Best Google Ads Agency in New Zealand

Posted on December 19, 2022February 5, 2026 by Phil Robinson

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.

Person Seated At Table Drinking From A Cup With Laptop Screen Open Viewing A Google Search Page.

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.

Screenshot Of Google Search For Best Google Ads Agency In New Zealand

Cta-With-A-Woman-Looking-Slightly-Confused-And-Text-Reading-How-Much-Do-Google-Ads-Cost-And-A-Button-To-Find-Out

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

How Much Money Should I Spend on Google Ads?

Posted on December 15, 2022February 5, 2026 by Phil Robinson

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.

Location Targeting: How to Make the Most of Google Ads

Posted on November 17, 2022December 27, 2022 by Phil Robinson

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,

The Great SEO vs. PPC Showdown

Posted on November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 by Phil Robinson

will Here is is. The great showdown between SEO and PPC. In the world of digital marketing, there are two tried and true methods for getting your business’s website seen by potential customers: search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Both have their own unique benefits, but which one is the right choice for your business? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each to find out.

SEO vs. Pay-per-click: The Pros

Let’s start with SEO. The biggest advantage of SEO is that it’s a completely free way to get your website found by potential customers. That’s if you can do SEO yourself ofcourse. If so, you can optimise for techincal SEO, for the right keywords and relevant content clusters too. From there you’ll start showing up in search results. I mean it sounds easy right? Well yeah, it is… If you know what you’re doing. SEO is also a great long-term strategy. That’s because once you rank well in SERPs, you’ll continue to get results as long as you maintain your ranking.

PPC, on the other hand, offers a few advantages of its own. First, it’s a great way to get immediate results. Unlike SEO, which can take months or even years to show results, PPC ads can start generating clicks and leads right away. Second, PPC gives you complete control over where your ads appear and who sees them. You can target specific demographics, interests, and even locations. That means that only people who are going to be interested in what you’re selling will see your ads. Which also means it will cost you only when they click.

SEO vs. PPC: The Cons

Of course, nothing is perfect, and both SEO and PPC have their fair share of drawbacks. For SEO, the biggest downside is that it can be very time-consuming and difficult to achieve high rankings in search results. It requires constant vigilance and effort to make sure your site doesn’t slip in the rankings, which means it may not be the best choice if you’re short on time or resources.

Meanwhile, PPC can be quite expensive if not managed properly. Since you’re paying for every click on your ad, it’s important to make sure that those clicks are actually leading to conversions; otherwise, you could end up spending a lot of money with little to show for it. Additionally, PPC can be somewhat unpredictable; it’s hard to predict how successful a campaign will be until after it’s already underway which can make it difficult to budget for.

So which is better for your business

When it comes down to SEO vs PPC, which is better? Well, the answer may surprise you: the best option is usually a combination of both! By using SEO to organically rank high in search results and supplementing those efforts with targeted PPC campaigns, you can get the best of both worlds: increased visibility and traffic without breaking the bank. Contact Metric Marketing today to learn more about how we can help you create a holistic digital marketing strategy that gets results!

9 Signs You Need Help With SEM

Posted on November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by Phil Robinson

If you need help with SEM, you’ll probably find yourself asking “what is sem?” or “what does sem even stand for?” If that’s the case, you might need some help with SEM (Search Engine Marketing) (SEM) campaign. Not to worry, we’re here to help! Here are 9 signs that it might be time to seek out professional help for your SEM efforts:

You don’t know what SEM is.
A lot of people get SEO and SEM meaning confused. If you’re not even sure what SEM is, then it’s probably time to reach out for help. Search engine marketing is a broad term that encompasses everything from pay-per-click advertising to search engine optimization. A good SEM agency will be able to help you figure out which tactic (or combination of tactics) is right for your business.
You’re not seeing any results.
SEM is all about driving results. So if you’re not seeing any ROI from your efforts, it might be time to seek out some professional help. A good agency will be able to analyse your current strategy and make recommendations for how to improve it.
Your competition is killing you.
If you’re losing ground to your competitors, it might be because they’re investing in SEM and you’re not. Or, it could be that they’re investing in SEM and doing it better than you are. Either way, bringing in some outside assistance to help with SEM can give you the boost you need to catch up (and even surpass) your competition.
You don’t have the time or resources to do it in-house or by yourself.
SEM takes a lot of time and effort. If you don’t have the resources to dedicate to it, then you’re unlikely to see the results you want. Hiring an agency frees up your time. That means you can focus on running your business. After all, you are the expert at that! If you find the right team to help with SEM you’ll more than likely still be involved. Afterall, collaboration and teamwork, make the dream work!
You don’t know where to start.
There’s a lot that goes into SEM, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, then that’s a good sign that you need help with SEM. It might be time to call in some reinforcements. An experienced agency will know where to start and how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to search engine marketing.
You’re not keeping up with the latest trends.
The world of SEM is constantly changing, and if you’re not keeping up with the latest trends and best practices, then you’re likely falling behind the competition. A good agency will make sure that your campaigns are always up-to-date so that you can maximize your results.
You’re missing out on valuable data.
If you’re not tracking your results or analyzing your data, then you’re missing out on valuable insights. Those insights could help improve your campaigns. An experienced agency will be able to track your results and provide useful insights and recommendations based on what they see.
You’re wasting money.
If you feel like you’re throwing money down the drain with your current SEM strategy, then it’s probably time for a change. A good agency will be able to save you money by optimizing your campaigns for maximum efficiency – a GREAT AGENCY WILL MAKE YOU MONEY.
You just need someone else’s opinion.
Sometimes, it’s helpful to get an outside perspective on y our business. If you feel like you’ve been in a rut when it comes to y our S EM strategy , hiring an agency can help you break out of it by providing fresh ideas and new perspectives.

If any (or all) of these apply to you, don’t despair! There are plenty of professionals who can help with SEM and get your campaign up and running in no time. So get out there and start Googling (err, we mean searching)! Or just. contact us 😉

SEM can be complex and confusing

It’s like anything you’re not an expert in really, and yes it can be complex and a little confusing at times, but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re finding yourself lost in a sea of acronyms and technical jargon, it might be time to seek out some professional help. Luckily, there are plenty of experts out there who would be more than happy to lend a helping hand. So don’t be afraid to ask for help…your business will thank you for it in the long run!

Google Business Profile – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Posted on November 11, 2022June 19, 2024 by Phil Robinson

You may have seen it before. You do a search on Google for a local business and up pops a little box on the right-hand side of the screen with the business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, and even reviews. That little box is called a Google Business Profile (GBP) , and it can be a powerful tool for businesses if it’s used correctly, and there are a number of reasons why you should have one.

The Google Business Profile Good

Google My Business listings are free and easy to set up. All you need is a google account (which most people already have) and some basic information about your business. Once you’ve claimed your listing, you can add photos, post updates, respond to reviews, add products and more.

Imagine you own a nail salon. If your business has an optimised profile, when a potential customer or client searches for a business close by (e.g nail salon near me), your nail salon will likely be ranking near the top and will gain new business over a competitor nail salon who may not of optimised or claimed their listing.

The GBP Bad

While Google My Business listings are free and easy to set up, they’re not always accurate. That’s because anyone can edit or claim a listing—even if they’re not associated with the business. This can lead to wrong information being displayed on your listing, which can frustrate potential customers who are trying to reach you. There is nothing worse than searching a stores business hours in Google only to find out that they’re incorrect and the store is actually closed when you thought it was open. Negative customer experiences can lead to Google reviews that may harm your business too.

The Google Business Profile Ugly

Inaccurate GBP listings can actually hurt your business if they’re not updated or corrected in a timely manner. That’s because potential customers who see the wrong information or can’t see what they need are likely to go to one of your competitors instead. In addition, if you have duplicate listings (meaning there are two or more listings for your business), this can also confuse potential customers and hurt your chances of being found online.

Make sure your Google Business Listing is up to date

Having an accurate Google Business profile listing is essential for businesses that want to be found online – plain and simple. If you don’t have a GBP listing, now is the time to create one. And if you already have a listing but it’s inaccurate or out-of-date, take the time to claim or edit it. Post updates and information regularly. This is also important as Google makes updates frequently. So that said, you want to ensure potential customers will have the correct information about your business. Your future customers will thank you for it!

Updated 19 June 2024

Category: Search Engine Marketing