Maximize Clicks vs Maximize Conversions: Which Bid Strategy Is Best for Your New Google Ads Campaign?

Starting a new Google Ads campaign? One of the first big decisions you'll face is choosing the right bidding strategy. Let's break down two popular options: Maximize Clicks and Maximize Conversions.

Maximize Clicks does exactly what it sounds like – it gets you as many clicks as possible within your budget. Google automatically adjusts your bids to bring the maximum number of visitors to your website.

This strategy is perfect when you want to:

• Drive lots of traffic quickly

• Gather initial performance data

• Increase brand awareness

• Test which keywords and ads resonate with your audience

The downside? Not all clicks are created equal. This strategy doesn't distinguish between someone who's just browsing and someone who's ready to buy.

Maximize Conversions aims for quality over quantity. Instead of just chasing clicks, Google's smart algorithms predict which users are most likely to take your desired action – whether that's making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for your newsletter.

The system analyzes countless signals in real-time (device type, location, time of day, user behavior) to place your ads in front of people most likely to convert.

You've probably heard that you need 15-30 conversions in the past month before using Maximize Conversions. This is what many marketers consider the "best practice" – but here's where it gets interesting.

While this was solid advice in the past, Google's machine learning has become increasingly sophisticated. Many advertisers now find success starting new campaigns with Maximize Conversions right from day one, even with zero previous conversion data!

So Which Strategy Should You Choose?

Despite the conventional wisdom, here's what you might consider:

Start with Maximize Clicks if:

• You have a very limited budget and need to stretch every dollar

• Your primary goal is building awareness rather than driving specific actions

• You're testing completely new markets or products with unknown conversion potential

Start with Maximize Conversions if:

• You have conversion tracking properly set up (this is essential!)

• Your campaign objectives are clearly focused on a specific conversion action

• You're okay with giving Google's AI some room to learn and optimize (which might mean less predictable spending in the early days)

Google's algorithm has become remarkably good at working with limited data and can leverage similar patterns from your industry. Starting with Maximize Conversions immediately means the system begins learning your audience's behavior patterns right away.

Either strategy can work for a new campaign – the best choice depends on your specific business goals, budget, and risk tolerance. And remember, you're not locked in forever! You can always switch strategies as your campaign matures and collects more data.

The most important thing is to make sure your conversion tracking is properly configured from day one. This ensures you're collecting valuable data regardless of which bidding strategy you choose.

What's your experience been with these bidding strategies? Have you found success starting with Maximize Conversions right away?