How Effective is AdWords / Does AdWords Work?

April 11, 2025 - by Lior Krolewicz, Founder and CEO,Yael Consulting

How Effective Is Google Ads (AdWords) in 2024? Does It Still Work? 

The big question everyone asks: 
“Is AdWords still effective?” 
“Does Google Ads actually work anymore?” 

Let’s break it down—with a real-world comparison that makes it crystal clear. 

Google Ads Is Like the Stock Market 

The presenter makes a brilliant analogy: 

“Google Ads is as effective as the stock market.” 

At first, this might sound confusing—but give it 30 seconds. 

Back Then: Arbitrage Era 

In the early 2000s, Google Ads was like the stock market in the 80s or 90s

  • There wasn’t much competition 
  • There weren’t many advertisers 
  • You could throw money at it and make a great return 
  • It was fast, cheap, and full of arbitrage opportunities 

Basically, it was easy money if you got in early. 

Today: Mature Market 

Fast forward to 2024—Google Ads is now a mature, highly competitive auction platform

It’s no longer about arbitrage. It’s about strategy and skill

People complain: 

  • “I can’t make money with AdWords anymore!” 
  • “It’s too expensive!” 
  • “It’s not fair!” 

But the truth is: 

If you know what you’re doing, you can still make a lot of money. 

Just like in the stock market today: 

  • If you invest wisely 
  • Target the right audience 
  • Use the right strategy 

…you can outperform your competitors and get strong returns. 

What Makes Google Ads Effective Today? 

Let’s say you’re a divorce lawyer, and someone searches “divorce lawyer near me”

If your ad appears for that exact search, and your service matches the intent—you’re exactly what the searcher wants

That’s not a banner ad. That’s not interruption. 
That’s intent-based advertising—and that’s where Google Ads shines. 

If you target the right traffic, and guide that traffic to a strong landing page, the platform is incredibly effective. 

Final Thoughts 

So, does Google Ads work in 2024? 

Yes, if: 

  • You know how to structure campaigns 
  • You optimize consistently 
  • You target real buyer intent 

No, if: 

  • You set it and forget it 
  • You don’t monitor performance 
  • You treat it like a slot machine 

Google Ads is not easy money anymore—but it’s still one of the most powerful marketing platforms when used properly. 


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