Surfside PPC Podcast Episode 9 - How Do I Lower My Initial CPC?

Surfside PPC Podcast Episode 9 - How Do I Lower My Initial CPC?

From Surfside PPC Podcast by Surfside PPC

March 3, 2026 · 8 min · Episode 9

About this episode

This episode discusses strategies to lower initial CPC in Google Ads campaigns during the 'Cold Start' phase.

Stop me if this sounds familiar: You launch a brand-new Google Ads campaign, set a healthy budget, and then watch in horror as Google spends $400 on... two clicks. In this episode of the Surfside PPC podcast, we’re tackling the "Cold Start" crisis. It’s that painful phase where your campaign is brand new, Google has zero data, and the algorithm starts gambling with your money. If you don't take the wheel, you're not just losing cash—you're losing the chance to ever make the account profitable. What We’re Covering Today: The "Maximize Conversions" Trap: Why letting the AI handle your bidding on day one is a recipe for a budget blowout. The Manual Pivot: How to use Manual CPC to tell Google exactly what you’re willing to pay, so a single click doesn't eat your whole day's budget. The Power of "Exact Match": Why you should ditch broad keywords early on to make sure every dollar goes toward someone actually looking for your service. The Stabilization Secret: Our step-by-step framework for getting your first 15 high-quality clicks without breaking the bank. Quality Over Everything: How to align your ads and landing pages to lower your costs and beat out competitors who are outspending…

Topics covered

  • Google Ads
  • CPC
  • campaign management
  • digital marketing

Keywords

  • Maximize Conversions
  • Manual CPC
  • Exact Match
  • high-quality clicks
  • ad alignment

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Google Ads

Books & works: Surfside PPC Podcast

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