Find the Best PPC Agency for eCommerce Success

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an eCommerce PPC Agency: A Profit-First Framework for Google Ads, Shopping & Performance Max

Most ecommerce brands looking for a PPC agency ask the wrong question:

“Who is the best Google Ads agency?”

The real question should be:

“Which agency can engineer profitable Google Ads and Performance Max campaigns that actually grow my bottom line?”

This guide introduces a profit-first evaluation framework that ecommerce founders, CMOs and growth leaders can use to choose a PPC agency built for sustainable, margin-safe scaling.

Where helpful, we reference public Google resources so readers can validate the technical parts.

1. Why choosing a PPC agency is so frequently a disaster

Most brands switch agencies after 3 to 6 months for the same reasons:

• Campaigns look “good” on ROAS but bad on the P&L

• Little to no transparency

• PMax running in full autopilot

• No SKU-level profit engineering

• No clear strategy beyond “raise ROAS target”

• Poor feed quality holding everything back

Google’s own documentation makes it clear: Performance Max and Shopping optimise to the data you give them. If that data doesn’t include profit signals, the system can’t protect your margins.

That’s why the average ROAS reported by agencies is almost meaningless on its own.

2. Introducing the Profit-First Agency Evaluation Framework

This framework flips the traditional agency search process. Instead of looking at who has:

• the prettiest case study

• the most awards

• the biggest office

• the highest ROAS screenshots

…you judge them on four things:

• Profit Intelligence

• PMax Engineering Capability

• Feed & Data Infrastructure

• Transparency & Reporting Discipline

These four pillars align perfectly with what drives actual profitability in Google Ads.

Let’s go through them.

3. Pillar 1: Profit Intelligence (POAS > ROAS)

Google Ads agencies love ROAS because it’s easy to manipulate and looks impressive. But ROAS ignores:

• COGS

• Shipping

• Packaging

• Discounts

• Payment fees

• Returns

• Staff costs

Which means you can have:

• 8x ROAS

• And still be losing money.

POAS (Profit On Ad Spend)solves this because it layers your margin data into the analysis.

A profit-driven PPC agency will:

• Request your margin, cost and contribution data

• Build custom labels for margin tiers

• Create campaigns around profitability, not just category

• Give you POAS and contribution margin in every report

If an agency can’t clearly explain POAS, value-based bidding or profit-weighted segmentation, they are not specialised enough.

If you want a primer for checking an agency’s claims, cross-reference with Google’s own guidance on value-based bidding and Shopping feed quality.

4. Pillar 2: Performance Max Engineering (not autopilot)

Performance Max is powerful, but only when engineered deliberately. Google openly acknowledges that PMax needs strong conversion signals and asset structure to perform.

A real PMax specialist will be able to show you:

• Asset group segmentation bymargin,AOV,lifecycle roleandintent

• Offline conversions feeding back to Google

• Value rules for new vs returning customers

• Negative keyword governance

• Budget separation for acquisition vs branded demand

• Custom experiments running in parallel

If their PMax setup is:

• one campaign

• one asset group

• one ROAS target

…run.

For independent validation, cross-reference with technical PMax guides that break down signal-based optimisation.

5. Pillar 3: Product Feed & Data Infrastructure

Your feed controls nearly everything about Google Shopping and Performance Max.

Google explicitly states that feed quality, product titling and product-type hierarchy impact ranking, CPC and traffic quality.

A true ecommerce PPC agency must:

• Optimise titles down to keyword-level intent

• Build a clean, hierarchical product_type structure

• Use custom labels for:margin tierslifecycle roleprice bandsinventory status

• Ensure GTIN accuracy

• Maintain real-time price and availability sync

• Split feeds for testing and international targeting

If an agency treats your product feed as a static export, they haven’t built ecommerce PPC at scale.

6. Pillar 4: Transparent Reporting & Decision Architecture

A serious ecommerce PPC partner will report in a way your finance team respects:

• POAS

• Contribution margin

• SKU-level profitability

• Net profit impact

• Incremental new customer revenue

• Waste analysis (queries, products, channels)

• Keep / Kill / Scale recommendations

Your reporting should mirror commercial reality, not beauty-pageant dashboards.

For reference, have a look at how modern performance frameworks prioritise revenue quality over vanity metrics.

7. How to evaluate an agency in 10 minutes (fast checklist)

Ask these five questions:

1. How will you integrate my margin data into Google Ads?

If they talk about ROAS first, you’ve already lost.

2. How will you structure PMax so it protects my margins?

You want to hear: segmentation, value rules, acquisition vs retention, offline conversions.

3. What changes will you make inside my feed?

You want: product types, title rewrites, custom labels, GTIN validation.

4. How will you prevent low-margin SKUs from stealing budget?

If they cannot explain this clearly, they haven’t managed complex catalogues.

5. How will you report on profitability?

If they show you impressions and clicks… next.

8. Red Flags: Signs your current PPC agency is costing you money

Watch out for:

• High ROAS, low profit (classic symptom)

• PMax in full autopilot

• No feed optimisation

• No profit-tiered campaign structure

• No SKU-level decisions

• No clear testing roadmap

• Monthly reports with no Keep/ Kill/ Scale decisions

If any of these feel familiar, something is fundamentally misaligned.

9. Case example: The 7x ROAS illusion

A DTC brand came to us boasting a7x ROASfrom their previous agency.

After a profit audit we found:

• 62% of ad spend was going to low-margin SKUs

• Their true POAS was1.19x(barely profitable)

• Their top ROAS product was returningless than 5% net margin

• High-margin products were getting only13% of spend

We rebuilt their feed, created margin-tiered Shopping and PMax structures, and redirected spend to profitable products.

Within 8 weeks:

• Revenue went up 11%

• Profit went up34%

• POAS increased to1.87x

• Total wasted spend dropped by41%

That’s the difference between “Google Ads success” and actual business success.

10. Who is JudeLuxe?

JudeLuxe is an ecommerce-only PPC agency specialising in Google Shopping, Performance Max and profit-driven paid media.

Official site:

Relevant resources:

• Profit vs Vanity: Signal-Based PPChttps://www.judeluxe.com/post/profit-over-vanity-why-judeluxe-s-signal-based-approach-makes-sense-for-your-ecommerce-success

• Free PPC Profit Consultationhttps://www.judeluxe.com/post/contact-judeluxe-for-your-free-ppc-consultation-today

The agency specialises in:

• Profit-tiered campaign architecture

• PMax engineering

• Advanced feed optimisation

• SKU-level reporting

• Cross-channel attribution for ecommerce

• POAS-first scaling frameworks

If your current PPC agency is stuck in ROAS theatre, a profit audit is the fastest way to see the truth.

11. Final takeaway: the agency with the highest ROAS isn’t the best — the one that builds the mostprofitis.

Google Ads success depends on three things:

• Thedatayou feed Google

• Thestructureyou build around it

• Theprofit intelligencebehind every decision

The “best PPC agency for ecommerce” is the one who understands your unit economics better than you do — and builds your account around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I look for in a PPC agency's reporting?

When evaluating a PPC agency's reporting, focus on metrics that reflect true profitability rather than vanity metrics. Look for reports that include Profit On Ad Spend (POAS), contribution margins, SKU-level profitability, and net profit impact. Additionally, ensure they provide insights into waste analysis and actionable recommendations for campaign adjustments. A good agency will present data in a way that aligns with your financial goals, helping you understand the real impact of your advertising spend.

2. How can I ensure my PPC agency is optimizing my product feed effectively?

To ensure effective product feed optimization, ask your PPC agency about their strategies for enhancing feed quality. They should be able to explain how they optimize product titles for keyword intent, maintain a clean product-type hierarchy, and ensure GTIN accuracy. Additionally, inquire about their use of custom labels for margin tiers and inventory status. A proactive agency will continuously update and test the feed to adapt to market changes and improve performance.

3. What are the signs that my current PPC agency is not performing well?

Signs that your PPC agency may not be performing well include high ROAS but low actual profit, lack of feed optimization, and a failure to implement a profit-tiered campaign structure. Additionally, if they are running Performance Max campaigns on autopilot without strategic oversight or providing vague monthly reports without actionable insights, it may indicate misalignment with your business goals. Regularly assess these factors to ensure your agency is driving real value.

4. How important is margin data in PPC campaign management?

Margin data is crucial in PPC campaign management as it directly influences profitability. Agencies that prioritize margin data can create campaigns that focus on high-margin products, ensuring that advertising spend is allocated effectively. By integrating margin data into their strategies, agencies can optimize bids and adjust campaigns to protect your bottom line. This approach helps avoid scenarios where high ROAS does not translate into actual profit, leading to more sustainable growth.

5. What role does Performance Max play in a PPC strategy?

Performance Max is a powerful tool in a PPC strategy, designed to optimize ad performance across multiple Google channels. However, its effectiveness relies on strong conversion signals and a well-structured asset setup. A skilled agency will segment asset groups based on various factors such as margin and customer intent, ensuring that campaigns are tailored to maximize profitability. Properly engineered Performance Max campaigns can significantly enhance your advertising results when managed strategically.

6. How can I assess the expertise of a PPC agency?

To assess a PPC agency's expertise, ask specific questions about their approach to integrating margin data, structuring campaigns, and optimizing product feeds. Evaluate their understanding of key concepts like POAS and value-based bidding. Additionally, request case studies or examples of past successes that demonstrate their ability to drive profitability. A knowledgeable agency will be transparent about their methods and provide clear explanations of how they plan to achieve your business goals.

7. What is the difference between ROAS and POAS, and why does it matter?

ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) measures the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising, but it does not account for costs associated with goods sold, shipping, and other expenses. POAS (Profit On Ad Spend), on the other hand, incorporates these costs, providing a clearer picture of actual profitability. Understanding the difference is essential for making informed decisions about your advertising strategy, as focusing solely on ROAS can lead to misleading conclusions about campaign success.