Save $2,000+ in Ad Spend with This Click Fraud Protection Strategy

If you’re running Google Ads campaigns, whether for yourself or as part of a digital marketing agency, click fraud is something you need to be aware of. Click fraud can silently drain your advertising budget, making your campaigns less efficient and increasing costs. Today, we’re diving deep into how we use ClickCease to combat click fraud and how it has saved thousands of dollars in ad spend.

What is Click Fraud & Why Should You Care?

Click fraud is the malicious or accidental practice of clicking on paid ads without the intent to convert. This often happens when:
  • Competitors click your ads repeatedly to exhaust your daily budget.
  • Users mistakenly click your ad multiple times and leave without taking action.
  • Bots and fraudulent devices generate fake clicks to manipulate ad traffic.
In our experience, up to 15% of paid clicks can be fraudulent. That means if you’re spending $10,000 per month on Google Ads, you could be wasting $1,500 on useless clicks.

How ClickCease Prevents Click Fraud

Clickcease prevent click fraud

We use ClickCease, an advanced click fraud protection tool, on all our client campaigns. ClickCease automatically detects and blocks fraudulent clicks in real-time, ensuring your budget is spent on actual potential customers, not bots or competitors.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Features of ClickCease:

  • Blocks duplicate and repeat clicks from the same user.
  • Identifies fraudulent devices and VPN users attempting to mask their activity.
  • Prevents bots from clicking your ads and draining your budget.
  • Detects invalid clicks from suspicious IP addresses and blocks them.
  • Prevents clicks from outside your target location (especially useful for local businesses).

Case Study: Saving $2,192 in One Month

To show just how effective ClickCease is, let’s look at one of our electrician campaigns in a highly competitive market.
  • Average Cost Per Click (CPC): $29
  • Fraudulent Clicks Detected: Multiple threat levels (low, substantial, critical)
  • Click Fraud Sources: VPNs, multiple duplicate clicks, bots
  • Amount Saved in One Month: $2,192
That’s money that would have otherwise been wasted, now reallocated to drive actual leads and conversions.

Add Your Heading Text Here

Setting up ClickCease is quick and easy. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Connect ClickCease to Your Google Ads Account

  • Go to ClickCease.com and sign up.
  • In ClickCease, go to Account Billing & Domains → Add a new domain.
  • Select your industry (home services, eCommerce, legal, etc.).
  • Click Google Ads → Connect with Google or manually enter your Google Ads account ID.
  • Accept the Google Ads Client Center request in Tools & Settings → Access & Security.

2. Enable ClickCease Tracking in Google Ads

  • In Google Ads, navigate to Settings → Account Settings → Tracking.
  • Ensure the ClickCease tracking template is installed.
  • Copy the tracking template from ClickCease and add it to your Google Ads account.

3. Add ClickCease Code to Your Landing Pages

  • Go to Domain Settings → Tracking Setup.
  • Copy the ClickCease script.
  • Paste it inside the tag of all landing pages using Google Tag Manager or directly in the site code.

4. Adjust Fraud Detection Settings

Inside ClickCease, you can customize click protection rules, such as:
  • Limit how many times a user can click an ad in a set time period (e.g., no more than 3 clicks in 7 days).
  • Automatically block suspicious IPs.
  • Restrict clicks by country (useful for local businesses targeting specific locations).

How Much Money Can You Save With ClickCease?

Across five different accounts, ClickCease saved us over $5,000 in just 30 days. Considering ClickCease starts at only $69/month, the return on investment is undeniable.
If you’re an agency managing multiple campaigns, the agency plan costs $87/month and protects all client accounts under one subscription. That means you could save thousands while keeping your clients’ budgets efficient and protected.

Why We Never Run a Google Ads Campaign Without ClickCease

Since discovering ClickCease four years ago, we’ve never launched a Google Ads campaign without it. The results speak for themselves.

GET CLICKCEASE AT A SPECIAL DISCOUNT

If you want to start protecting your ad spend and saving money, use our special link below to sign up for ClickCease.

PREFER TO LET THE EXPERTS HANDLE IT?

If you’d rather focus on running your business and leave the ads to the professionals, Mancini Digital can help. We specialize in Google Ads for home service businesses, ensuring you get more calls, appointments, and revenue without the hassle of managing campaigns yourself.

Service Marketing Simplified: A Game-Changer for Local Home Service Businesses

If you own a local home service business, this guide is for you. Marketing your business effectively online can be challenging, especially when you’re unsure where to start or lack the budget to hire an agency. That’s where Service Marketing Simplified comes in—a comprehensive training program designed by two seasoned digital marketing experts, Mike Manini and Joe Bernich.

Meet the Experts Behind the Training

Mike Mancini, a Google Ads agency owner with 11 years of experience, and Joe Burnich, an expert in SEO and website design for local businesses, have joined forces to create a training program tailored to home service business owners. Over the last five years, their expertise has helped thousands of businesses thrive in the digital space.

Why This Training Exists

Many business owners struggle with marketing because they:
  • Are just starting out and lack resources.
  • Have a small or growing business and don’t know which strategies to prioritize.
  • Can’t afford an agency but want to learn how to market their business properly.
Service Marketing Simplified is designed to bridge that gap. It offers step-by-step guidance, actionable strategies, and a community of like-minded business owners who can support each other’s growth.

What’s Inside the Training?

The program covers every aspect of digital marketing for local home service businesses, including:

 

Google Business Profile Optimization

  • How to set up your Google Business Profile correctly.
  • Techniques to optimize your profile for better rankings.
  • Strategies for driving customer reviews and improving credibility.

Google Ads Training (Taught by Mike Mancini)

  • How to set up and run your own Google Ads campaigns.
  • Selecting the right keywords and targeting for high ROI.
  • Writing effective ads that convert clicks into customers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (Led by Joe Burnich)

  • The fundamentals of local SEO and how to get your website ranked.
  • Fixing existing website issues for better search visibility.
  • How to generate quality content that attracts leads.

Email Marketing for Service Businesses

  • How to collect customer emails easily.
  • Setting up automated email campaigns to drive repeat business.
  • Ready-to-use email templates designed for home service businesses.

Offline Marketing Tactics

  • Cost-effective Guerilla Marketing strategies to gain local customers.
  • Traditional marketing methods that still work without breaking the bank.

30-Day Marketing Checklist

  • A step-by-step guide to help business owners implement key strategies.
  • Daily and weekly actions to improve online visibility and lead generation.
  • A roadmap that allows business owners to scale at their own pace.

A Training Program That’s More Than Just Videos

Service Marketing Simplified is not just another online course—it’s a community-driven platform where members can:
  • Ask questions & get expert answers from Mike, Joe, and other experienced marketers.
  • Interact with fellow business owners, exchange ideas, and learn what’s working for others. Access exclusive live training, Q&As, and webinars to stay ahead of digital marketing trends.
  • All live training sessions are recorded and uploaded for members to revisit anytime.

Why This Training is Different

Unlike other courses that just scratch the surface, this program gives you everything you need to market your business effectively. The lessons are practical, actionable, and results-driven, designed by professionals who actually run successful marketing agencies.
 
Most importantly, this is a hands-on training where you can apply what you learn as you go—without the overwhelming complexity of traditional marketing courses.

Is This Training Right for You?

Is This Training Right for You?

  • If you’re a business owner struggling with marketing, this program WILL help you.
  • If you want to learn how to generate leads & grow your business, this is for you.
  • If you can’t afford a marketing agency but need expert guidance, this is the perfect solution.
  • If you’re serious about taking control of your business’s online presence, you belong here.

We can’t wait to help you grow your business.

Marketing your local home service business doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Service Marketing Simplified gives you the tools, knowledge, and support you need to succeed without spending a fortune on agencies.

Google Ads Advertiser Verification: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re running Google Ads, you may have heard about the Google Ads Advertiser Verification process—but what exactly is it, and do you really need to do it? In this guide, we’ll break down what the verification process is, why it matters, how to complete it, and why you should take it seriously.

What is Google Ads Advertiser Verification?

Google introduced the Advertiser Verification process to ensure that only legitimate businesses run ads on its platform. This helps prevent fraudulent advertisers, scammers, and illegitimate businesses from exploiting Google Ads. Although the verification process is straightforward, failing to complete it on time can result in your ads being paused indefinitely.

Why Google Ads Verification Matters

  • Prevents ad fraud: Google weeds out bad actors and ensures only real businesses run ads.
  • Keeps your ads running: If Google asks you to verify and you don’t do it within 30 days, your ads will stop running.
  • Unlocks ad features: Verified advertisers may get access to additional ad features like images in search ads.
  • Boosts credibility: Users can see if an advertiser is verified, increasing trust in your business.

How to Check If You Need to Verify Your Google Ads Account

Google randomly selects accounts for verification, and there is no set timeline for when an advertiser will be required to complete it.

Here’s how to check:

  1. Log into your Google Ads account.
  2. Go to Tools & Settings.
  3. Click on “Advertiser Verification.”
  4. If Google has requested verification, you will see an option to Start Verification.
  5. If no option appears, it means you haven’t been selected yet—but Google may notify you at any time.
Important: If you receive a notification from Google, you must complete verification within 30 days. If you fail to do so, your ads will stop running and may take additional time to reactivate even after verification is completed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Google Ads Verification

1. Start the Verification Process

  • Go to Tools & Settings → Advertiser Verification.
  • Click Start Verification.
  • You will be asked whether you are an advertising agency or a business owner running your own ads.

2. Provide Business Details

  • Enter your legal business name.
  • Provide your business address.
  • If applicable, enter your DUNS (Dun & Bradstreet) number (not required for all businesses).

3. Submit Business Documentation

If Google cannot automatically verify your details, you will need to upload one of the following:
  • An IRS-stamped EIN letter (for U.S. businesses).
  • A business license or certificate of incorporation.
  • Utility bills or bank statements matching your business name and address.

4. Wait for Google’s Approval

  • Google typically reviews and approves verification within a few days.
  • If verification fails, try re-submitting the requested documents.

What Happens If You Ignore the Verification Request?

If you don’t complete verification within 30 days, Google will pause all ads associated with your account. Even after completing verification late, your ads may not be reactivated immediately, as Google’s review process can take additional time.

 

The Benefits of Being Verified

Besides preventing ad interruptions, being a verified advertiser also enhances your ad performance. Verified advertisers may gain access to additional ad features, such as images in search ads, which can improve click-through rates and conversions.
 
Additionally, users can see if an advertiser is verified, which adds credibility to your business and makes potential customers more likely to trust your ads.
 

Final Thoughts: Get Verified ASAP

Google Ads Advertiser Verification is quick, easy, and essential to keeping your ads running. It takes just a few minutes to complete and prevents unnecessary disruptions to your advertising campaigns.
 
If you received a verification request, don’t wait—complete it now!

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

If you want to learn how to build, optimize, and scale your Google Ads campaigns successfully, check out my Ads Agency Unlocked course. In it, I teach everything from setting up profitable campaigns to growing your agency and managing clients.

Here's Some Other Helpful Posts:

Why You Should Avoid Google Ads Rep Recommendations & Protect Your Budget

If you’re running a Google Ads campaign—whether for yourself or your agency—you’ve likely received calls from Google Ads representatives offering suggestions to improve your account. While these reps claim to be helping you, the reality is that many of their recommendations are designed to benefit Google’s bottom line, not yours.

The Hidden Agenda Behind Google Ads Rep Recommendations

Many advertisers unknowingly fall into the trap of following Google’s automated suggestions, only to see their costs skyrocket and conversions drop. The changes they recommend often result in higher ad spend, lower quality leads, and ultimately, a belief that Google Ads “just don’t work.”
 
As an agency managing multiple campaigns, we make it a point to warn our clients about these rep calls. We tell them:
 
  • 🚫 Do not accept changes without consulting us first.
  • 🚫 Do not make adjustments in the campaign without understanding their impact.

Case Study: The Costly Mistake of Following Google’s Suggestions

Let’s look at a real campaign where a client took a Google Ads rep’s advice. This holiday season campaign initially had an average cost per click (CPC) of $21.22 and was running efficiently.
 
Google Ad Rep Recommendations Drive up Costs
However, after following a rep’s suggested changes, here’s what happened:
 
  • The daily spend jumped from $127 to $593 overnight.
  • CPC spiked from $21 to $59.
  • One click even cost $89.
  • In one day alone, the client had two clicks averaging $100 per click.
This is exactly what happens when Google Ads reps take control of your campaign settings.

Common Google Ads Rep “Suggestions” That Cost You More

If you’re wondering which settings are causing this, here’s a breakdown of some of the worst recommendations Google reps commonly push:

1. ❌ Adding Broad Match Keywords

Broad match keywords automatically expand your reach, but they often lead to irrelevant traffic and wasted ad spend. If you don’t know how to refine them with negative keywords, your budget can vanish on useless clicks.
 
✅ Instead: Use phrase match or exact match keywords and manually refine your targeting.

2. ❌ Turning On Maximize Conversions Too Early

Maximize conversions bidding sounds great in theory, but it relies on Google’s algorithm to optimize bids for conversions. The problem? New campaigns don’t have enough conversion data for Google to optimize efficiently.
 
✅ Instead: Start with manual bidding and transition to Maximize Conversions only after hitting at least 20–30 conversions per month.

3. ❌ Setting a High Target Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

For example, Google might suggest setting a CPA of $80 per lead, even when similar campaigns have shown leads are possible at much lower costs. Because Google doesn’t have enough data early on, their default CPA recommendations tend to be inflated.
 
✅ Instead: Gradually optimize bids manually before allowing Google to take control.

How to Prevent Google From Making Automated Changes

If you want to protect your ad budget, you need to disable automatic recommendations inside Google Ads. Here’s how:

1. Turn Off Auto-Apply Recommendations

  1. Log into Google Ads and go to your Campaigns.
  2. Click on Recommendations in the left menu.
  3. Select Auto Apply and deselect all options.

How to Turn Off Automatically Generated Assets - Recommendations in Google Ads Settings

2. Disable Auto-Apply in Account Settings

  1. Go to SettingsAccount Settings.
  2. Locate Auto Apply Settings and turn it off.
Google frequently re-enables these settings, so it’s crucial to check back periodically to ensure they remain off.

Locate Auto Apply in Google Ads account Settings and turn it off

Have You Been Affected by Google Rep Recommendations?

If you’ve experienced similar issues—where a Google rep’s advice resulted in wasted ad spend—let us know in the comments. Sharing your experiences can help other advertisers avoid the same mistakes.

Learn How to Run Google Ads Like a Pro

If you want to take full control of your Google Ads campaigns and avoid these costly pitfalls, check out my course Ads Agency Unlocked. This training covers how to set up, grow, and scale your Google Ads agency—without relying on bad advice from Google reps.

Prefer to Let the Experts Handle It?

If you’d rather focus on running your business and leave the ads to the professionals, Mancini Digital can help. We specialize in Google Ads for home service businesses, ensuring you get more calls, appointments, and revenue without the hassle of managing campaigns yourself.

Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads: The Ultimate Showdown for Home Service Businesses

When it comes to marketing your home service business, choosing between Google Ads and Facebook Ads can be challenging. While both platforms have their strengths, Google Ads is the clear winner for home service businesses. Let’s break down why Google Ads outperforms Facebook Ads in driving high-quality leads and real conversions.

Intent Matters: Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads

 

“Somebody breaks a toilet—there’s water rushing everywhere—they need help NOW. What do they do? They go to Google and type in ‘emergency plumber near me.’ They aren’t browsing Facebook hoping to stumble upon an ad for a plumber.”
 
Search Intent is Key: How Google Ads Outperforms Facebook Ads
One of the biggest reasons Google Ads dominates for home services is search intent. People on Google are actively looking for solutions. When they search for a service, they want immediate help—whether it’s a plumbing emergency, HVAC repair, or electrical issue.
 
Meanwhile, Facebook is an interruption-based platform. Users are scrolling through their feeds, watching videos, and engaging with content. They’re not actively searching for home services. So when your ad pops up, you’re hoping they’ll remember they need a plumber—not an effective strategy for urgent services.
 

Real-Time Results: Google Ads Delivers Immediate Calls

 
“With Google Ads, someone can literally see your ad, click on it, and call you instantly. They can book an appointment right there.”
 
Google Ads is designed for instant action. Users can click on your ad, visit your website, and call you right away. If your ad is optimized properly, you’re capturing customers at the exact moment they need your service.
 
Facebook Ads, on the other hand, often result in likes, comments, or clicks—but do those clicks turn into paying customers? Most of the time, they don’t. If your goal is to generate real leads who are ready to book, Google Ads wins hands down.
 

Targeting That Works: Precision with Google Ads

 
“Google allows you to target specific zip codes, cities, and service areas. You can even schedule ads to run only during your business hours.”
 
Smarter Targeting_ Reach the Right Audience with Google Ads
Both platforms offer advanced targeting, but Google Ads gives you geographic precision. You can target customers within a 5-mile radius of your service area, ensuring you’re reaching the right audience at the right time.
 
Facebook’s targeting is more interest-based, meaning you can reach people who “like” home improvement pages or DIY projects. But that doesn’t necessarily translate into leads. Homeowners aren’t browsing Facebook hoping to see an ad for an HVAC technician.
 

Pay-Per-Performance: Get What You Pay For

“With Google, you only pay when someone clicks your ad. Every dollar has the potential to turn into a real customer.”
 
Google Ads operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, meaning you only pay when someone actively engages with your ad. That means every dollar spent is going toward potential customers.
 
On Facebook, you often pay for impressions—meaning your ad is shown to thousands of users who might never engage. While your reach may be high, the return on investment is significantly lower.
 

Trust & Credibility: Why People Trust Google More

 
Google is the go-to platform when people need answers. When users search for a home service, they inherently trust the results. Being on Google gives your business an extra layer of credibility and authority.
 
Facebook doesn’t have the same level of trust. Users might see your ad and think, Why am I seeing this?—especially if they don’t remember interacting with a similar service before. This lack of immediate trust makes Facebook Ads less effective for urgent home services.

The Biggest Advantage: Lead Quality

“We tested over $50,000 in Facebook Ads for home service companies. The leads were cheaper, but the quality was awful. Only about 15% of leads actually responded.”
 
While Facebook Ads might generate cheaper leads, the problem is lead quality. People may sign up for an offer or click on your ad, but they often:
 
  • Provide fake phone numbers
  • Ignore follow-up calls and emails
  • Forget why they signed up in the first place
In contrast, Google leads are ready to buy. You’re reaching people who have an immediate problem and need your service. Instead of chasing down cold leads, you’re talking to homeowners who want to book an appointment today.
 

When to Use Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads

Google Ads is Best For:

  • Emergency and urgent home services (plumbing, roofing, electricians, etc.)
  • Businesses looking for high-intent leads
  • Companies that want instant customer calls and bookings
  • Trust-based businesses that rely on credibility
Facebook Ads - Ecommerce and Online Retail

Facebook Ads are Best For:

  • eCommerce and online retail
  • Brand awareness and long-term engagement
  • Content marketing and audience building
  • Retargeting existing customers

Final Verdict: Why Google Ads Wins

“If your goal is real-time leads, real bookings, and actual paying customers, Google Ads is the best choice for home service businesses.”
 
Google Ads works because it connects you with people actively searching for your services. Whether they need an emergency repair or a scheduled service, they are already looking for a solution—and Google helps them find you.
 
Facebook Ads can work for long-term brand awareness, but if you’re looking for real leads that turn into customers, Google Ads is the clear winner.

Want to Get More Leads Without the Guesswork?

Running a home service business is already a full-time job—figuring out Google ads shouldn’t be another one. At Mancini Digital, we specialize in Google Ads that bring in real, high-intent customers, so you can focus on what you do best.

How to STOP Google’s Automatically Created Assets From Draining Your Ad Budget

Google has once again made changes to its advertising platform—changes that they claim help businesses, but in reality, they may be costing advertisers thousands of dollars.

What Are Automatically Created Assets?

Google has been rolling out ACAs inside Google Ads campaigns for a while now. These assets include site links, callouts, dynamic business names, and logos that Google automatically applies to your campaigns. While they are meant to improve performance, they often lead to wasted spend and poor user experiences.
 
Even if you manually disable ACAs at the account level, Google may still override your settings and re-enable them—leading to unapproved changes in your campaigns.

The Hidden Cost of Automatically Created Assets

Our agency has been managing Google Ads for over 11 years, and we’ve seen a sharp decrease in campaign performance over the last few months. We dug deep into the issue and discovered that Google has been applying ACAs to our accounts—even after we explicitly turned them off. Here’s how it’s impacting ad spend:

 

How Automatically Generated Assets Drive up Costs

  • Google-generated site links have cost some campaigns upwards of $1,600 in unnecessary clicks.
  • ACAs often link to irrelevant sections of landing pages, reducing conversions and increasing bounce rates.
  • Even after manually pausing ACAs, Google has re-enabled them multiple times, adding new site links and costing advertisers hundreds of dollars overnight.

This is frustrating because advertisers should have full control over their campaigns, yet Google keeps auto-applying changes that don’t align with campaign goals.

How to Turn Off Automatically Created Assets

If you want to regain control of your campaigns and stop unnecessary spending, follow these steps:
 
  1. Go to Account Settings:
    • Open your Google Ads account.
    • Click on “Settings” at the top level.
    • Select “Account Settings.”
    • Look for “Auto Apply” settings and ensure they are turned off.
  2. Check Account-Level Automated Assets:
    • In the “Assets” section, click the More button.
    • Navigate to “Account Level Automated Assets.”
    • If any options appear, turn them off immediately.
  3. Disable Individual Assets:
    • Inside “More Advanced Settings,” look for additional automated assets like:
      • Dynamic Business Names
      • Dynamic Business Logos
      • Dynamic Callouts
    • Disable each of them by selecting “Concerned about performance” as the reason and saving your settings.
  4. Monitor Regularly:
    • Even if you’ve turned off ACAs, check back frequently.
    • Google has been known to re-enable these settings without notifying advertisers.
    • Stay proactive to prevent further budget waste.

Why This Matters for Your Google Ads Performance

If you’re running a high-budget campaign in a competitive industry, Google’s automated changes can be costly. When site links direct users to irrelevant parts of your landing page, it reduces conversions and increases wasted ad spend. Moreover, these automated additions often don’t align with your strategy, leading to poor campaign performance.

The Bigger Issue: Google’s Lack of Transparency

One of the biggest concerns here is that Google has not publicly announced these changes. As an agency, we only discovered this issue by manually investigating multiple accounts and noticing discrepancies.
 
Four days ago, these settings didn’t even exist in some accounts. Now, they are present and costing advertisers money. The lack of transparency and forced application of these assets make it harder for businesses to achieve optimal results with Google Ads.
 
Google’s automated changes may seem minor, but they have major financial implications. If you’re serious about maximizing your Google Ads performance, you need full control over your campaigns. Take action today—disable automatically created assets, monitor your settings, and optimize your ad spend effectively.

What You Should Do Next

If you are running Google Ads, take the following steps immediately:
 
  • Audit your campaigns—Check if ACAs have been applied to your account and disable them.
  • Track your ad spend—Compare previous months’ performance to see if unnecessary costs have increased.
  • Manually review assets—Ensure all site links, callouts, and business information are correct.
  • Share your experience—If this has happened to you, comment below and let others know so they can take action.

Prefer to Let the Experts Handle It?

Focus on running your business and leave the ads to the professionals. Mancini Digital specializes in Google Ads for home service businesses, ensuring you get more calls, appointments, and revenue without the hassle of managing campaigns yourself.