How to Grow your Start-up Using PPC
September 16, 2016

Pay-Per-Click advertising is one of the quickest ways to
attract traffic to your website. Everyone knows that building your following organically can take quite a while - and for
start-ups in particular time is gold!
Most people who attempt to set up a PPC campaign, however, tend
to feel overwhelmed and often give up. There is
such a wealth of possibilities when it comes to PPC advertising and so many
different factors that need to be taken
into consideration – not to mention the industry jargon which confuses people – that most beginners
feel lost before even starting.
Despite these difficulties, we have identified a few simple
steps that can lead any start-up to create
a successful PPC campaign quickly and easily.
I would love to know what your thoughts are with regards to PPC. Are you planning to use PPC as part of your marketing?
- Always
start by defining your goals.
Like everything in marketing, PPC starts by
identifying your goals and objectives. Think about the results you want to
achieve through PPC, the areas you are looking to target, the type of user who
is most likely to engage with your ads and the product categories you would
like to promote through that channel. Having your goals clearly defined makes
you understand which of the available tools apply to you and which data to
focus on going forward.
- Identify
the best keywords.
Selecting which keywords to target is everything in PPC.
When it comes to keyword costs, certain industries can be quite expensive.
However, broader terms which are used
more often are usually more expensive, whereas
narrower, highly targeted terms often cost less.
Narrow terms are great if you are in a niche market. Tools such as Google’s
Keyword Planner which is available for free through AdWords can be a great help
in this area as it can develop keyword ideas
but also produce a budget forecast. Brainstorming with your team is also a great
way to generate keyword ideas that you could have missed if you were planning
to do this all by yourself.
- Set a
budget you are comfortable with.
One
of the greatest benefits of PPC advertising is the fact that it allows complete
flexibility in terms of selecting and
adjusting your daily budget. Taking Keyword Planner’s budget forecast into
consideration, choose a daily budget you are comfortable with investing. After
your campaign has been live for a certain period,
the daily budget can be adjusted
according to performance.
- Keep a
close eye on your campaign.
Be
prepared to
invest time on a daily
basis gauging your data and adjusting your ads. PPC advertising won’t work if
you ignore it and that is because the factors affecting it keep changing
constantly – remember, it is a live auction after all.
- Don’t be
afraid to seek help.
Not everything will make sense at first,
undoubtedly. Fear not, as you are not alone. Google support is
getting more and more user-friendly every day. You can now contact an AdWords Expert with the click of a button, via
phone or online chat – personally, I prefer the latter as it is easy to use even when in
the office without having to annoy my co-workers with lengthy phone calls.
- Keep
educating yourself.
Make sure you keep yourself informed of any changes or
new trends in the area of PPC. As a dynamic sector, PPC keeps evolving constantly. That requires a lot of reading on your
behalf, so make sure you always stay on top of things. If you ever feel left
behind, there are companies and experts who can conduct an audit of your ads and recommend the best practices to improve your visibility.
I would love to know what your thoughts are with regards to PPC. Are you planning to use PPC as part of your marketing?
Recent Posts

By Jamieson Lee Hill
•
March 5, 2026
Intelligent Call Handling That Converts Missed calls quietly drain revenue from small businesses every day. When Jamieson Lee Hill, founder of Blam Digital, interviewed CRM Developer and AI Automation Specialist Livingstone Kariuki at Blam HQ in Birmingham, the conversation focused on a simple but critical question: how do small businesses stop losing opportunities simply because they cannot answer the phone? Blam’s AI answering service for small businesses has been built to solve that exact problem. Designed in Birmingham, UK, and delivered through a network of 300 partner agencies across 10 countries , the system is engineered to move inbound calls toward meaningful outcomes rather than trapping callers in frustrating loops or dead ends. For businesses searching for a reliable AI phone answering service UK solution with international scalability, the model combines structured automation with human oversight. This is not a replacement for human service. It is a structured, intelligent call progression that protects revenue and improves operational efficiency.

February 24, 2026
Systems-Led Leadership at Blam Digital Grant Stain is the Founder and CEO of Blam Digital, established in 2015. His leadership approach is defined by long-term thinking, structured systems, and a deliberate focus on building agencies that remain stable through market shifts, technology change, and economic cycles. Rather than chasing fast growth or short-term tactics, Grant built Blam Digital as an infrastructure-first business. The intention was clear from the beginning: give agency owners a repeatable framework they can rely on, instead of forcing them to constantly reinvent services, pricing, and delivery. That approach now supports more than 300 partner agencies operating across 10 countries.

February 9, 2026
Serving SMEs, Schools, Councils, Sports Clubs If you run a school, local authority, SME, sports club, or charity, you do not need a clever website. You need a website that produces action. Enquiries, applications, bookings, donations, registrations, or the correct contact route. That is what AI websites that convert are built to deliver.Blam Digital delivers AI websites that convert through a certified partner network. AI is used to improve speed and insight, while human specialists handle strategy, structure, SEO, accessibility, and quality control. This ensures performance improves without increasing risk.

February 2, 2026
How Broken Digital Systems Kill Enquiries If your website is not generating enquiries, you are not imagining it. Many owners and decision-makers sense something is wrong long before they can explain why. The site looks fine. Traffic exists. Marketing activity is happening. But enquiries, orders, or meaningful actions remain weak or inconsistent. This article explains why websites fail to convert visitors into enquiries, what is usually broken underneath, and how organisations fix it without rebuilding everything. Blam Digital works with SMEs and organisations, including schools, sports clubs, charities, and local authorities, and sees the same structural problems repeatedly.

October 27, 2024
One topic that often comes up in my coaching sessions with budding entrepreneurs is imposter syndrome. It’s that feeling of not being “credible” enough or worrying that we might not truly deserve the roles we’ve claimed in our businesses. Often, this isn’t something people willingly share; rather, it’s a subject that usually needs to be coaxed out of them. Imposter syndrome is essentially the fear that we don’t know enough, aren’t authoritative, or simply aren’t “good enough” to do what we say we’re doing. I see this challenge all the time within the Blam Partnership Programme. For many people, joining Blam means diving into a whole new world of digital marketing. They become certified marketers within a few weeks, learning new knowledge and skills at a rapid pace. But because they’re just starting out, they lack the hands-on experience behind that knowledge, and that’s often when the imposter syndrome kicks in. Facing Imposter Syndrome Head-On When new Blam partners step out to meet potential clients, they might feel like they’re on shaky ground. Speaking to established business owners and advising them on their digital marketing is no small feat, especially if you’re just starting your own entrepreneurial journey. But here’s the key insight I always share: the process, the training, and the systems we use at Blam give them knowledge that, while fresh to them, is immensely valuable to the businesses they’re serving. The beauty of the Blam model is that once a Partner makes a sale, they can rely on a whole team of experts to deliver what’s been promised. This support system is there to back them up, and it allows Blam Partners to lean on their new knowledge with confidence, knowing there’s a skilled team to fulfill their commitments. Imposter Syndrome Never Truly Disappears The truth is, imposter syndrome doesn’t just vanish after the initial stages of business. It can resurface at any time, often when you’re about to tackle something new. I know this from experience because I still face it, even after years of building and coaching businesses. In fact, right now, I’m about to launch a YouTube channel to reach even more budding entrepreneurs, providing case studies, interviews, and entrepreneurial advice. And, yes, despite everything, there’s still that nagging question: Why would people want to listen to me? If I’m honest, it took me years to feel comfortable in front of the camera, and even longer to recognise that being the face of a brand can help you connect with the audience you’re aiming to support. Putting yourself out there can be challenging, especially when you’re committed to providing real value. Reframing Imposter Syndrome Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you lack knowledge or expertise. For my part, when I look back at my journey, I’ve coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, built seven-figure businesses, and, yes, had some failures. But those experiences form the foundation of my expertise, even if I sometimes feel like “little old me” isn’t the obvious choice to give advice. The takeaway is this: If you experience imposter syndrome, you’re in good company. I’d even argue that if we didn’t experience it, we might become arrogant, and that’s certainly not an endearing or effective way to connect with others. Embrace that inner doubt, but don’t let it hold you back. Instead, lean on the facts. Recognise the tools, training, and knowledge at your fingertips. In most instances, if you’re genuine and straightforward with your clients, you’ve got everything you need to deliver. Moving Forward with Confidence If you’re an entrepreneur dealing with imposter syndrome, remember that feeling unsure is part of the journey. Everyone feels it, it’s not a sign that you’re incapable, but rather that you’re pushing yourself to grow. Embrace that vulnerability, lean on the support systems you have in place, and trust in the value you bring to your clients. If you’d like to know more about the Blam Partnership Programme, check out the links below. And keep an eye out for my upcoming podcast, where I’ll dive deeper into topics like this and share more insights for those of you taking your first steps into the entrepreneurial world.



