PPC agency London · Paid search
What should you actually check before hiring a PPC agency?
A checklist for comparing PPC agencies in London when you already know paid search matters and want verifiable setup, not another homepage full of uncheckable claims.
Four questions worth asking any PPC agency
Most agency homepages look identical. These are the checks that separate a clear plan from marketing filler.
Can I see how you would structure my account before I pay anything?
A serious agency should explain ad groups by job type and buyer intent, match types, and landing pages, in plain language, before a contract. If the answer is only trust us or wait until you are onboarded, you are buying a black box.
Which conversion actions will you track, and how?
For local trades, phone taps, form fills, and WhatsApp or message clicks often matter more than one generic form count. Ask which actions get tags, how they appear in reports, and whether you can verify them yourself in Google Ads.
What happens to my account, data, and access if I leave?
You should keep the Google Ads account, historical data, and admin access. Clarify who owns the account, whether structure and negatives transfer cleanly, and whether any lock-in is contractual or practical.
What will you refuse to switch on without my explicit yes?
Broad match expansions, Display or Search Partners, and auto-applied recommendations can change spend fast. Ask what defaults they use and what requires your approval before it goes live.
For how BoostOps approaches structure and tracking when we manage campaigns, see our Google Ads agency London page. This page is about what to ask before you choose any provider.
What a managed PPC account should include
The same mechanics we describe for Google Ads management. If an agency cannot explain these plainly, treat that as an answer.
Ad groups split by buyer intent
Separate groups for urgent jobs and quote-led jobs, aligned to the services on your website, so spend is not averaged across searches that need different ads and pages.
Broad match kept off by default
Phrase and exact match for controlled spend. Broad match can match career, DIY, and research queries even when your keyword list looks fine, which is a common source of wasted budget on trade accounts.
Tracking across phone, form, and WhatsApp
Local customers often tap to call before they fill a form. Each path needs its own conversion action so reporting reflects real enquiries, not just form submits.
Monthly reporting on leads
Campaign performance tied to the enquiries you care about, with changes explained in plain language, not a dashboard export with no context.
West London base, London clients
Local proof, not a borough keyword page. BoostOps is registered in Hayes and works with trade businesses across West London.
Our registered address is in Hayes, West London. We build websites, local SEO, and paid search for independent trades, including the plumber website and local SEO work on our plumbers page, for businesses operating across Hayes, Southall, and Hounslow and nearby areas.
Map results for agency searches depend on your Google Business Profile and reviews, not on this page alone. Treat profile setup as separate from choosing who runs your ads.
- West London
- Hayes
- Southall
- Hounslow
Honest answers on PPC in London
What should I ask a PPC agency before hiring them?+
Start with structure before spend: how ad groups map to your services, what landing pages ads point to, and which match types they use. Then tracking (phone, form, messages as separate actions), reporting cadence and format, ownership of the account if you leave, and what changes need your sign-off. Answers should be concrete enough to compare two agencies side by side.
Is PPC the same as Google Ads?+
PPC means pay-per-click: you pay when someone clicks an ad. For most local service businesses in the UK, Google Ads is the main PPC platform people mean in practice. Other PPC channels exist, but when trades say they need PPC, they usually mean paid search on Google.
How do I know if a PPC agency is actually any good?+
There is no certificate that proves it. Look for checkable habits: clear account structure you can inspect, honest reporting on enquiries not vanity metrics, match-type discipline, and straight answers when something is not working. Be wary of agencies that only offer superlatives, case studies with no context, or guaranteed rankings.
Do you offer PPC as a standalone service, or only with a website build?+
We usually work with local trades on a website plus ongoing marketing, but managed Google Ads is available on its own when your site and tracking already work. Our typical starting point for Google Ads management is £300 per month, which may vary with spend and account complexity. Custom booking portals are quoted on a call only. WhatsApp us or book a strategy call to see what fits.
Comparing PPC agencies and want straight answers?
Book a free strategy call or WhatsApp us. We will walk through structure, tracking, and whether our website-plus-ads model fits your situation. Managed Google Ads typically starts at £300 per month; bespoke portals are quoted on a call only.
BoostOps is a trading name of VettedAd Ltd · Hayes, West London