Supercharge your PPC campaigns with a little help from Google Ads optimization software. Here are the top 8 choices from the experts.
Here, you’ll find:
- What Google Ads optimization software is
- How the right software can improve your campaigns
- What to look for when choosing an optimization software
- The top 8 options available
Hear me out.
If Google Ads is a fully stocked kitchen, Google Ads optimization software are those handy kitchen appliances you just couldn’t live without.
I’m looking at you, KitchenAid mixer.
And while Google Ads (FKA Google AdWords) offers all the ingredients you need to cook up an irresistible campaign for your virtual guests, it’s the small-but-mighty “appliances” that make the otherwise-exhausting process feel a little easier.
Because the truth is, for the average marketing manager or business owner, running pay-per-click (PPC) ads without any help is overwhelming. The good news? There are incredible tools that can automate your campaign management and reporting, narrow in on effective optimizations, and minimize the time and money you spend.
In other words, to make the most of your PPC campaigns, it’s time to look into a little help from Google Ads optimization software.
Top 8 Google Ads optimization software
What is Google Ads optimization software?
Google Ads optimization software is any type of PPC tool that can diagnose issues, report activity, suggest changes, automate your management process, or make optimizations to your campaigns.
While there are plenty of tools available with different value offers and different functions, they all make running your campaigns easier, more efficient, and effective.
What are the different types of Google Ads optimization software?
Each platform has its own specialty. Some may act as an ongoing management tool, while others present their offer as an on-demand reporting tool, and others might be a hybrid of the two.
Much like those kitchen appliances, each one will provide its own unique functionality — some which you will find more useful than others.
What to consider when looking for the right software
Finding the right optimization software comes down to your highest priorities and challenges while running a Google Ads campaign.
Functionality will be perhaps most important.
Each platform is designed differently with user experiences that will feel more or less friendly to you. This is why requesting a demo is so important during the research phase. You want to ensure your future software is easy to use and doesn’t add more time to your management process.
Will there be a noticeable amount of time saved? Is this software make your life easier? Improve your campaigns? Or will you just dread using it?
Finally, it’s a good idea to consider pricing. Some tools are free, some are subscription based, while others are a one-time fee.
The top 8
Without further ado, let’s take an in-depth look into the top eight Google Ads optimization software available.
1. ConversionIQ
ConversionIQ is a reporting and optimization tool that works not only for Google Ads, but every digital marketing channel you use. The result is a more unified marketing strategy across channels and brilliant optimizations that boost returns.
In many ways, ConversionIQ is your digital marketing homebase.
First, you connect your marketing accounts to the ConversionIQ system; this means your Google Ads account, other pay-per-click accounts, Google analytics, social media networks, SEO accounts, and email marketing platform. Then, you can view all your data in one dashboard.
With all that valuable information in front of your eyes, it’s easy to pick up on inconsistencies and drop offs in the customer journey that are costing you money — as well as where your accounts see the most success, so you can build a more aligned and fruitful campaign across the board.
Another fun fact? All HawkSEM clients are connected with ConversionIQ for free.
2. Search Ads 360
Formerly DoubleClick Search, Search Ads 360 is a platform that allows advertisers to manage and track all their search campaigns (Google Ads, Bing, Yahoo!) in one place.
For brands with multiple search ad accounts, Search Ads 360 makes it easy to manage them all in one place. And with automated bidding options, Search Ads 360 offers improved performance and a streamlined management process.
And with Search Ads 360, you have access to real-time insights that help you improve the performance of your campaigns. This data helps improve bid strategies, measure deduplicated conversions, and understand the customer journey.
Google’s got the data. And Search Ads 360 is no exception.
That said, unlike Google Ads, Search Ads 360 is not a free platform and you will have to pay a monthly fee.
3. Optmyzr
This Google Ads optimization software tool can also assist with Microsoft Advertising, Amazon Advertising, and Facebook Ads. Additionally, this system integrates with Google’s suite of platforms, such as Gmail, Google Apps, Calendar, and Docs. This allows you to create automated marketing processes.
Bursting with features, perhaps most notable is its renowned Enhanced Scripts acts as your own personal coder that enables you to create mega-advanced workflows that minimizes manual data entry.
Optmyzr’s other impressive capabilities include:
One-Click Optimizations that allows advertisers to optimize keywords and search terms, bids and budgets, search and display ads, shopping and PLAs.
PPC Insights offers valuable data to predict your projected spend, quality score tracking, which days and times are most lucrative, search term N-grams, geo heat map, PPC policy and audits, and performance analysis.
Reports & Monitoring your PPC accounts, providing immediate alerts when accounts need attention. Reporting includes yearly results, snapshots of account performance by a selected date range or attribute, multi-account reports, custom templates, scheduled report delivery, automated reports.
Bid Management allows you to set hourly bid adjustments, analyze campaign performance each week, and set bid adjustments to maximize your investment (ROAS). With the help of aggregated data, you can make more informed bidding decisions based on performance.
Optmyzr Express See suggestions, filter by your goals, and optimize away. Optmyzr Express points out improvement opportunities, allowing you to make easy optimizations on the spot — or snooze the reminder until a later time.
Account Blueprints is like a virtual assistant, allowing project managers to build out standard operating procedures (SOPs), assign task ownership, and notify you if assignments are past due.
Curious about cost? Optmyzr starts at $228 a month.
4. PPCnerd
Next stop: Automation station.
PPCnerd is your absolute go-to for automating workflows inside Google Ads. From checking in on your account health and identifying potential issues immediately, automating your Google Ads campaigns (including Google Search, Display, Video, Shopping, and App campaigns) to boost conversions and lower costs, and completely custom Google Ads automation scripts to meet your unique needs — PPCnerd offers full control over your script settings inside one Google Sheet.
That means you can make any adjustments without logging into your Google Ads account (or worse, trying to learn code).
PPCnerd starts at $59 per month for an individual account. For up to 50 accounts, you’re looking at $159, and $250 for enterprise-level accounts.
5. Wordstream
Wordstream is one of the biggest names in the digital marketing game, and their Google Ads Performance Grader is no different.
Providing a thorough account audit whenever you need it, Wordstream’s Google Ads Performance Grader is completely free. This assessment grades your account against seventeen key metrics, leaving you with insights and an action plan to improve your campaigns.
Wordstream assures you will:
- Improve your Quality Score by comparing yours against others in your industry, offering suggestions to improve to increase your Ad Rank.
- Boost your Impression Share with budget weighted impression share metrics.
- Minimize wasted ad spend with negative keyword help.
- Keep up with your account activity with easy monitoring, allowing you to get in front of your competitors.
And did we mention it’s free?
6. Skai
Connect your marketing data (securely) with Skai’s cross-channel advertising solution. Get detailed reports and make easy optimizations across your entire digital marketing network, including retail media, paid social, paid search, and app marketing.
With automation and bulk action features, Skai allows you to analyze multiple accounts and make changes quickly, all while preventing your precious data from exposure to publishers or competitors.
Just open up the dashboard and you’ll be greeted with helpful data and campaign insights, such as:
- Opportunities and watchouts, like as overlapping organic search results
- Top action items for the day, like improving ad group structure
- Performance overviews (including revenue, cost, clicks, click-through-rate or CTR, and trends)
Optimize your marketing campaigns to meet all your KPIs — without exposing your data to competitors? That’s what you get with Skai.
7. Marin Software
If you’re looking to rev up your paid search, paid social, and ecommerce marketing efforts, Marin Software is for you.
With the ability to analyze, automate, and optimize your campaigns from a single dashboard, Marin Software has a real team of performance marketing experts — so even small businesses can have access to expert insights and solutions.
With powerful reporting and analytics and a budget optimizer to help you maximize your returns, it’s never been easier to identify opportunities to improve your marketing programs; from paid social and paid search, to app advertising and display, to retail and marketplace (think Amazon, Instacart, and Target).
8. Semrush
Perhaps one of the better-known optimization tools available, Semrush provides advertisers with valuable data from their organic and paid search campaigns. This includes a keyword planner for next-level keyword research, backlink monitoring, competitor analysis, and on-page optimization suggestions.
Pulling real-time data from your business’ website, Semrush offers extremely detailed reports on how competitors rank for specific terms, KPI monitoring, and all things SEO (think rank tracking, content creation and distribution, and on-page SEO opportunities).
As we know, SEO and PPC work better together. And a holistic platform like Semrush brings this data together to ensure a more unified, stronger overall marketing campaign.
The takeaway
When it comes to Google Ads, optimization software can take your paid ads and landing pages to the next level while allowing you to spend less time on campaign management.
Between automation, simplified reporting, and instant optimizations, having these tools at your disposal can push you in front of your competitors when you need it most.
The only catch?
It’s crucial to find the right optimization software for your business — one that is within your budget and makes optimizations feel like a breeze. For some, adding yet another tool can feel like software-overload; especially if the functionality doesn’t feel intuitive.
So, if choosing PPC management software or optimization tool feels like too much in addition to running a Google Ads campaign, we don’t blame you. Chances are, you’re running email marketing campaigns, tackling social media efforts, creating content, and managing SEO, too.
And that’s a lot to juggle.
Sometimes, opting for a PPC management agency just makes more sense. Between the cost of platforms, ad spend, and the amount of time saved, often hiring a professional team is the most profitable solution.
If that’s the case, feel free to reach out. We’d love to help.