
Paid Media Audit
Paid media accounts often carry hidden inefficiencies.
Budgets drift, campaign structures become bloated, and optimisation decisions are made without a clear commercial framework.
We analyse your accounts from a commercial perspective, not just a platform perspective. That means understanding how campaign structure, bidding strategy, feed optimisation and audience targeting influence revenue, lead quality and long-term scalability.
The outcome is a clear roadmap showing what needs fixing, what needs restructuring and where the biggest performance gains can be unlocked.
Paid Media Audit Framework
Account structure and campaign architecture
We review how campaigns are organised across platforms to identify structural issues that limit performance or scalability.
Budget allocation and bidding strategy
Understanding whether budgets are being deployed in the right places and whether bidding strategies are aligned with commercial goals.
Keyword, audience and targeting analysis
Reviewing search queries, audience signals and targeting settings to uncover wasted spend and missed opportunity.
Creative, ad copy and messaging
Assessing whether your ads communicate value effectively and whether messaging aligns with the intent of your audience.
Feed optimisation and product visibility
For ecommerce accounts we analyse product feeds, shopping performance and visibility across Google Shopping and marketplace surfaces.
Tracking, attribution and measurement
Ensuring the data guiding optimisation decisions is reliable, accurate and aligned with real business outcomes.
Platforms We Audit

Why Most Paid Media Accounts Underperform
Performance issues rarely come from a single mistake. They are usually the result of accumulated inefficiencies over time.
Common issues we uncover include:
- Inefficient campaign structures that limit optimisation
- Budget spread too thinly across too many campaigns
- Poor feed optimisation reducing shopping visibility
- Audience targeting that doesn’t match real customer intent
- Weak creative and messaging that limits click-through and conversion rates
- Tracking setups that distort performance data
Our audits identify these issues clearly and prioritise the changes that will deliver the greatest commercial impact.
Jamie Howett - Head of Media Planning - Carpetright"I thought the audit was very good. The team pitched it just right, in respect to our media agency, and the content was very detailed with concise actions/ learnings which is important for us, not least because they’ll heavily inform our PPC direction over the coming year."

When a Paid Media Audit Is Most Valuable
A paid media audit is particularly useful when:
- Performance has plateaued
- Spend has increased but revenue hasn’t followed
- Campaign structures have grown complex over time
- You are preparing to scale budgets
- You are considering changing agency or internal management
Audits provide clarity and remove guesswork from optimisation decisions.
Get in Touch!
FAQs About The Audit
How long does a paid media audit take?
Most audits are completed within two to three weeks depending on account size and complexity.
Do you need access to our ad accounts?
Yes. Direct platform access allows us to analyse campaign structure, search queries, audience data and performance signals accurately.
Can you audit accounts managed by another agency?
Yes. Many audits are carried out independently before businesses decide on future management.
Do you provide implementation after the audit?
Yes. We can support implementation of the roadmap or provide guidance for your internal team.
Will the audit identify wasted spend?
In most cases yes. Accounts often contain structural inefficiencies that create unnecessary spend or limit optimisation.

Award Winning SEO, Paid Search & Digital PR Agency
- 17+ years delivering measurable search growth
- Trusted by 100+ household brands
- Multi-award winners at UK & European Search Awards
- Google Premier Partner
Explore Our Search Marketing Services
-
Paid Search
Turn high-intent search demand into revenue through expertly optimised campaigns.
PPC SERVICES -
Digital PR
Build authoritative media signals to your site that support rankings and brand trust.
DIGITAL PR SERVICES
Latest Blogs & Articles
-
Lessons from Carpetright’s Collapse: How Retail Discovery Has Fundamentally Changed
When Carpetright entered administration in 2024, many people saw it as another high street casualty. But the real story wasn’t simply about a retailer struggling...Read Article → -
Fabrique partner with Honcho to grow organic visibility through SEO
We are delighted to announce Fabrique, a global fashion designer brand have partnered with Honcho to grow their organic visibility through our SEO services. Fabrique...Read Article → -
How the LinkedIn Algorithm Works: The AI Feed Some Marketers Call “360brew”
LinkedIn's algorithm previously used features like engagement signals and topic relevance, but its new AI approach considers multiple signals together to build a picture of...Read Article → -
What is Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)?
Search behaviour is evolving at a rapid pace and brands are seeing less clicks as users are asking questions directly in AI tools rather than...Read Article → -
Google AI Overviews: Why Impressions Are Up but Clicks Are Down
Google AI Overviews are changing how organic search works. Here at Honcho, we are watching how these changes are reshaping SEO reporting and performance measurement...Read Article → -
Are There Ads in ChatGPT? Here’s What’s Being Tested
If you’ve opened ChatGPT recently and noticed something like “Testing ads in ChatGPT”, it probably made you pause. Not because anyone loves adverts, but because...Read Article →

