Yes, $500 is enough to start running a Google Ads campaign — especially for small businesses or those just starting out. While it may not stretch far in highly competitive industries, a well-targeted and professionally managed campaign can still deliver meaningful results with a NZD 500 budget.

What You Can Expect from a NZD$500 Google Ads Budget

With a $500 monthly budget, your campaign should focus on quality over quantity. Here’s what you can realistically achieve -

• Target a Narrow, High-Intent Audience
  Focus on a few core services or products, and limit your targeting to specific geographic areas to avoid wasting spend.

• Aim for Low to Medium Competition Keywords
  Cost-per-click (CPC) rates in New Zealand typically range from NZD 1 to NZD 3 for less competitive keywords. This gives you between 150 and 500 clicks per month, depending on the market.

• Generate Initial Leads and Data
  While $500 won’t dominate a market, it can generate valuable leads and provide performance data to help optimise future campaigns.

How to Make the Most of a $500 Google Ads Budget

To ensure your budget is used effectively, follow these best practices -

• Use exact match or phrase match keywords rather than broad match
• Apply negative keywords to filter out irrelevant traffic
• Limit campaigns to specific locations and times your customers are most active
• Set manual bids or a capped daily budget to maintain control over spend
• Track conversions so you can measure your cost per lead and ROI

When $500 May Not Be Enough

In industries like legal, insurance, or finance — where CPCs can exceed NZD 10 to 20 per click — a $500 budget may only generate a small number of clicks. In these cases, it’s essential to focus on ultra-specific targeting or consider increasing your budget to compete effectively.

Final Thoughts

While $500 is not a large advertising budget, it can be enough to launch a focused Google Ads campaign, especially for local or niche service businesses. The key is to avoid common pitfalls, monitor performance closely, and adjust quickly based on results.

If you are new to Google Ads, working with an experienced professional or agency can help you stretch your $500 further and avoid the mistakes that often lead to wasted spend.