Interview With Alamgir (Google Ads Consultant)

1) Where were you born and raised? Also tell us something unique about yourself.

I was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, one of South Asia's emerging tech hubs, which sparked my interest in digital marketing early on.Something unique about me is my proven track record in Google Ads, where I achieved a 300% increase in online visibility and 250% ROAS for my first client by combining local market insights with data-driven campaign optimization. I take pride in my ability to craft campaigns that bridge cultural nuances with performance metrics.

2) What got you interested in marketing and what was your journey?

My marketing journey began when I noticed local businesses in Lahore struggling to establish their online presence. What truly sparked my interest was running my first Google Ads campaign, where I saw how data-driven marketing could directly impact business growth.I started by getting Google Ads certified and experimenting with small budgets. Through continuous learning and optimization, I progressed from managing basic search campaigns to implementing full-funnel strategies across Search, Display, and YouTube.

Key milestones include managing campaigns with Rs.50,000+ monthly spend, achieving consistent ROAS above 200%, and helping five local businesses successfully expand their market reach through targeted Google Ads campaigns.

What keeps me passionate about digital marketing is the perfect blend of analytics and creativity, along with the measurable impact we can make on business outcomes.

3) What skills and industry do you specialize in?

I specialize in Lead Gen and e-commerce, with core expertise in Google Ads campaign management. My key skills include:

- Search campaign optimization with advanced keyword research and negative keyword management

- Shopping campaigns with proven experience in product feed optimization

- Performance Max campaign setup and optimization

- Google Analytics integration for enhanced conversion tracking

- Google Tag Manager implementation

- A/B testing and data-driven decision making

- Budget management and ROAS optimization

I have particularly strong experience in the fashion and consumer electronics verticals, where I've consistently achieved above-benchmark CTRs and maintained ROAS above 400% for my campaigns.

4) What is your best soft skill?

My strongest soft skill is adaptability, which has proven invaluable in digital marketing. For example, when Google Ads rolled out Performance Max campaigns, I quickly mastered the new format and helped transition clients' traditional campaigns while maintaining performance metrics. This adaptability extends to working with diverse clients - from understanding their unique business challenges to adjusting communication styles based on their technical knowledge level.

This skill has helped me maintain successful client relationships while staying ahead of Google Ads' frequent platform updates and evolving best practices.

5) What softwares and tools do you use regularly?

I regularly use the following tools:

Core Advertising Tools:

- Google Ads platform

- Google Analytics 4

- Google Tag Manager

- Google Merchant Center

- Google Search Console

Supporting Tools:

- SEMrush for keyword research and competitor analysis

- Google Sheets for reporting and data analysis

- Google Data Studio/Looker Studio for dashboard creation

- Canva for ad creative design

Automation Tools:

- Google Ads Editor for bulk campaign management

- Google Ads Scripts for automated optimizations

- Zapier for workflow automation

I'm also proficient in Excel for advanced data analysis.

6) What are your goals for the next year and into the future?

For the next year, my primary goals are to:

- Become a recognized Google Ads premium partner, managing enterprise-level accounts

- Lead and mentor junior marketers in digital advertising

- Stay at the forefront of emerging ad technologies and automation

- Eventually grow into a strategic digital marketing leadership role

7) What has been the hardest thing you dealt with in your career path?

One of the most challenging situations I faced was adapting to Google's shift toward automated solutions, particularly when Performance Max campaigns were introduced. I had clients who were seeing strong results with traditional campaign structures, and convincing them to embrace this change was difficult.

I tackled this challenge by:

- First testing Performance Max on a small portion of the budget

- Creating detailed before-and-after performance reports

- Educating clients about the benefits while acknowledging their concerns

- Developing a gradual transition strategy that minimized performance risks

While initially stressful, this experience taught me valuable lessons about change management, client communication, and the importance of data-backed decisions. It ultimately led to improved campaign performance and stronger client relationships.

8) What is the biggest mistake you made that you want others to avoid?

My biggest learning experience came early in my Google Ads career when I failed to set up proper conversion tracking before launching a high-budget campaign. I assumed the basic tracking was sufficient, but we later discovered we weren't capturing important micro-conversions and phone calls. This led to incomplete performance data for the first month and made optimization decisions challenging.From this experience, I learned to:

- Always double-check tracking setup using Test Mode

- Implement comprehensive conversion tracking before spending

- Set up Google Tag Manager properly from day one

- Create a pre-launch checklist that I now strictly follow

This mistake taught me that rushing to launch without proper measurement infrastructure can compromise campaign success. Now, I always ensure robust tracking is in place and verified before activating any campaign.

9) Who are your favorite people in the industry that you follow?

I regularly follow several influential experts in the Google Ads and digital marketing space:

- Neil Patel for his practical insights on digital marketing strategies

- Frederick Vallaeys , former Google Ads evangelist and Optmyzr CEO, for his deep technical expertise

- Ginny Marvin , Google's Ads Product Liaison, for official updates and best practices

- Brad Geddes for advanced Google Ads tactics and automation strategies

- Aleyda Solís for her comprehensive digital marketing insights

10) Who has had the biggest influence on your career to date?

My biggest career influence has been Frederick Vallaeys, former Google Ads evangelist. His approach to blending automation with human strategy significantly shaped my perspective on Google Ads management. Through his content and books, particularly 'Digital Marketing in an AI World', I learned to embrace automation while maintaining strategic control over campaigns. His teachings influenced me to:

- Adopt a data-driven approach while valuing human insight

- Stay ahead of automation trends without losing sight of core marketing principles

- Focus on strategic thinking rather than just tactical execution

- Balance technological advancement with practical business needs

Following his guidance helped me transition from basic campaign management to developing sophisticated, automation-enhanced strategies that consistently deliver results."

11) What has been your favorite course that you taken and why?

The Google Analytics for Power Users course has been my most valuable learning experience. What set it apart was its comprehensive coverage of advanced analytics tracking and its direct application to Google Ads optimization. The course taught me to:

- Set up enhanced e-commerce tracking

- Create custom audience segments

- Develop advanced attribution models

- Use predictive analytics for campaign optimization

- Connect GA4 insights with Google Ads strategies

I found it particularly valuable because it bridged the gap between data collection and actionable insights. I immediately applied this knowledge to improve ROAS by 40% for an e-commerce client by identifying better-performing customer segments and adjusting bidding strategies accordingly.

12) What would you tell yourself or someone who is just starting out in marketing?

For someone starting in digital marketing, particularly Google Ads, I would advise:

Start with the fundamentals:

- Master Google Ads basics before diving into advanced features

- Get all Google certifications - they're free and invaluable

- Focus on understanding conversion tracking and analytics first

Practical tips:

- Start with small budgets to learn without risk

- Document everything - successes and failures

- Test different campaign types, but master Search ads before exploring others

-Always have conversion tracking set up before launching campaigns

Growth mindset:

- Don't fear automation - learn to work with it

- Stay updated with Google's constant changes

- Join online communities for peer learning

- Learn to read and trust the data

The most important advice: measure everything and make decisions based on data, not assumptions. What worked yesterday might not work today in digital marketing

13) If the entire world was listening to you, what would you have to say?

My message would be: 'Don't fear automation and AI - embrace it while developing your strategic thinking skills. The future belongs to those who can combine technological tools with human creativity and empathy. Whether you're running Google Ads campaigns or pursuing any other goal, let data inform your decisions but don't let it limit your vision. Test, measure, adapt, and never stop learning. This approach has helped me achieve consistent results in digital marketing, and I believe it's applicable across many fields as we move into an increasingly digital future.

14) Where can we find you?

You can connect with me professionally through: LinkedIn

I regularly share insights about:

- Google Ads best practices

- Campaign optimization strategies

- Digital marketing trends

- Performance marketing tips

I'm always open to connecting with fellow digital marketers and discussing strategies for campaign optimization.