Advertise on podcast: PPC Town Hall

AI agents sound exciting in theory. In practice, the useful question is much simpler: can they actually help you manage PPC work better without creating more problems than they solve?That’s what Fred wanted to unpack with Benjamin Wenner in this episode of PPC Town Hall.Benjamin has been working in marketing for about 15 years, and over the past few years he’s spent a lot of time testing agent-based PPC workflows for real accounts. What we appreciated about this conversation is that he doesn’t pretend the work is easy or fully automated.Benjamin and Fred talk about where AI can genuinely help PPC teams today, and where things get messy once you move beyond simple tasks like writing ad copy.A few things they get into:* Why direct access to Google Ads and analytics data matters so much* Why simply giving an AI more data can actually make it less reliable* Why Benjamin recommends starting with read-only access before letting an agent make changes* What data structure and context have to do with whether an agent works well* Why building agentic PPC systems is often more of a data problem than an AI problem* What Benjamin’s own setup looks like today* Why he thinks most marketers only need a small number of core functions, not hundreds of automations* Where human judgment still mattersOne of the things Fred kept coming back to in this conversation is that the goal shouldn’t be to remove the PPC manager from the process.The better goal is to give a good practitioner more reach, more context, and more time to focus on the decisions that still need a human.If you’re already experimenting with AI in PPC and wondering what the next practical step looks like, we think you’ll get a lot from this one.Follow Benjamin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminnadirwenner/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

What do you optimize for when the lead you get today might not become a customer for another two years?That’s the problem David Newson deals with in wealth management, where long sales cycles make many of the usual PPC signals much less useful.In this episode of PPC Town Hall, David and Fred talk about what happens when Google Ads gets plenty of conversions, but they’re not necessarily the right conversions. David shares what happened when his team tried Performance Max and saw lead volume increase while lead quality dropped sharply.From there, they get into a bigger question: how do you give Google useful feedback when the real business outcome happens months or even years later?They talk about:- Why early signals can matter more than waiting for the final sale- How David thinks about PPC for a 24-month sales cycle- The problems that come up when CRM data, compliance, and advertising platforms don’t work neatly together- Why more leads can sometimes make campaign performance worse- How to think about measurement when marketing data will never be perfectly clean- Why David believes there’s a finite set of keywords that really matter in wealth management- Why he encourages firms to give away more of their knowledge- What he’s seeing from AI-driven discovery, including one client getting 65% of its year-to-date leads from LLMsDavid works in an industry where a lot of the easy PPC answers stop working. You can’t simply wait for a closed deal and assume the ad platform will figure everything out from there. Sometimes the better question is: what can we learn much earlier in the customer journey that tells us whether we’re heading toward the right outcome?Hope you enjoy the conversation.Follow David here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newson/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/ ► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Can AI agents really manage Google Ads accounts? We think they can help a lot, but we should be careful about how much authority we give them.In this episode of PPC Town Hall, Fred sat down with Nils Rooijmans to talk about AI agents, Google Ads scripts, and what account management may look like over the next few years.Nils described agents as “interns with terrifying confidence,” and that phrase captures the problem well. An agent can produce a polished explanation and still miss an important detail about the client, the account structure, or the business strategy behind a decision.They talked about why scripts still matter, even as agents become more capable. Scripts are often better for predictable work such as filtering large datasets, checking thresholds, and narrowing thousands of search terms down to the few that need deeper analysis. The AI can then spend its time on the harder judgment calls.They also covered:- How Nils built an AI-assisted negative keyword workflow- Why confidence scores can help determine when human review is needed- Why Google’s AI does not know everything about your client’s business- How token costs and data privacy affect real agent deployments- Why narrowly scoped agents are safer than one agent asked to manage everything- How better client conversations produce better instructions for AI- Which skills PPC professionals will still need as more execution becomes automatedWe do not think the future is humans versus AI. The more useful model is humans setting the strategy, scripts doing reliable processing, and agents helping with the work that benefits from context and reasoning.This conversation is for advertisers and PPC professionals who are interested in AI but do not want to hand over an account just because a confident-looking demo appeared on LinkedIn.Nils Rooijmans runs a PPC agency. He's also a Google Ads Scripts pioneer, and now deep into AI agents. Check out: https://nilsrooijmans.com/Follow Nils: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilsrooijmansFollow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/QGhc7LCLslM Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Anthony Higman, founder of Adsquire, to explore how AI and automation are changing Google Ads—especially in high-cost, high-risk verticals like legal PPC.Anthony shares insights from managing campaigns for personal injury law firms and explains why automation can behave differently in practice than expected. The discussion highlights where AI-driven campaigns like Performance Max and AI Max can struggle, particularly when precision and control are critical.They cover:- Why AI can sometimes produce mismatched leads in PPC- The balance between automation and control- Challenges in sensitive industries like legal and finance- The role of first-party data in modern campaign strategies- How conversational search is changing how ads are triggeredThe episode also touches on how platforms are evolving quickly, and what advertisers should keep in mind as they test and adopt new AI-driven features.If you’re navigating AI in Google Ads and want a practical, experience-based perspective, this episode offers useful takeaways.Follow Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-higman-a3656a46/Follow Anthony on X (Twitter): https://x.com/AnthonyHigmanFollow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/YhWyTO1vn6E Fred sat down with Lars Maat to talk about what it actually looks like to run an agency that’s fully leaning into AI.They get into how Lars introduced AI across his team, what worked (and what didn’t), and how they got people to actually start using it in their day-to-day work.You’ll also hear real examples of what they’ve built — from SEO systems and internal tools to automations that replaced parts of their tech stack — all without relying on a big dev team.They also talk through the less obvious side of this shift: team resistance, setting guardrails, and why not everyone in your company needs to be an “AI person.”If you’re trying to figure out how to bring AI into your team in a practical way, this is a good one to watch.Follow Lars: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annstanley/Check out Maatwerk Online: https://www.maatwerkonline.nl/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/ ► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/yAGxJTvj6Ho Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Ann Stanley, digital marketing expert and founder of Anika Digital, to explore how marketers can move beyond one-off prompts and start building AI workflows that produce reliable and consistent results.They break down why AI outputs often feel unpredictable, and how to fix that using better structure, context, and systems like RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation). Ann explains how tools like n8n, Claude, and custom AI agents can help teams turn repetitive marketing tasks into scalable workflows—without sacrificing quality or control.The conversation also covers when AI is actually worth automating, how agencies are using AI to standardize outputs across teams, and why human input is still essential for guiding, validating, and improving results.If you’re using AI in marketing but struggling with inconsistent outputs or one-off results, this episode will help you build workflows that are more reliable, repeatable, and practical for real-world use.Follow Ann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annstanley/Check out Anicca Digital: https://anicca.co.uk/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/FnIwHT0VuD8 Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Menachem Ani, founder of JXT Group and Google Ads strategist, to break down when advertisers should use Performance Max vs Shopping, why lead quality matters more than lead volume, and how to guide automated bidding without giving up strategic control. Frederick and Menachem also explore practical frameworks for structuring ecommerce campaigns, using phrase match strategically, and deciding when to layer in automation like AI Max or smart bidding.Menachem shares real agency lessons on offline conversion tracking, optimizing for qualified leads instead of cheap leads, and why many advertisers misinterpret PMax performance. The conversation also covers the future of AI in Google Ads, the risks of moving too fast with automation, and what modern agencies must do to deliver real business outcomes—not just better dashboard metrics.► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

In this episode, Fred sat down with Bia Camargo to talk about something we don’t discuss enough: most Google Ads accounts aren’t ready for AI.PMax isn’t magic. Smart bidding isn’t broken. But the problem is usually messy conversion tracking, over-complicated structure, or unclear intent signals.In this episode, Bia walks through her framework for making Google Ads accounts AI-ready:– Cleaning up conversion actions so the algorithm gets clear signals– Simplifying structure instead of over-segmenting– Using intent to guide PMax instead of trying to control it– Treating Merchant Center and feed health like ongoing plumbingIf you’re running ecommerce campaigns and wondering why automation isn’t performing the way it should, this will help.► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/2TdOEFcS2bg We asked 8 experienced PPC practitioners to share their predictions based on what 2025 taught them — and where paid media is really headed next.In this video, you’ll hear honest, experience-backed perspectives on:- How PPC is evolving beyond keywords and rigid structures- What top-performing advertisers will do more (and less) of in 2026- Where AI genuinely improves PPC outcomes — and where it’s overhyped- Why “best practices” are no longer enough- How automation, data quality, creative, and business context now shape resultsThey’re grounded in real accounts, real budgets, and real constraints.Featuring insights from:Navah Hopkins, AJ Wilcox, Jyll Saskin Gales, Kasim Aslam, Kirk Williams, Amy Hebdon, Aaron Levy—with framing and takeaways from Optmyzr CEO and co-founder, Frederick Vallaeys.

Watch the video episode here: https://youtu.be/kbZeqEYTkeM Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Julie Bacchini, PPC consultant, founder of Neptune Moon, and host of PPC Chat, to unpack how AI is really being used in PPC—and where it starts to break down.They explore where AI and automation genuinely help marketers save time, where Google Ads automation struggles (especially for lead generation), and why data volume, verification, and context matter more than ever. Frederick and Julie also discuss real risks of using AI in PPC, including incorrect data, accountability, and who owns the outcome when AI-generated insights are wrong.Julie shares practical guidance on using AI cautiously: how to validate AI outputs, why documentation is essential, when to trust automation, and how PPC professionals can use AI as an assistant—without losing control or getting burned.Follow Julie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neptunemoonFollow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/c5jjdRo3reU Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Mike Rhodes, Google Ads expert, to explore how marketers can use AI and vibe coding the right way.They discuss how AI becomes truly powerful when grounded in real account context, why asking better questions matters more than the tools you use, and how marketers can build practical AI-powered tools without becoming developers.Work with Mike: https://ads2ai.com/Follow Mike here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikerhodesideas/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/bGYkHp5xOEc Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Nils Rooijmans, Google Ads scripts developer and automation expert, to introduce PPC marketers to vibe coding—a new way to build tools and workflows using AI without traditional programming. They break down what vibe coding actually is (and what it isn’t), when it makes sense for PPC use cases, and where marketers should absolutely avoid using it. Frederick and Nils also explore real-world examples like generating Google Ads campaign assets from a landing page, rapid prototyping internal PPC tools, and deciding when scripts, APIs, or full apps are the right solution. Nils shares how marketers can use vibe coding tools like Google AI Studio, Lovable, and V0 to move faster, while keeping humans in the loop, managing risk, and knowing when to hand things off to developers. Work with Nils: https://nilsrooijmans.com/ Follow Nils here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilsrooijmans/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/ ► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Host Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads educator, coach, and author of Inside Google Ads, to unpack how automation has changed the craft of PPC.They cover why “guiding, not controlling” is the new marketer’s mantra, how to optimize Performance Max campaigns without illusions of control, and why bidding may now matter more than targeting.Jyll also shares real-world stories from clients, her process for scaling expertise with AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM, and a fresh perspective on AI Max—Google’s latest automation layer.Work with Jyll: https://jyll.ca/Follow Jyll here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllsaskingales/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/ ► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/pd3_0RNn0Ng In this episode of PPC Town Hall, host Frederick Vallaeys (CEO & Co-founder of Optmyzr) sits down with Amy Hebdon, founder of Paid Search Magic and one of the most influential PPC experts in the industry.Amy brings 20+ years of hands-on experience in paid search and shares her perspective on how Google Ads and PPC have evolved—especially in the age of automation and generative AI. Together, Fred and Amy dive into critical topics like:- The evolution of “magic” in PPC—from manual optimizations to AI-driven automation.- How Google’s reduced transparency (e.g., limited search term visibility) impacts advertisers.- Balancing control vs. automation: when to trust AI, and when to push back.- How to use AI tools like GPT for persona research, ad copywriting, and client communication.- Crafting ads that qualify the right clicks—and intentionally discourage the wrong ones.- Demand Gen campaigns, influencers, and founder-led marketing as part of modern PPC.- The future of ads in an AI-first search experience (AI overviews, Perplexity, Claude, etc.).- Why authenticity and human connection matter more than ever in advertising.If you’re an advertiser, agency, or marketer trying to navigate the shift to AI-driven PPC, this episode will help you balance innovation with control.Check out Paid Search Magic: https://paidsearchmagic.podia.com/Follow Amy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhebdonFollow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/97H74PpxrIE Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Aaron Levy, long-time PPC leader and now Optmyzr Evangelist, to talk about the future of paid search, AI, and agency life.Aaron has spent nearly 20 years in paid search, from helping DuPont launch its early marketing programs to running a 115-person team at Tinuiti. He shares lessons from his career, including why “best practices” can kill originality, how to train new PPC talent in an AI-driven world, and how agencies can balance clients, vendors, and innovation.Key discussion points:- Aaron's journey from PPC intern to industry leader- How to train junior PPCs to think beyond button-pushing- AI Max, PMax, and how search behavior is evolving- Turning client meetings into structured “prompts”- Why agencies must invest in data infrastructure over flashy tools- The risks of lazy “best practices” vs. the value of creativity- Leadership lessons from managing 100+ PPC professionalsFollow Aaron here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theaaronlevy/Follow Fred: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickvallaeys/► Get actionable PPC tips, strategies, and tactics from industry experts twice a month: https://www.optmyzr.com/ppctownhall/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall ► Make your PPC management less complex with Optmyzr's tools. Start a 14-day free trial today: https://tools.optmyzr.com/info/signup?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=townhall