Answers
Straight answers to the questions clients ask us
Real prices, real timelines and real results from accounts we manage. Each page starts with a short answer, then shows the detail and the proof.
Google Ads
- How much does Google Ads management cost?Most agencies charge either a flat monthly fee or 10% to 20% of ad spend. At Luceds, management is a flat fee based on spend: $250 a month for up to $4,000 in ad spend, $550 for up to $12,000, and $950 above that. Your ad budget is paid to Google directly and is not included in the fee.Read the answer
- How long does Google Ads take to start working?Search ads can bring clicks and leads within a day or two of launch. Results become reliable after four to eight weeks, once the account has enough conversion data for smart bidding and the wasted search terms have been cut. Most of the improvement in cost per lead usually happens in months two and three.Read the answer
- Should I hire a Google Ads agency, a freelancer, or do it in-house?Do it yourself if you spend under about $1,000 a month and have time to learn. Hire a freelancer for a single, simple account. Choose an agency when spend is significant, when you need tracking, landing pages and reporting handled together, or when you cannot afford gaps if one person is away. Hire in-house once spend justifies a full salary.Read the answer
- Why is my Google Ads cost per lead so high?The usual causes are irrelevant search terms eating the budget, broad match keywords without negatives, broken or duplicate conversion tracking that misleads smart bidding, Performance Max spending on low-intent placements, and landing pages that load slowly or ask too much. Fixing tracking and search terms first typically gives the fastest drop in cost per lead.Read the answer
- Should I use Performance Max or Search campaigns?Start with Search when you sell a service people actively look for, because you control keywords and see exactly what triggers your ads. Add Performance Max when you have reliable conversion tracking, enough monthly conversions, and good images or video, such as an online store or a business that wants store visits. Many accounts run both, with brand terms protected.Read the answer
SEO and AI search
- How do I get my business mentioned in ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and other AI answers?AI answers are built from search indexes. Google AI Overviews and AI Mode use Google's index, ChatGPT search and Copilot lean on Bing, and Perplexity searches the web live. To be cited, be indexed on Google and Bing, answer specific questions clearly on your own site, publish original numbers, and get mentioned on trusted third-party sites like reviews, directories and articles.Read the answer
- Does SEO still work now that Google shows AI Overviews?Yes, but the goal has changed. AI Overviews and AI Mode pick their sources from pages that already rank, so SEO is how you get cited. What no longer works is generic blog posts answering simple questions, because Google now answers those itself. Focus on specific buyer questions, original data, service and location pages, and your reputation across the web.Read the answer
Meta Ads
Websites
By country
- How do I choose a Google Ads agency in the United States?Choose a US Google Ads agency that lets you own the account, sets up call and form tracking before spending, charges a clear fee separate from ad spend, and can show cost per lead results for businesses like yours. In competitive US markets, tight location targeting by state, city or ZIP code and strong negative keyword lists matter more than budget size.Read the answer
- How do I choose a Google Ads agency in the United Kingdom?Pick a UK Google Ads agency that writes in British English, targets by postcode or region rather than the whole country, lets you own the account, tracks calls and forms properly, and charges a clear monthly fee separate from ad spend. Ask for real cost per lead numbers and a written 30 day plan before signing.Read the answer
- How do I choose a Google Ads agency in Canada?Choose a Canadian Google Ads agency that can run English and French campaigns where needed, targets by province or city, lets you own the account, tracks calls and forms, and charges a clear fee separate from ad spend. If you advertise in Quebec, make sure they plan French ads and landing pages from the start.Read the answer
- How do I choose a Google Ads agency in Australia?Pick an Australian Google Ads agency that targets by state, city or postcode, writes in Australian English, keeps ad claims within Australian Consumer Law, lets you own the account, tracks every call and form, and charges a clear fee separate from your ad budget. Ask for real cost per lead results before you sign.Read the answer
- How do I choose a Google Ads agency in New Zealand?Choose a New Zealand Google Ads agency that understands smaller search volumes, so it builds fewer, broader campaigns that gather data quickly, targets by region, lets you own the account, tracks calls and forms, and charges a clear fee separate from ad spend. Ask how they will get smart bidding enough conversions to learn.Read the answer