At Ranklee, we help service-based businesses generate high-quality leads through our Google Ads strategies. A junk car buying company came to us with a common challenge:
“We’re getting website traffic, but most inquiries are from people who aren’t serious about selling their cars.”
They were spending money on Google Ads, but the leads weren’t converting into real customers. This is a common issue in service-based businesses.
In this case study, we will show how we helped them generate 229 qualified leads in just 30 days using a strategic Google Ads campaign.
The Client’s Challenge
Our client operates in the cash-for-cars market, buying old, broken, or unwanted vehicles from local sellers. Before partnering with us, they faced several issues:
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Low-quality leads: Many inquiries were from people looking for unrelated services or information.
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High ad spend but no expected results: Ads were running, but only a small percentage of clicks converted.
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Poor targeting: Ads were appearing outside their service area, attracting irrelevant clicks.
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Weak landing page: Visitors weren’t encouraged to submit their car details quickly.
They needed a data-driven Google Ads strategy that would target serious sellers, increase lead quality, and reduce wasted ad spend.
Our Approach: Google Ads Strategy for Junk Car Buyers
At Ranklee, we designed a custom Google Ads framework for this client, focusing on three key pillars:
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High-intent traffic – Attract visitors ready to sell their junk cars immediately.
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Conversion-focused landing pages – Make it simple and fast for visitors to submit their information.
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Ongoing campaign optimization – Continuously improve ad performance and reduce wasted spend.
1. High-Intent Keyword Strategy
We added high-intent keywords to get qualified traffic and reach potential sellers. To attract people ready to sell their cars, we focused on keywords such as:
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“cash for junk cars [city]”.
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“sell my old car fast”.
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“junk car buyers near me”.
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“we buy broken cars for cash”.
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“scrap my car for money”.
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“Keywords + Location”.
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“Emergency Needs + Keywords”.
We also implemented a negative keyword strategy to block irrelevant searches, including jobs, car repair, free cars, and DIY. This ensured that every ad click had a high chance of converting into a real lead.
2. Conversion-Focused Landing Page
Once traffic was targeted, the next step was converting visitors into actual customers. We optimized the landing page with a focus on ease of use and trust signals:
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Mobile-friendly design for quick submissions on phones.
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Clear CTA buttons: “Get Cash for Your Car Today” and “Instant Quote”.
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Trust elements: client testimonials, badges, and local business verification.
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Step-by-step instructions for submitting car details quickly.
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Highlighted benefits: “We Buy All Cars, Running or Not” and “Cash Paid Same Day”.
Visitors could now submit their car details in under 30 seconds, significantly improving lead conversion.
3. GEO-Targeted Ad Campaigns
Many junk car buyers waste ad spend by showing campaigns outside their service areas. For this client, we implemented hyper-local targeting:
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Ads only displayed in serviceable cities and zip codes.
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Competitor-heavy locations were monitored and adjusted for optimal ROI.
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Location extensions and call tracking were added to measure results accurately.
This ensured that the client’s budget reached only potential sellers in areas they could serve.
4. Ad Copy Optimization
We created multiple ad variations to test messaging that resonated best with car sellers. Our strategy included:
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Emphasizing urgency.
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Highlighting benefits: “Get Up to $1,000 Cash for Your Old Car”.
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Clear assurances: “We Buy All Cars, Any Condition”.
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Using ad extensions: call buttons, site links, and location information.
A/B testing allowed us to continuously refine ad copy, improving click-through rates and the overall quality of leads.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Optimization
Google Ads campaigns are not “set and forget.” At Ranklee, we monitor campaigns weekly and optimize based on performance metrics:
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Adjust bids for top-performing keywords and locations.
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Pause ads that generate irrelevant clicks.
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Add new negative keywords based on search term reports.
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Test different ad copy for urgency, cash offer, and trust.
This continuous optimization process ensured a steady flow of high-quality leads while keeping ad spend efficient.
Key Takeaways for Junk Car Buyers
For businesses in the cash-for-cars industry, here’s what this campaign teaches:
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Target high-intent keywords: Focus on people ready to sell, not general car searches.
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Optimize your landing page: Fast, mobile-friendly pages with trust elements convert better.
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Use negative keywords: Block irrelevant traffic to save money.
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GEO-target your ads: Only show ads where you can serve customers.
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Track and optimize regularly: Monitor campaigns and adjust weekly to improve results.
Need More Leads for Your Business?
Contact Ranklee today for a free consultation and start generating more junk car leads with our proven Google Ads service.