How to Use AI to Supercharge Your PPC Performance
by Chad de Lisle • June 4, 2025
There’s a lot of buzz around AI in marketing. Some say it’s a shortcut, others say it’s the future. Here’s the truth: AI only works if your execution is solid. You can have the best strategy, the best vision, but without strong execution , AI won’t move the needle.
At Disruptive, we’ve always said, “Good ideas are great, but execution is where the magic happens.” And when it comes to PPC, AI can’t fix a bad strategy, but it can supercharge a good one— if you know how to use it .
Why AI and PPC Belong Together
Let’s be clear: AI is a tool, not the solution . It won’t replace your marketing strategy or the need for smart, hands-on execution. But when used right, AI gives you a sharper toolkit to make better decisions, faster. It helps you work smarter and scale quicker without burning out your team.
When AI and PPC are paired together, you get:
- Faster decisions on high-volume data
- Better creative testing at scale
- Real-time reactions to data, not quarterly reports
- Scaling without sacrificing performance
In short, AI doesn’t “run your ads” while you relax on a beach. But it will make your execution smoother, more efficient, and more impactful if you pair it with strong marketing fundamentals .
Connecting AI to Execution: Pre-Click, On-Site, Post-Click
Pre-Click: Smarter Targeting & Predictive Strategy
How do PPC and SEO work together? They both start before someone even lands on your site. AI helps you:
- Analyze big data sets to predict which audience will convert
- Create custom lookalikes based on behavior, not just demographics
- Forecast ad performance before you even run a campaign
Execution Tip : Your data is everything. Clean CRM and ad platform data are the lifeblood of AI. If your data is messy, your AI won’t be sharp. Don’t “set it and forget it.”
On-Site: Dynamic Creative & Conversion Intelligence
Once they click, the game is on. This is where most PPC efforts fall short. But with AI, you can:
- Generate dozens of ad variants and test them in real-time
- Predict which creative combinations will resonate and convert
- Optimize for performance automatically, scaling ads without additional work
Execution Tip : Use AI to generate ideas , not dictate the final output. Always keep your creative human, emotional, and on-brand.
Post-Click: Retargeting, Lead Scoring & Follow-Up
Here’s where AI becomes a game-changer. After a click, AI helps:
- Score leads instantly to prioritize the best prospects
- Create retargeting ads based on user behavior, keeping your brand top-of-mind
- Personalize follow-up emails and landing pages automatically
Execution Tip : Automate the outreach , but don’t automate the relationships . AI speeds things up, but keep the personal touch where it matters.
6 Ways to Use AI for PPC Right Now
- Automated Bidding : Use machine learning for value-based bidding to get better ROI on high-margin products.
- Dynamic Budget Shifting : Shift spend in real-time across campaigns based on performance data.
- Creative Testing at Scale : Let AI generate and A/B test ad variants, so you’re not guessing.
- Anomaly Detection : Get alerts immediately if something breaks, instead of days later.
- Predictive Forecasting : Use AI to forecast spend, ROAS, and CAC for the next quarter.
Keyword Expansion : Use AI tools to uncover long-tail keywords and intent-based clusters for better targeting.
AI Can’t Replace Strategy, But It Can Supercharge Execution
Here’s the bottom line: AI doesn’t replace your strategy—it enhances your execution . The strategy still needs to be solid. You still need the right people in place. But when you combine AI with a well-executed plan , that’s when things start to move.
AI helps you make better decisions faster, scale without losing quality, and focus on the actions that will move the needle. Use it intentionally , with a clear strategy in place, and you’ll drive real growth .