SEA & Google Ads
Google Ads campaigns billed per click, generating qualified leads from day one while SEO builds up momentum in the background.
Organic search takes time to pay off — several months to establish a lasting position on genuinely competitive queries. In the meantime, SEA (Search Engine Advertising) gets you straight to the top of Google for the searches that matter to your business, as early as the day after your campaigns go live. The two levers aren’t in competition: they complement each other, each covering for what the other takes longer to build.
The campaign types that matter for a local business
Not all Google Ads campaigns are equally relevant for a French Riviera business. Search campaigns remain the foundation: they target clear commercial-intent queries, things like “web agency Antibes” or “plumber Nice”, at the exact moment someone is actively looking for a provider. We also work on visibility through Google Maps and Local Services, particularly relevant for businesses that depend on a nearby customer base. Finally, remarketing campaigns re-engage visitors who already came to your site without taking action — often the segment that converts best, precisely because they already know you.
A budget you control from end to end
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a large advertising budget to get started: you set a daily or monthly budget, and your campaigns are billed per click (CPC) — you only pay when an interested visitor actually clicks your ad. That budget can be adjusted at any time based on your results and current priorities, which makes it a flexible lever, particularly useful for absorbing a one-off spike in activity without a long-term commitment.
Tracking conversions, not just traffic
A click is worth nothing if it never turns into a call or an enquiry. We set up conversion tracking that goes beyond simple visit counts: calls triggered from the ad, forms submitted, appointments booked. That tracking follows the same reporting discipline as our organic SEO work, built on real data from Google Search Console and your campaigns rather than vague metrics that say nothing about your actual return on investment.
An example seasonal scenario
Take a representative example, not a real client case: a hotel or events business on the French Riviera sees a large share of its bookings concentrate in the weeks leading up to a major local date — a festival, a trade show, the summer peak season. A targeted Search campaign, launched a few weeks ahead of that window and focused on the most commercial queries, captures that demand exactly when it appears, without waiting for organic SEO to take effect, which builds more slowly over such a short period.
Our process, step by step
We start with a sector and competitor analysis to identify high-potential keywords, including highly local long-tail searches (something like “organic hairdresser Antibes” often converts better than a generic keyword). We systematically exclude negative keywords to avoid paying for off-target clicks, write the ad copy and set up conversion tracking before the first campaign goes live. Bids are then continuously refined against your goals (cost per acquisition, click maximisation, conversions), with regular reporting that shows you exactly what your budget is producing.
What’s included
- Market research and keyword selection (including local long-tail)
- Search, Local Services/Maps and remarketing campaigns suited to your business
- Ad copywriting and extension choices (call, location, promotion)
- Precise geo-targeting and optimised time-of-day scheduling
- Conversion tracking (calls, forms, bookings), not just traffic
- Dedicated, fast landing pages to maximise conversion rate
- Regular reporting built on real data, not vague metrics
SEO and SEA: two complementary levers
Organic SEO builds free, lasting visibility, but it takes time. SEA fills that gap, or gives a targeted boost during a key period of activity, an opening or a launch. Businesses that combine both usually get the best long-term return on investment — we systematically design our SEA campaigns to align with the organic SEO strategy already in place or under way.
Who it’s for
Businesses that need qualified leads fast — a new launch, a slow season to fill, a seasonal spike to plan for, or a complement to an SEO strategy already under way. We regularly run this kind of campaign for businesses in Cannes and Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
Frequently asked questions
Does SEA replace organic SEO?
No, the two are complementary. SEA provides immediate visibility that stops as soon as the budget stops, while SEO builds free, lasting visibility that takes longer to establish. Combining both usually delivers the best result.
What's the minimum budget to launch a Google Ads campaign?
There's no universal figure — the budget depends on your sector, your targeting area and your goals, and can be adjusted at any time. We help you set a realistic starting budget and then refine it based on the results you see.
How do I know if my campaigns are actually profitable?
Through conversion tracking (calls, forms, bookings) that we set up from launch, not just click or visit counts. That tracking is what tells you how much a customer actually costs you through your ads.
Is SEA useful for a highly seasonal business?
Yes, it's actually one of the most effective use cases. A Search campaign targeted at the few weeks before a busy period captures demand immediately, without waiting for the slower effect of organic SEO.
Can I stop a campaign at any time?
Yes, unlike a fixed commitment, a Google Ads campaign can be paused or adjusted at any time depending on your activity, your results or your available budget.
Do you also handle remarketing to visitors who haven't contacted or bought yet?
Yes, our remarketing campaigns re-engage people who already visited your site without taking action — usually the segment that converts best, because they already know you.
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