PPC Live The Podcast - The F*ck ups that led to Triumphs

In this episode of PPC Live, Anu Adegbola interviews Emina Demiri Watson, who shares her journey in digital marketing, including the challenges of firing a major client and the lessons learned from that experience. They discuss the importance of maintaining a balanced client portfolio, recognizing red flags in client relationships, and the impact of market conditions on agency performance. Emina emphasizes the need for a proactive approach in digital marketing and the strategic use of AI tools. The conversation concludes with insights on common mistakes in the industry and the value of staying true to company values.TakeawaysFiring a major client can be a difficult but necessary decision.Maintaining a balanced client portfolio is crucial to avoid concentration risks.Recognizing red flags in client relationships is essential for agency health.Prioritizing company culture and employee happiness can lead to better outcomes.Tracking client performance and market conditions is vital for success.Proactive communication with clients can prevent misunderstandings.AI tools should be used strategically, not blindly.Common mistakes in digital marketing include poor targeting and lack of negative keywords.Understanding market dynamics is key to adapting strategies.Values should guide decision-making in challenging situations.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Fun Facts05:36 The Decision to Fire a Client10:09 Recognizing Mistakes in Client Relationships13:02 Identifying Red Flags in Client Relationships17:05 Turning Around After a Major Client Loss20:46 Navigating Market Challenges26:11 Final Takeaways and Advice27:07 Common Mistakes in Digital Marketing31:48 AI in Digital Marketing: Mistakes and Misconceptions37:13 Conclusion and Future Engagements46:36 Outro.mp3Find Emina on LinkedInPPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Join us for PPC Live Online on Apr 29thJoin our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp group⁠⁠Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

In this episode of PPC Live, Amanda Friedt (Farley), CMO of Aimclear, shares her journey in marketing, discussing the importance of integrated marketing, lessons learned from mistakes, and the evolving landscape of PPC. She emphasizes the significance of collaboration, data hygiene, and adapting to AI advancements while providing insights on leadership and handling mistakes in a team environment. Amanda encourages marketers to embrace testing and innovation as they navigate the challenges of 2026 and beyond.TakeawaysAmanda emphasizes the importance of integrated marketing.She shares her journey of overcoming imposter syndrome.Mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.Collaboration is key in navigating PPC challenges.Data hygiene is crucial for effective marketing campaigns.AI is changing consumer behavior and marketing strategies.Leaders should create a safe space for discussing mistakes.Testing and innovation are essential for success in marketing.Understanding the consumer journey is vital for PPC success.Community support can significantly impact marketing efforts.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background04:12 Lessons Learned from Mistakes07:10 Navigating Challenges in PPC Marketing10:09 The Importance of Data and Collaboration13:24 Adapting to AI and Changing Consumer Behavior16:04 Leadership and Handling Mistakes19:11 Advice for 2026 and Future Trends22:10 Final Thoughts and Fun Question38:00 Outro.mp3Find Amanda on on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ PPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Upcoming: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, February 5th, 2026 at StrategiQ's London offices (where Dragon's Den was filmed!) featuring Google Ads script master Nils Rooijmans.Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp groupSubscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast, host Anu Adegbola welcomes Nick Handley, a seasoned digital marketer and co-host of the Prompted podcast. They discuss Nick's journey in the PPC industry, including a significant early career mistake involving a URL change that led to the disapproval of ads during a crucial Black Friday campaign. Nick shares how he learned the importance of attention to detail and the value of having a supportive team, particularly highlighting the role of his colleague Max in helping him navigate the crisis. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of digital marketing, the integration of AI, and the importance of maintaining mental health in a high-pressure environment.TakeawaysMistakes are part of the learning process.Always double-check your work, especially in high-stakes situations.Having a supportive team can make a significant difference in overcoming challenges.AI should complement, not replace, foundational skills in marketing.Mental health is crucial in the fast-paced world of digital marketing.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Nick Handley05:51 Nick's Early Career Mistake12:56 Learning from Mistakes and Accountability18:18 Implementing Guardrails in PPC25:00 Mental Health in Digital Marketing30:34 Common Mistakes in Budget Management32:56 The Role of AI in Marketing37:11 The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership40:22 Closing Thoughts and Movie TitleFollow Nick on LinkedIn Links spoken about -https://aistudio.google.com/appshttps://platform.openai.com/chat/edit?models=gpt-5&optimize=truePPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Upcoming: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, February 5th, 2026 at StrategiQ's London offices (where Dragon's Den was filmed!) featuring Google Ads script master Nils Rooijmans.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp group - https://bit.ly/pluwhatsappSubscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter - https://ppc.live/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast, Anu Adegbola interviews Anthony Higman, CEO of AdSquire, who shares his journey in the world of paid search, the mistakes he's made, and the lessons learned along the way. Anthony discusses the importance of building trust with clients, navigating client relationships, and the significance of agency consistency. He emphasizes the need for professionals to find the right fit in their careers and the importance of allowing mistakes as a part of the learning process. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in PPC and predictions for its future in advertising.Takeaways:Establishing trust with clients is crucial for success.Mistakes in PPC are inevitable and can lead to growth.It's important to protect clients from scams while being open to new ideas.Finding the right fit in a job is essential for happiness.Agency consistency in managing accounts is key to success.Allowing team members to make mistakes fosters a learning environment.AI is becoming increasingly integrated into PPC strategies.Communication is vital in client-agency relationships.Understanding the fundamentals of PPC is essential for success.Every mistake can lead to valuable lessons and future success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Anthony Higman02:30 Anthony's Journey in Digital Marketing05:35 The Importance of Learning from Mistakes06:07 Building Trust with Clients10:52 Navigating Client Relationships and Scams12:25 The Challenge of Client Education15:15 Agency Dynamics and Competition19:38 Lessons from a Past Job Experience23:53 Navigating Client Relationships and Agency Dynamics27:28 Finding the Right Fit: Employer-Employee Alignment29:50 Learning from Mistakes: The Value of F-ups33:35 Creating a Culture of Learning from Mistakes35:49 AI in Advertising: Opportunities and Pitfalls41:39 The Future of AI in Google AdsFollow Anthony on LinkedIn and TwitterPPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Upcoming: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, February 5th, 2026 at StrategiQ's London offices (where Dragon's Den was filmed!) featuring Google Ads script master Nils Rooijmans.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp group - https://bit.ly/pluwhatsappSubscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter - https://ppc.live/newsletter-sign-up/

SummaryIn this episode of PPC Live The Podcast , host Anu Adegbola speaks with PPC expert Sophie Fell about her significant mistake involving location targeting in a campaign. They discuss the importance of double-checking campaign settings, effective client communication when mistakes happen, and the common pitfalls in PPC campaigns. Sophie emphasizes the need for humility and continuous learning in the fast-evolving PPC landscape, as well as fostering a culture of experimentation and learning within teams. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in PPC and the importance of maintaining fundamental practices even when using advanced tools like Performance Max.TakeawaysAlways double-check your campaign settings before launching.Client communication is crucial when mistakes happen.Learning from mistakes is part of growth in PPC.AI tools like Performance Max require fundamental knowledge.Fostering a culture of learning helps teams innovate.Mistakes can lead to valuable lessons and improvements.PPC practitioners must stay updated with industry changes.Humility is essential in the ever-evolving PPC landscape.Encourage team members to experiment and learn from failures.Everyone in the industry makes mistakes, and that's okay.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sophie Fell and Her Journey04:05 The Campaign F-Up: A Lesson Learned07:15 Client Reactions and Handling Mistakes10:05 Post-Mortem: Analyzing the Error13:08 Advice for Handling Campaign Mistakes16:01 Final Takeaways and Best Practices18:57 The Role of AI in Advertising23:07 Embracing Failures and Learning28:48 Creating a Culture of Accountability and Growth35:13 Outro.mp3Follow Sophie on LinkedInSubscribe to Nils' ⁠newsletter ⁠PPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Upcoming: ⁠⁠⁠PPC Live event⁠⁠⁠, February 5th, 2026 at StrategiQ's London offices (where Dragon's Den was filmed!) featuring Google Ads script master Nils Rooijmans.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp group - https://bit.ly/pluwhatsappSubscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter - https://ppc.live/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast , host Anu Adegbola speaks with Boris Beceric about the importance of learning from mistakes in the PPC industry. Boris shares a significant error he made with URL parameters that led to wasted ad spend and discusses how effective communication with clients can mitigate the impact of mistakes. The conversation emphasizes the need for guardrails to prevent future errors, the importance of taking ownership, and the value of testing strategies in PPC campaigns. Boris also highlights common mistakes in automation and the significance of sharing failures to foster a more authentic industry dialogue.TakeawaysMistakes are inevitable in the PPC industry.Effective communication with clients is crucial when mistakes occur.Implementing guardrails can help prevent future errors.Taking ownership of mistakes is essential for personal growth.Testing strategies should be done strategically and within budget constraints.Never assume anything; always double-check your work.Sharing mistakes can foster authenticity in the industry.Automation should not be blindly accepted; evaluate recommendations critically.The journey in PPC is as important as the destination.Learning from failures is key to success in marketing.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Boris and His Expertise03:04 The Importance of Clarity in Google Ads05:56 Learning from Mistakes: Boris's Experience08:45 Handling Mistakes with Clients11:43 Mindset and Guardrails for Success16:44 Taking Ownership of Mistakes19:13 Strategic Testing in Marketing22:52 Common Mistakes in Automation27:13 The Importance of Sharing Failures29:50 The Journey of Learning and GrowthFollow Boris on LinkedInBoris' EP on BandcampPPC Live The Podcast (formerly PPCChat Roundup) features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.Upcoming: ⁠PPC Live event⁠, February 5th, 2026 at StrategiQ's London offices (where Dragon's Den was filmed!) featuring Google Ads script master Nils Rooijmans.Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whatsapp group - https://bit.ly/pluwhatsappSubscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter - https://ppc.live/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast, Anu Adegbola welcomes Chris Ridley, a paid media team lead at Evaluted, to discuss the importance of recognizing red flags during client onboarding, the significance of communication and team support, and the common mistakes made in the PPC industry. Chris shares his personal experiences with client relationships, the challenges of AI in marketing, and the value of sharing mistakes to foster a learning environment. The conversation emphasizes the need for psychological safety in teams and the importance of building strong client relationships based on transparency and understanding.Takeaways:Not every new bit of business is good for your business.Understanding profit margins is crucial before onboarding clients.Communication is key to resolving issues quickly.Red flags in clients don't mean they're bad; they may just need more development.Building a supportive team environment fosters growth and learning.Mistakes are valuable learning opportunities in the PPC industry.AI should not replace fundamental campaign structures.Psychological safety allows for honest discussions about mistakes.Client relationships can improve through transparency and collaboration.It's important to share experiences of failure to help others grow.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:47 The Importance of Discovery Calls05:49 Identifying Red Flags in Client Relationships08:46 Learning from Mistakes and Team Dynamics11:47 The Role of Management in Mistake Recovery14:48 Client Communication and Expectations17:47 Conclusion and Key Takeaways21:25 Navigating Client Conversations23:52 Understanding Client Needs and Expectations27:23 The Importance of Team Support30:02 Common Mistakes in PPC Campaigns34:27 The Value of Sharing Mistakes37:12 From Setbacks to SuccessFind Chris on ⁠LinkedIn⁠The tool I mentioned to calculate Revenue (or Profit) on investment Sponsor Chris to raise money for Park RunPPC Live The Podcast (formerly PPCChat Roundup) features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.The next ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live ⁠event is on February 5thFollow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

In this episode of PPC Live The Podcast, Anu Adegbola interviews Susan Yen, a seasoned PPC strategist, discussing her journey from New England to Texas, her experiences at Brighton SEO, and the importance of a holistic approach to marketing. They delve into the significance of proper campaign structuring, the challenges of Performance Max campaigns, and the necessity of transparency and accountability in client relationships. Susan emphasizes the importance of testing, learning from mistakes, and the evolving role of AI in marketing, advocating for a balance between automation and human creativity.TakeawaysSusan has over eight years of experience in PPC and performance marketing.She emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to marketing strategies.Account structuring is crucial for successful PPC campaigns.Performance Max campaigns require careful setup and monitoring.Transparency with clients about mistakes fosters trust and accountability.Testing and adaptation are essential in the ever-changing marketing landscape.AI should assist, not replace, human creativity in marketing.Mistakes are learning opportunities that should be openly discussed.Proper training in fundamentals is necessary before using AI tools.The role of PPC experts remains vital in the age of AI. 00:00 Introduction and Background02:58 The Importance of Account Structure in PPC05:50 Celebrating Mistakes and Learning from Them08:45 Navigating PMAX Campaigns and Conversion Tracking11:51 Transparency and Client Communication14:54 Setting Expectations and Embracing Change18:21 Client Communication and Accountability22:21 Learning from Mistakes and Team Management24:57 The Role of AI in Marketing33:26 The Importance of Fundamentals in PPCFind Susan on LinkedIn, SearchLab, PPC Real TalkBook a coaching call with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Anu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live The Podcast features weekly conversations with paid search experts sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape.The next ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PPC Live London⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ event is on October 22ndFollow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠