We've Got You Covered On The World's Busiest Search Engine
For many businesses, Google Ads will be the most effective way to scale. And we have the skills (and certifications) to support you and get the absolute most out of your Google Ad budget.
A Team of Google Ads Management Experts
97% of users have searched for a local business. When customers don’t have a referral from a friend or family, they use Google — and almost a third of all local searches result in a purchase from a business just like yours.
We work with self storage facilities, HVAC contractors, healthcare, home services and professional local businesses to rank for the largest relevant keywords in your service area — and we’re bringing that same approach to local SEO for Australian and New Zealand small businesses.
Buy Traffic with Intent
For many local service based businesses, the bulk of your ad budget will likely be focussed on Google Search Ads. As people search for the services you provide, showing up at the top of the search engine is vital to have a chance at the sale. And for many businesses, the chances of organically securing the top spot on Google without a fantastic SEO plan are slim to none. With search ads, you can buy your way to the top and do it in an affordable way with Salt Water Digital.
Re-Engage with Already Engaged Users
It’s often not on the first visit that you will secure the sale. Instead, you’ll need to warm up your audience by re-engaging with them through what we in the industry call ‘Retargeting’. Luckily, Google’s Display network offers some of the world’s best websites that can host your ads easily and affordably. Combine Google Retargeting with other platforms such as Facebook and YouTube and it won’t be long before your phone or e-mail is blowing up.
E-Commerce Powerhouse Tool
For e-commerce companies, Google Shopping is always worth a trial. A well built out e-commerce store will typically do quite well with Google Shopping. In fact, we’ve seen some extremely impressive returns on ad spend with Shopping — to the sweet tune of over 12 to 1.
We've Got the Certifications to Prove It
All of our Google Ad campaigns are managed by qualified ad managers who have the relevant, up-to-date certifications from Google. This ensures that your campaigns are following the most up-to-date best practices and have a manager working within the account who actually knows what they are doing.
All our managed campaigns include
Tired of ongoing management fees?
Why Small Business Work With Salt Water Digital
Perfect for small businesses with smaller budgets who still want to show up at the top of Google for the keywords that perfectly describe their business — set up and trained, then run with next to no ongoing management.
Management Fee Free Google Ads
Small Budget? No Problem
Fully managed google campaigns
For Those Who Require Ongoing Management
Our Google Ads Management Process
Keyword Research and Strategic Planning
The first step in any Google Ads campaign is a strategic plan. Collaboration is key, which is why we’ll always have a strategic planning session once the decision to move forward has been made. From there, we move to keyword research — identifying high-performing keywords and what bids will allow us to be competitive.
Account Setup & Configuration
We set up your new Google Ads account or reconfigure your existing account to best practices, install Google Tag Manager and Analytics if necessary, and set up conversion tracking for your KPIs. We write and design ads, configure ad extensions, and are always happy to share full access to your account. If any agency won’t give you access, run.
Ongoing Optimization & Management
This is where we really earn our management fee. Your account manager reviews the data routinely, eliminating search terms that lack intent, and tests ad copy, keyword matching and landing pages — getting you the most high-quality clicks for the best possible price.
Reporting
You’ll receive your first report within 3–4 weeks of launch, then bi-monthly reports unless otherwise arranged. Simple, relevant information — not a 20-page PDF of fluff statistics. Touch base with your account manager any time between reports.
We work with you to create a marketing strategy suitable for your business. Every business is unique, and your advertising should show that.
How We Use AI To Build Better Campaigns
AI isn’t running your Google Ads account — a certified strategist is. However, we do use AI as a tool to speed up the grunt work and sharpen our decisions, so more of our time goes toward strategy and optimization instead of manual data-crunching.
Ad Copy Testing
Instead of guessing which headline or description will perform best, we use AI to generate a wide pool of variations, then test and analyze them to identify the strongest performers. We still make the final call on what goes live.
Smarter Keyword Research
We use AI to speed up keyword research — surfacing search volume, CPC and, critically, the intent behind a keyword — and to build an extensive negative keyword list that saves you money from the moment we go live.
Landing Page Experience Analysis
A great ad means nothing if it sends traffic to a page that doesn’t convert. We use AI to analyze landing page experience and flag opportunities for improvement, so the page your ad sends people to works just as hard as the ad itself.
The Reviews From REAL Small Business Owners Just Keep Coming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Google Ads cost?
With Google products — and pretty much all digital advertising — the more you spend the more you get. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like and we’ll always be there to advise you. Google primarily uses a ‘Pay-Per-Click’ system, so you only pay for the clicks you receive.
Can I manage Google Ads myself?
We never recommend running your own Google Ads unless you have the time to learn the platform properly and move beyond Smart Campaigns. For those with a budget under $400/month, consider our fee-free program below.
What does it cost to have Salt Water Digital manage it?
It really depends on the complexity of the account, but fees generally start at $300/month for management.
How do we track results?
Before we start any advertising, we ensure ad tracking is set up and working so we can track conversions and ROI easily and effectively.
Do we need to send traffic to landing pages?
We typically recommend landing pages, but it’s not necessary. If your website has pages designed to convert with great calls to action, we can send traffic directly to those — it’s no problem to track.
Why should I choose to work with Salt Water Digital?
We’re obviously a bit biased, but we think we’re the best Google Ads management partner for a few reasons:
- We have a ton of experience — nearly 10 years running campaigns across a variety of industries.
- We’re transparent. The only way to maintain a 5-star rating is to be honest with clients. Not every campaign works swimmingly, but we always try our best.
- We’re a socially responsible organisation — we donate 1% of all revenue to organizations dedicated to making our planet a better place to live.
Do you specialize in a specific industry?
No, but there are industries we aren’t comfortable working with, only because we lack the relevant experience — and we’ll always be upfront about that. Even if we haven’t run a campaign for your exact type of business, we likely have the playbook that will provide you success.
Do you use AI to manage my Google Ads campaigns?
We use AI as a tool, not as the one managing your account. A certified Google Ads strategist builds your campaign structure, sets your strategy, and makes every final decision on your budget and bids. AI speeds up the supporting work — think of it as a research assistant, not the one driving. That’s still us.