How is Performance Max different from a standard Google Search campaign?
Performance Max is a single campaign type that runs across Google Search, Shopping, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps simultaneously using one budget. Unlike Search campaigns, you do not bid on individual keywords — the algorithm decides where to show your ads based on conversion signals and audience data. This breadth is the appeal, but it also means that without correct configuration the algorithm will follow the path of least resistance rather than your business objective.
Does Performance Max replace Smart Shopping campaigns?
Google migrated all Smart Shopping campaigns to Performance Max in 2022. The new campaign type includes all the placements Smart Shopping used, plus Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps. UK retailers who have not revisited their campaign settings since the migration are often running with the default configurations Google applied during the transition, which are rarely optimal for their specific product catalogue or customer profile.
Why is brand cannibalism a problem specific to PMax?
Standard Search campaigns can be tightly controlled with keyword lists and negative keywords. PMax has very limited keyword exclusion options natively — it will serve on branded queries unless you explicitly add brand exclusion lists at the campaign level and protect branded terms through a separate Search campaign with higher priority. Without this setup, your PMax ROAS figure includes conversions from users who were already searching for your brand name, which overstates the campaign's true contribution to growth.
How much does the audit cost and what does it include?
The five-day audit covers a full conversion tracking review, asset group analysis, audience signal assessment, brand exclusion audit, and a written rebuild plan. Pricing is confirmed during the initial call based on account size and complexity. There is no retainer requirement — the audit is a standalone deliverable, and you choose whether to proceed with the rebuild.
How long does it take to see results after a PMax rebuild?
PMax requires a learning phase after any significant structural change, typically two to four weeks. You should expect performance to be variable during this period. Measurable improvement in verified new-customer metrics generally becomes visible in the four-to-eight-week window after launch, depending on the volume of conversion data the account generates each week. We share weekly performance updates throughout so you can see the trajectory as it develops.