Tools for optimization?

[stovetopmuse]

Most of the real optimization still ends up being manual, especially if you care about lead quality and not just platform metrics. I’ve tested a few automation layers over time, but they tend to optimize toward what the ad platform already wants, which is more volume. Where tools helped me was monitoring and flagging anomalies, not making decisions. Things like sudden query drift, device mix changes, or CPC spikes. The actual calls, cutting keywords, restructuring, adjusting intent, I still trust a human loop there. If you’re early, getting good at reading the account is way more valuable than adding automation on top of a shaky setup.

[khaberni]

I noticed that google ads now has an ai panel on the right that suggests titles, descriptions, keywords… etc. are they optimal? I don’t know. I personally saw a drop in my CPC from $3 to $1.5 when i optimized my geos for the same budget and same campaign.

[ppcwithyrv]

this seems like spam

[QuantumWolf99]

Most optimization tools are pure garbage because they’re built for people who don’t understand the platforms… if you actually know what you’re doing the native platforms give you everything you need plus the tools usually make decisions based on surface metrics that tank performance long term.

I manage accounts spending $200K+ monthly (so i know what works at scale) and honestly 90% of optimization is just checking the data daily and making small strategic adjustments based on what the numbers are telling you… the only external tool worth using is a proper analytics dashboard like Looker Studio or Supermetrics to pull cross-platform data into one view so you’re not tab-switching between Google Ads, Meta, GA4, and your CRM all day.

Main issue IMO isn’t tools… it’s knowing what to optimize for. Most people chase CPCs or CTRs when they should be focused on backend metrics like customer LTV, contribution margin per channel, and cohort retention rates because those determine if you’re actually making money or just burning budget on vanity metrics that look good in reports but don’t drive profit.

For my clients in ECOM and lead gen I build custom dashboards that show blended ROAS across all channels, new vs returning customer splits, and day-parting performance so we can shift budgets in real time based on what’s actually converting not what some AI tool thinks should work… the accounts that scale profitably are the ones where decisions come from understanding the business economics not from letting software auto-optimize toward the wrong goals.