Category: Search Engine Marketing

Whether you’re a business owner or a marketing manager, you’ve probably already heard about keywords in Google Ads. But do you know how important they really are for you to Get Ready to Win with Google Ads? If so, have you considered using your own brand or company name as keywords in your ads? You want to get your name ‘out there’ right? So it may seem like a no-brainer at first. But there are pros and cons to this approach that must be considered. Let’s take a closer look.

The Pros of Using Your Own Brand Name for Google Ads as Keywords

Using your own brand name as keywords can be beneficial in some respects. This is because it helps potential customers find your business more easily when searching online. Especially if you have only just launched a website for the first time. This type of keyword also allows you to control how your company is presented on search engine results pages (SERP). This is especially important if there are other businesses with similar names to yours as the keyword competition will be higher. In addition, using your brand name in ads allows you to showcase exclusive offers or discounts you may have available that won’t show up in organic search results.

The Cons of Using Your Own Brand Name as Keywords

On the flip side, using your own brand name for Google Ads as keywords can be costly. This can be the case for a number of reasons. Including:

Other companies may also use it for their ads—especially if your business has a generic name.

This means you could end up paying for clicks from people who are looking for someone else’s company instead of yours.

If you have a good-ranking website already

This is especially if it ranks well for your company name – which any half-decent website should if the search engine optimisation (SEO) has been done correctly!

Using it as a keyword in your google ads could result in a lot of wasted ad spend… This is because your searcher may click on the ad to find your website – which they would have done if they clicked the organic result anyway.

Using your Brand Name for Google Ads depends…

At the end of the day, whether or not you should use your own brand or company name as keywords depends on several factors such as budget and competition level in the market. If you decide to go with this approach, make sure to monitor performance closely so that any budget spent on these types of ads doesn’t go to waste! If you’re using a google ads agency – make sure they know what they’re doing. A lot of the big boys like Yellow, Mediaworks, and NZME for example, outsource offshore and have a cookie-cutter approach to Google Ads. Which is why it is better to use a local company for Google Ads. You just need to be careful about how you choose your ad words company.

All things considered, using a combination of both targeted and branded keywords can help maximize traffic and conversions while still being cost-effective.

Updated Friday 5th September 2025

Are you looking for the best Google Ads agency in New Zealand? Well, look no further. We’re here to tell you that the search is over. But before we can get into who the best agency is, let’s discuss a few key elements of what makes a great digital advertising agency.

What Does a Great PPC Ads Agency Look Like?

First and foremost, an excellent Google Ads agency will have experience and expertise in launching successful campaigns. They should also be knowledgeable about the latest trends in digital marketing, so they can help you stay ahead of your competition. Furthermore, they should have a proven track record of success with clients from various industries. This shows that they’re able to tailor their services to fit your company’s individual needs.

Another important factor when searching for the best PPC Ad agency is customer service. Is the team responsive and available when you need them? Do they take time to understand your goals and objectives? Are they willing to go above and beyond to make sure your campaigns are successful? A great digital ad agency will go out of their way to ensure that their clients are satisfied with their work.

Finally, it’s important to find an agency that understands the importance of budgeting and return on investment (ROI). A good agency will provide strategies that maximise ROI while still staying within budget parameters. This ensures maximum efficiency when it comes to spending money on ads.

Let’s Take a look at some of the Best Agencies in NZ in Google….

1. Back9 Creative

Back9 is one of the best Google Ads Agencies in New Zealand. And, we’re also the only Google Ads Agency Partner in Southland. What does this mean? To make and keep this ‘partner’ status, we need have current certified professionals. We need to meet a minimum standard in terms of Ad Quality Score. And we need to spend a minimum of USD $10,000 within a 90 day period. That’s a lot of converting Google Ads for our valued clients!

Here at Back9 Creative, we don’t normally include ourselves when we compile an article on the best. After all, you’re already on our website, right? However, we reckon when it comes to Google Ads in Invercargill and who’s the best, we’re right up there. So why not reach for higher honours? We can deliver with the best Google Ads Agencies in New Zealand without a doubt!

In fact, the last time we searched for the best Google Ads Agency in New Zealand… What do you know? We were numero uno in the organic (unpaid) results! So whether you’re looking for the best Google ads Agency in Wellington, Google ads in Christchurch, Google Ads in Queenstown or even the best Google ads Agency in Invercargill, we’re pretty sure we’ll be popping up somewhere.

2. Too Good Digital

Too Good Digital’s core objective—when it comes to Google Ads—is simple yet powerful: to make you money, not just drive clicks. As an Auckland-based agency delivering Google Ads and PPC campaigns nationwide, their approach centers squarely on ROI and lead-generation. They aim to outperform competitors by crafting bespoke campaigns that excite conversions, backed by rigorous ongoing testing and real-time optimization of keywords, targeting, and bids to ensure every dollar spent is actually working for your business

3. Sprocket Digital

The Sprocket team lives and breathes digital; that’s why you’ll only find digital solutions on our list of services. What sets them apart from other online marketing agencies in Auckland, NZ?  Well they say it is their no-fluff approach to creating a personalised digital marketing strategy that ticks all your boxes.

Thanks to more than 35+ years working in and around big advertising companies, Sprocket takes the big agency experience and applies it to businesses of all shapes and sizes via their friendly, small agency feel.

4. Firefly Digital

Firefly is an Auckland-based Google Ads and Digital Marketing Agency. It was born in 2014 as a response to a flawed industry. There were limited digital options that helped businesses get ahead. With a passion for business, Anthony Baxter set forth to build an agency that focussed on growth, that was channel-agnostic, and didn’t play favourites with any platforms or strategies, but rather helped businesses with the best strategy and channel mix to achieve their goals.

Since then their team has grown quickly and has worked with over 700 businesses, in over 100 industries, generating over two hundred million dollars worth of sales for their customers.

5. Fizzypop

Fizzypop is a specialist paid search agency dedicated to delivering data-driven Google Ads campaigns that generate a real return on investment—not just clicks. As a certified Google Partner, they ensure accounts are structured to best practice, using multiple campaigns and focused ad groups to set the stage for powerful optimisations. Their meticulous setup includes integrating Google Tag Manager and Analytics so every success metric is measured and forecasted, meaning you’ll always have visibility into performance and no unexpected surprises. They handcraft each campaign starting at the keyword level, optimising across the full buyer’s journey from awareness to conversion, while layering their PPC with SEO efforts to maximise budget efficiency and ROI during seasonal peaks or high-priority periods.

6. Numero Agency

Numero was born in August 2016 by entrepreneur Richard Gilbert with a mission that is true to it’s name – make numbers matter for businesses.

Over the years they say they have managed to stand out in an overcrowded market for one big reason – They bring their clients a return on their investment i.e. RESULTS. 

7. First Page

Auckland based Google Ads Agency, First page unashamedly says, they’re “the digital marketing agency that’ll put your competition to shame and deliver high-quality traffic that actually converts”.

As the top-rated digital marketing agency in NZ and self-proclaiming that they’ve ‘won more awards than Brad Pitt’, they might be worth investigating.

8. Digital Influence

Digital Influence brings nearly two decades of finely honed Google Ads expertise—since 2004—focused squarely on helping businesses reach customers at the precise moment they’re searching, whether online or locally. Their approach is consistently data-driven, crafted to deliver targeted traffic, boost conversions, and increase both online and in-store sales.

9. Pure Seo

Pure SEO is a Google-partnered digital marketing agency in New Zealand. The award-winning team of certified specialists delivers search engine optimisation, Google Ads, conversion rate optimisation, analytics, content creation, social media, and a range of internet marketing services.

So who’s the pick of this lot?

The answer is obviously very subjective! The question maybe should who is the best Google Ads Agency for you? And How do you choose the best marketing agency for your business needs?

Any of the agencies in the list above are plenty qualified to do the job. Ask yourself, do you want to deal with someone local? If so, choose someone in your region. If you’re not worried, then feel free to talk to any or all of them. The main thing is that you get the best fit for you and your business. If you can find an agency you feel as though you align with and can trust, then you’ll probably know the answer yourself.

Shop around, don’t get sold to too hard, and get choose the right fit for you. Good Luck!

Get a FREE Google Ads Audit

Are you wondering how much money to spend on Google Ads? That’s a great question! When it comes to marketing budgets, there is no “one size fits all” answer. How much Google Ads cost depends on several factors, including your target audience, the type of ad campaigns you are running, and the competitive landscape in your industry. To give you an idea of what other companies are spending each year, let’s look at how much the world’s biggest brands are investing in Google Ads.

Google Ad Spend By Industry

The amount that companies spend on Google Ads varies widely depending on their industry. For example, the top 10 advertisers across all industries spent $3.8 billion combined in Q2 of 2019.

Of those 10 companies, three were retail-focused

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Home Depot

Two were technology companies:

• Apple
• Microsoft

Two were telecommunications providers

• AT&T
• Verizon Wireless

Two were auto manufacturers:

• General Motors
• Hyundai Motor America

And one was a pharmaceutical company

• AbbVie

Google Ad Spend By Region

It is also important to consider where these ads are being served. The top 10 advertisers spent more than $2 billion dollars just in the United States alone during Q2 of 2019. That’s nearly half of their total budget for the quarter! Other countries such as Canada ($113 million) and Germany ($95 million) also saw significant investments from these major brands. This shows that it is not just domestic markets that have high ad spending but international ones as well.

What’s your Digital Strategy?

As you can see, there is no single “right” answer when it comes to how much money you should be spending on Google Ads each year. Or even each quarter or month for that matter! Every business has different needs and goals when it comes to their digital marketing strategy. However, looking at what the world’s biggest brands are doing with their ad budgets can provide valuable insight into trends within your own industry or region. Thus giving you a better understanding of where your own budget should stand in order to compete effectively! One positive is that Google Ads now charge GST in New Zealand, so at least you can factor that in and claim it back.

So where’s the best place to start with all of this digital marketing stuff? Well, to undserstand how much to spend on Google Ads, is to ensure you have an overarching plan. A Digital Marketing Roadmap it a great tool to have. Not only will it define your goals, but who to target and where.

We’ve all heard the phrase “location, location, location” when it comes to buying real estate. But did you know it applies equally to digital marketing? That’s right – location targeting can make or break your Google Ads and other Cost Per Click (CPC) campaigns. Let’s take a look at why this is so important to get it right. And how you can make the most of your CPC/PPC efforts.

Why Location Targeting Matters

When it comes to digital advertising, one size does not fit all. Different audiences have different needs and interests. So if you want to maximize your campaign ROI, you need to tailor your message accordingly. Enter location targeting.

With location targeting in play, you can target ads based on geographic location. This means that people who are likely interested in what you have to offer will see them no matter where they are located. This helps ensure that every ad dollar spent is being seen by as many relevant eyes as possible. In turn, this means more profit for you! It’s also important to note that with today’s technology, precise targeting is possible down to the zip code level. That way you don’t waste money showing ads to people who aren’t likely customers; instead, those dollars are going towards connecting with those who actually matter – those who will help drive sales and revenue for your business.

Location targeting also works well in tandem with other types of targeting such as demographic or interest-based. For example, if you are a local restaurant advertising a summer special on ice cream sundaes for kids aged 12-17 living within 10 miles of your shop, then using these three criteria simultaneously will increase the effectiveness of your campaign substantially. The more narrowly targeted you can be with your campaigns, the better!

precision matters

The bottom line is this: when it comes to digital marketing (and really any type of marketing), precision matters – and having precise location targeting capabilities allows you to reach exactly who needs to see what message at any given time. Taking the time and effort necessary for proper location targeting pays off big in terms of increased ROI from CPC campaigns like Google Ads – so don’t forget it when planning out your next campaign! Google Ads, Digital marketing, SEO, and SEM are a minefield. It takes years to learn and master. And then it all changes…  To maximise efforts and results it is always worth considering outsourcing to an expert whose job is to keep up with the changes. Then you biggest challenge becomes how to choose the right marketing agency for your business,