budget on profitable job types rather than small call-outs.

Are Google Ads worth it for roofers?

Yes, roofing jobs are high value, so even £10+ clicks can be profitable. Target repair and replacement searches in your area, show reviews and accreditations, and track calls.

Is PPC worth it for builders?

For extensions, loft conversions and renovations, yes, provided ads target specific project types and the landing pages show strong project photos and reviews. Avoid generic "builder" searches with mixed intent.

How do landscapers and gardeners use Google Ads?

Target high-value services such as landscaping, patios, driveways and fencing in a tight radius, and run them seasonally with budgets increasing in spring and summer.

Is PPC good for law firms?

Yes, for practice areas with clear search demand such as family law, conveyancing, employment law, wills and probate, and personal injury. Clicks are expensive, so precise targeting, call tracking and lead quality feedback are essential. PPC for law firms →

How much do solicitors pay for Google Ads?

UK legal clicks commonly cost £5–£30, with personal injury and some family law terms higher. Many high street firms spend £1,000–£5,000 a month per practice area.

What are the rules for solicitors advertising on Google?

Solicitors must follow SRA rules on publicity, including clear and accurate fee information and not making misleading claims, as well as Google’s own policies. Any claims in ads must be supportable.

Is PPC good for estate agents?

Yes, especially for winning vendor and landlord instructions with searches such as "estate agents Chorley" or "sell my house fast" and valuation offers. Track valuation bookings as conversions.

How do recruitment agencies use PPC?

Recruiters use PPC both to attract candidates (job-related searches) and to win clients (employers searching for recruitment agencies). Keep these in separate campaigns with separate goals and landing pages.

Is PPC good for ecommerce?

Yes. Google Shopping, Performance Max and Search campaigns can drive profitable sales, especially with a well-optimised product feed and accurate revenue tracking. Measure ROAS against your margins.

What is a good ROAS for ecommerce?

It depends on margins. A business with 50% margins breaks even at around 200% ROAS; one with 25% margins needs 400%. Many UK retailers target 300–800% ROAS.

How do I improve Google Shopping performance?

Optimise product titles with the words people search for, use high-quality images, fill in GTINs, brand and product categories, keep price and stock accurate, use custom labels for margin or bestsellers, and add negative keywords where possible.

Is Google Ads good for Shopify stores?

Yes. Shopify connects to Google through the Google & YouTube app for product feeds and conversion tracking. Check that purchase tracking is accurate and not duplicated before scaling.

Is PPC good for B2B companies?

Yes, for capturing active demand for services or software. B2B needs longer conversion tracking, CRM integration and offline conversion imports, because the real value appears weeks or months after the first click.

Is PPC good for SaaS?

Yes, for competitor, category and problem-solution keywords. SaaS accounts should track trials or demos through to paid subscriptions and optimise towards customers, not just sign-ups.

Is Google Ads good for dentists?

Yes, especially for high-value treatments such as implants, Invisalign and cosmetic dentistry. Healthcare advertising has policy restrictions, so wording must be careful.

Is Google Ads good for restaurants?

It can help for bookings, events and delivery in a local area, but cost per booking can be high. Google Business Profile, reviews and maps visibility usually matter more.

Is PPC good for local businesses?

Yes. Local targeting, call assets, location assets and Local Services Ads let local businesses capture people searching nearby, often with "near me" intent.

Is PPC good for charities?

Charities in the UK can apply for Google Ad Grants, worth up to $10,000 a month in free search advertising, alongside paid campaigns for fundraising.

What is Google Ad Grants?

Google Ad Grants gives eligible registered charities up to $10,000 a month in free Google search advertising, with rules on account quality, click-through rate and keyword choice.

Is PPC good for startups?

Yes for testing demand quickly: you can see within weeks whether people search for your solution and what a customer costs. Start small, track carefully and avoid committing to long agency contracts.

What is the best PPC strategy for service businesses?

Target high-intent service and location searches, use call and lead form tracking, keep campaigns split by service value, add reviews and guarantees to ads, and feed lead quality back into bidding.

What is the best PPC strategy for lead generation?

Tight Search campaigns, strong landing pages with short forms and phone numbers, accurate tracking of calls and forms, offline conversion imports to measure quality, and smart bidding only once data is reliable.

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