Audit and optimization of Google Ads (Performance Max) for an EdTech startup (AI)

Budget: 5799 UAH Deadline: 3 days

Good day!

I have worked with Google Ads for B2C SaaS and subscription products, so the situation seems familiar.

I don't think the problem necessarily lies in the algorithm being "broken." After a sharp change in goal from registrations to purchases, this could very well be a result of losing a sufficient volume of signals for learning. But before making a decision to launch a new campaign, I would check the account configuration itself.

My approach:

• check the correctness of conversion tracking in Google Ads / GA4 (Primary / Secondary conversions, attribution, purchase value);
• analyze campaign statistics before and after the goal change;
• assess whether there is enough sales volume for stable optimization specifically for Purchase;
• evaluate the feasibility of using micro-conversions as auxiliary signals for learning;
• review Asset Groups, audience signals, creatives, and ad texts to shift the focus from "free" to the value of the product and paid conversion.

Only after the audit can we reasonably decide whether to restore the current campaign or if it would be more effective to launch a new structure. I don't like to diagnose without analyzing the account.

Cost of work: 5,800 UAH.

Deadline: 3 working days for the audit, preparation of recommendations, and implementation of agreed changes. Further training for Performance Max will require additional time, depending on the volume of conversions and the performance of the Google algorithm.

I would be happy to discuss the details and take a look at the account. Expand

Budget: 10000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

Hello! The algorithm didn't "break" in the literal sense - it was a bit shocked. PMax critically depends on historical data. For a month, the campaign was learning to find people who register (which is an easy action). When you abruptly changed the goal to Sales (a much more complex action) within the same campaign, PMax lost its bearings. It didn't have a "buyer" profile, so it started chaotically buying expensive traffic blindly, trying to find at least one conversion, which led to such a CPA. Additionally, 3 days is the stage of active retraining (Learning Phase), when results are always unstable.

Approximate plan:
It's better to stop the current campaign since its history is corrupted. We will launch a new one.
We will set up a phased value transfer (start test → completion → payment) so that the algorithm learns step by step to find paying customers.
As a test, we completely remove the word "Free" to filter out non-target traffic. We shift the focus to the result: "Find gaps before NMТ. Investment in your score - 100 UAH."
Timeline and cost: Audit, analytics setup, and launch: 3-5 working days. Cost of work: $200–$250 (depending on the current state of GTM/GA4).
Campaign training: 10-14 days (the period when the campaign cannot be touched).

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 3 days

Hello! I have reviewed the project and am ready to start working. I am confident you will be satisfied with the result.

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 7 days

Good day, Kostiantyn!

I am Vladislav Kushnarov, specializing in contextual advertising and lead generation. Let's discuss your situation with the Performance Max campaign.

You can find several case studies of my work here: Freelancehunt. I work on projects in Ukraine, the USA, and the EU, where the return on advertising investment ranges from 200% to 800%. I am currently looking for new projects for collaboration.

Having reviewed your website, I see potential for optimization. It is important to determine which categories you consider a priority for sales. It is also necessary to understand if advertising campaigns have been launched before to conduct an audit.

Preparing and launching a campaign takes from 2 to 10 days, with a cost starting at $400.

I suggest continuing our communication in private messages or holding a meeting to discuss details and possible solutions.

Do I understand correctly that your main goal is to reduce CPA to a profitable level and attract paying customers? Expand

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

Good day, I am a certified specialist, so I will conduct a full audit and I can also make corrections.

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

Good day! I am ready to conduct an audit and readjust the Performance Max campaign for MudryiAI.

The sharp increase in CPA after changing the goal is most likely related to the campaign losing sufficient conversion volume for learning. At a Premium price of 100 UAH, the algorithm struggles to optimize solely for purchases, especially if there are currently few sales.

My work plan:

1. Check the accuracy of purchase tracking, their value, and other events through Google Ads, Google Analytics 4, and Google Tag Manager.
2. Analyze the campaign statistics before and after the goal change.
3. Set up micro-conversions: test completion, result viewing, proceeding to payment, and starting the checkout process.
4. Separate primary and secondary conversions so that the algorithm receives enough signals but optimizes specifically for sales.
5. If necessary, launch a new campaign instead of trying to restore the campaign with a disrupted learning history.
6. Check the budget, bidding strategy, audience signals, search topics, and exclude irrelevant traffic.
7. Update texts and creatives: shift the focus from "free test" to a personalized training plan, identifying weak topics, and results on the NMТ.
8. Prepare recommendations for further scaling and CPA control.

An important point: with a product price of 100 UAH, advertising has a very strict limitation on acceptable CPA. Therefore, I will separately check the funnel economics and suggest options for increasing conversion to payment or average check. Expand

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 7 days

Good day, Kostiantyn!

Changing goals in a Performance Max campaign often leads to algorithm instability, requiring careful optimization. I have experience in setting up contextual advertising and understand the specifics of EdTech.

I conducted a preliminary analysis of your campaign. Changing the goal to "Sales" without proper readjustment can lead to a sharp increase in CPA. I can prepare a document with examples of mistakes that hinder achieving the goals.

First steps for optimization:
1. I will conduct an audit of the campaign and analyze micro-conversions to adjust the algorithm to the correct goals.
2. I will determine priorities for updating creatives, focusing on the paying audience.
3. After data collection, I will prepare recommendations to reduce CPA to a profitable level.

In my profile, you can review examples of successful campaigns in various niches.

I suggest discussing the details of your project in private messages to determine the strategy and timeline for execution. Expand