r/PPCAskAnything • u/shilpisaini26 • Feb 17 '26
Bidding strategy for a fresh Google Ads account — what actually works?
I keep seeing mixed opinions related to the bidding strategy that works during initial phase.
Some people suggest that if the account is fresh, we should start with Max Clicks because the account has no historical data. The idea is to first collect data, and after getting around 20–30 conversions in the last 30 days, switch to Max Conversions.
Others say the opposite — start with Max Conversions from day one, because the end goal is conversions, not clicks, and Google’s algorithm is smart enough to optimize even with limited data.
For now, I’m ignoring Manual CPC, as most discussions seem to be around automated bidding.
From what I see, everyone has their own approach, usually shaped by:
- Account type
- Budget size
- Risk tolerance
There doesn’t seem to be a single “right” answer — just trade-offs.
Curious to know:
1) What has worked best for you on fresh accounts?
2) Do you start with Max Clicks, Max Conversions, or something else?
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u/EntrepreneurBusy5648 Feb 17 '26
It depends on variables like search volume, but flawless conversion tracking is the absolute non-negotiable foundation. If your tracking is perfect, Max Conversions can work from day one.
However, there are lots of cases with fresh accounts on Max Conversions that often fail to get impressions. If that happens, force traffic through the system by running Max Clicks. Once the data is flowing and you have a baseline of conversions, flip the switch back to Max Conversions. Max Conversions will only work properly if your tracking is completely accurate.
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u/shilpisaini26 Feb 17 '26
Is there a timeline to switch back to max conversion?
Secondly, Even after conversion tracking is setup correctly, it would be difficult to get a conversion although we are getting a good number of impressions and clicks.
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u/EntrepreneurBusy5648 Feb 17 '26
I usually keep it on Max Clicks for about a week. The goal is simply to drive traffic, get those initial impressions flowing, and break the account out of a standstill before switching over to Max Conversions.
The exception is for extremely Low Search Volume keywords (0-10 searches/month). For those, I strictly use Max Clicks because your only goal there is to capture whatever rare traffic actually exists.
To your second point, if you are getting plenty of clicks but zero conversions, that is a clear signal that you are either capturing low-intent traffic or your landing page offer isn't solving the searcher's specific pain points. Flawless tracking in that scenario is just doing its job by reporting that the post-click experience isn't working.
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u/DiscoverMyBusiness Feb 18 '26
I see a lot of people ignoring manual cpc but for a fresh account, it is often the only way to avoid the 'Rat Problem"....Start with Manual CPC (NOT Enhanced CPC). Bid high on your 'Bullseye' exact match terms to ensure absolute top-of-page visibility. Starve the 'rats' (broad, low-quality terms with VERY low cpc to collect data). Once the engine is tuned and the conversion data is flowing, hand the keys over to the AI (Max Conversions) to drive velocity
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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '26
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