Performance Max Audit
FindoutwhatyourPerformanceMaxisactuallydoing
PMAX is Google's most opaque campaign type. Our audit surfaces the data Google hides: where budget is going, what's cannibalising brand, and whether the structure is helping or hurting.
For ecommerce brands spending £10k+/month on Google Ads
0%
Average Display waste found
0%
Brand cannibalisation typical
0+
PMAX audits completed
0-3 hrs
Deep-dive analysis
Warning Signs
When to audit your PMAX
If any of these sound familiar, your Performance Max campaigns likely need a structural review.
Can't see where the budget goes
PMAX shows one number. You have no idea what percentage went to Shopping vs Display vs YouTube.
Suspiciously good results
ROAS looks great, but you suspect brand terms are inflating the numbers.
Generic asset groups
Everything dumped into one campaign with no commercial segmentation.
Spend growing, profit flat
Budget keeps increasing but bottom line isn't keeping pace.
What You Get
Complete PMAX visibility
We use custom scripts and third-party tools to surface placement data, search term insights, and channel breakdowns that Google doesn't show by default.
Real Audit Finding
"40% of our PMAX budget was going to Display. We had no idea."
A fashion DTC brand came to us spending £45k/month on PMAX with "great ROAS". Our audit revealed 40% was going to low-intent Display placements. We restructured, redirected budget to Shopping, and increased profitable conversions by 67%.
Learn about our PMAX management40%
Display waste identified
67%
More profitable conversions
£18k
Monthly budget redirected
3 wks
Time to see results
The Process
First call to first results
in 30 days.
Discovery Call
We ask questions. You share context. We figure out if there's a fit.
Commercial Audit
We dig into your accounts. Feed quality, SKU profitability, wasted spend. You get a written report.
Findings Presentation
We walk you through what we found. You'll leave with clarity even if we don't work together.
Onboarding
Quick wins first. Pausing waste, fixing feeds, restructuring budgets. Results within 30 days.
Need to get internal sign-off first?
Download the CFO Board Pack - a one-pager with the commercial case, timeline, and objection responses.
Ready to see inside your PMAX?
Start with a 30-minute discovery call. We'll discuss your current PMAX setup, what you're seeing (and not seeing), and whether an audit makes sense for you.
No preparation required
No sales pitch - just an honest assessment
If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you
Or leave your details
We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
FAQ
Common PMAX audit questions
What's the difference between a PMAX audit and a full Google Ads audit?
A PMAX audit focuses specifically on Performance Max campaigns: where budget is actually going (Search, Shopping, Display, YouTube), brand cannibalisation, asset group structure, and signal quality. A full audit covers all campaign types including standard Shopping, Search, and Display.
Can you actually see where PMAX spend goes?
Not fully through Google's standard UI. We use custom scripts and third-party tools to surface placement data, search term insights, and channel breakdowns that Google doesn't show by default. This reveals the real picture of your PMAX performance.
How do I know if my PMAX is cannibalising brand?
Common signs include: suspiciously high ROAS, declining organic/direct traffic as PMAX spend increases, and brand terms appearing in search term reports. Our audit quantifies exactly how much brand traffic PMAX is capturing.
What's a typical finding from a PMAX audit?
Most audits reveal 30-50% of PMAX budget going to Display placements, significant brand term cannibalisation, and asset groups that are too broad for Google to optimise effectively. The fix typically involves restructuring, exclusions, and better signal feeding.
How long does a Performance Max audit take?
The audit takes 2-3 hours of analysis. You'll receive results within 5 business days, including a detailed breakdown of spend by channel, brand cannibalisation analysis, and a prioritised action plan.
March 2026 Update
Updated March 2026Latest platform changes and how we're adapting our approach:
- PMax now includes enhanced asset-level reporting. Our audits assess creative performance at individual asset level for the first time.
- Brand exclusions now support negative keywords at asset group level. We check every account for proper brand isolation.
- Consent Mode v2 enforcement means many brands under-report PMax conversions by 15-30%. We include this in every audit.
- Google's March 2026 Core Update is shifting how PMax distributes budget across channels. Our scripts capture the latest allocation patterns.