
4 Reasons Google Wants You on AI Max for Search (and How It Actually Works)
The way Google was operating even two years ago and the way it works now is very different, to say the least. What works well
Author
Founder & CEO, nn.partners · Portugal
Founder of nn.partners. 9 years running paid media, more than $10M in ad spend managed across Google, Meta and Microsoft. Google and Meta Partner, top 1% of PPC agencies on Upwork. I write about conversion tracking, account structure and the numbers behind ads that work.



Experience
I've been doing marketing, ads and data analytics for 9 years, and I've managed more than $10M in ad spend firsthand. Most of my experience is in the U.S.
I started at a lead generation company in the insurance industry, where I oversaw the life insurance vertical. That's where I managed millions of dollars firsthand, and where the process I use now, the framework I now offer as an agency, started.
Since 2020, I've been running nn.partners on that experience and that framework. I have a team, so I have people helping me with creatives, with production and with tracking and analytics.
“In 9 years I've never met one client whose tracking was perfect. Not one. But we know how to fix it, and that's the first thing we'll do.”
Nik VdovenkoFounder & CEO, nn.partners
How I work
I'm a very picky person, and I love expertise, I love results. I love seeing how things work before I make any serious commitments to anything. That's my approach to many things, and I'm also selective about the businesses I work with.
Back when I was a junior specialist, one of the senior Google employees said something, half jokingly, that really stuck with me: don't use your powers on the dark side. The more I work, the more I realize that marketers who know their stuff do have superpowers. We choose who we want to support on their journey, because we want good companies to prosper.
We usually work with companies who already have something going. They have a working engine, so it's easy for us to come in, figure out what's working and what's not, use the existing data and make data-driven predictions.
Expertise
My agency specializes in two things: ads and analytics.
Client work
Contractors Intelligence School · California
3×3×3×student enrollment
Read the case study →
Learndirect · UK
400%+400%+400%+any-touch ROI, four months running
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Ecommerce electronics brand · International
+$3M+$3M+$3Ma year on Google Ads
Read the case study →
Writing
PPC Strategy ·

The way Google was operating even two years ago and the way it works now is very different, to say the least. What works well
Analytics & Tracking ·

A business owner, a manager of a company, was handholding the Facebook budget and making decisions based on yesterday’s sales numbers. It may sound strange,
Analytics & Tracking ·

There are usually some things that are not working properly. But when it’s fixed and when it’s done properly, the second most important thing that
Analytics & Tracking ·

Google Ads conversions don’t match your CRM because they’re built to count different things in different ways, and each gap below has a specific fix
PPC Strategy ·

You uploaded the assets Google asked for. Headlines, a couple of images, maybe a video you had lying around. Ad Strength says “Excellent.” And the
Analytics & Tracking ·

Here’s a problem that doesn’t show up until it’s already cost you money. You wire up offline conversion tracking for your bootcamp, you start importing
PPC Strategy ·

Cost per lead hides which programs fill seats. Track cost per enrollment per program, import outcomes and calls, and bid on that number.
eLearning Marketing ·

We tore down the video ads that career, trade, and licensing schools are running right now: the hooks, the structures, and one move to learn from each.
PPC Strategy ·

A cheap cost-per-lead can empty a cohort. Map funnel stage values, import them with offline conversion tracking, and bid on enrollments.
PPC Strategy ·
You’ve doubled the budget on your best Google Ads campaign and the enrollments barely moved. Your cost per lead crept up. Someone on the team
Analytics & Tracking ·
If you run ads for an online school, a course business, a bootcamp, or a trade school, here’s the short version: Google is changing how
Analytics & Tracking ·
I’ve audited a lot of ad accounts for course creators. eLearning brands, cohort programs, certification schools, the works. And I’ll tell you something I’ve said
eLearning Marketing ·
Paid advertising for online schools, colleges, and universities, without the guesswork. Quick summary An education PPC agency earns its keep on one thing: tying ad
eLearning Marketing ·
Unlock Growth: Expert Strategies for Higher Education’s Digital Recruitment Quick Summary / Key Takeaways Precision targeting is paramount: Leverage demographic, geographic, and interest-based targeting to
eLearning Marketing ·
Quick Summary / Key Takeaways Introduction For nearly a decade, I’ve been deep in the world of online advertising with a focus on Google Ads,
PPC Strategy ·
Why good accounts lose money, and the system that fixes it: measurement, structure, and communication. Plus the honest DIY checklist and a 3-pillar audit.
eLearning Marketing ·
Running Google Ads your California driver’s license school always leads to the same challenge: Most driving schools either oversimplify the math or get lost in
eLearning Marketing ·
Why Your Ads Might Not Be Working (And How to Fix Them) Imagine you’re running an online school, pumped about your awesome courses. You launch
eLearning Marketing ·
How can eLearning businesses optimize their customer journey to boost enrollment rates and improve student retention in a competitive 2025 market? n the fast-evolving eLearning
eLearning Marketing ·
Online education continues to surge in popularity, with e-learning providers in the USA harnessing innovative advertising campaigns to capture learner interest. In 2025, the industry
eLearning Marketing ·
Most online schools are wasting ad spend. Not because their offer is bad, but because their Google Ads account is structured backward. After helping education
eLearning Marketing ·
Let’s be honest. For established online schools, having great programs is just the starting point. The marketing landscape is complex, highly competitive, and expensive. Without
eLearning Marketing ·
Running Google Ads for an eLearning business isn’t the same as selling sneakers or plumbing services. It’s not transactional. It’s trust-based, education-driven, and built around
eLearning Marketing ·
Most online schools don’t have an ad problem. They have a signals problem. The budget is fine, the programs are good, and the ads run.
eLearning Marketing ·
If you run an online school or education business, you’ve likely felt it: marketing often feels chaotic. One week leads are flowing. The next week?
eLearning Marketing ·
Why Smart Educators Are Struggling With Marketing Here’s an uncomfortable truth: most online school marketing is built backward. Schools owners are experts at creating powerful
Analytics & Tracking ·
Why Your Metrics Aren’t Helping You — And What to Do About It If you’re leading an online school or e-learning company, you’re probably already
Analytics & Tracking ·
Let’s be real, running an online school today means putting serious money into ads and platforms, hoping it turns into student enrollments. But here’s the
eLearning Marketing ·
Why Your Google Ads Feel Like Expensive Guesswork The frustration of rising Google Ads costs without a corresponding increase in enrollments is real. You’re pouring
eLearning Marketing ·
Ad ROI Is Platform-Agnostic – But Strategy Isn’t Here’s the thing: online schools crushing it with 4x, 5x, or even 6x Return on Ads Spend
Analytics & Tracking ·
When Your Marketing Platforms Tell Different Stories Imagine your marketing dashboards are like independent detectives working the same case. Google Ads says 45 new students
eLearning Marketing ·
Pouring money into Meta ads for your online school, but seeing no return in enrollments? It’s a frustrating scenario, especially if your Google Ads campaigns
eLearning Marketing ·
Stop the Revenue Leaks: Retain More Students Every Month Want higher revenue month after month? This listicle delivers seven actionable student retention strategies to keep
eLearning Marketing ·
For online schools, Google Ads isn’t just an advertising platform — it’s a vital tool for driving enrollments. Understanding how prospective students search for and
Analytics & Tracking ·
If you’ve ever tried to understand or scale your lead generation efforts using GA4 and ended up lost in a maze of tabs, events, and
PPC Strategy ·
If you sell online, you’ll want to pay attention to this. OpenAI has just rolled out a major update to ChatGPT: a native shopping experience
Analytics & Tracking ·
If you run an online store and have ever opened GA4 expecting clear answers like: …only to end up buried in tabs and guessing at
Analytics & Tracking ·
Data-driven attribution (DDA) helps marketers understand how different channels contribute to conversions. But implementing it comes with these 5 common data challenges: Quick Comparison Challenge
PPC Strategy ·
If your ad ROI suddenly declines, it’s not just frustrating—it’s costly. But here’s the good news: quickly spotting and decisively fixing the issue can help
Analytics & Tracking ·
Data is the lifeblood of modern business, but when it’s scattered across systems, it’s more of a burden than a blessing. Research shows poor data
PPC Strategy ·
Allocating your ad budget effectively can boost revenue and reduce wasted spend. Here’s a quick guide to help you make smarter decisions: Quick Tip: Companies
PPC Strategy ·
Ad relevance is the key to better ad performance and higher revenue. When your ads align with user intent, you can lower costs, improve engagement,
eLearning Marketing ·
Running ads for online schools can be challenging, but success boils down to three key areas: Focus on data-driven decisions, clear goals, and compelling messaging
Analytics & Tracking ·
Why Your Online School Needs Conversion Tracking (Even If It Sounds Technical) You’re running ads, writing emails, posting content—doing all the right things to grow
PPC Strategy ·
Your Microsoft Ads ad campaigns might be costing you more than they should. High acquisition costs, low conversions, and wasted ad spend can quietly drain
PPC Strategy ·
Managing Google Ads on an enterprise level is complex. Enterprise PPC accounts mean juggling massive budgets, multiple regions, diverse product lines, and advanced approaches. Here’s
eLearning Marketing ·
Want to boost enrollments for your eLearning courses? Google Ads can help. Here’s how you can create campaigns that drive results: Key Tip: Organize campaigns
eLearning Marketing ·
Looking to boost ROI for your online school from ads? Here’s the quick answer: Quick Comparison Metric Meta Ads Google Ads User Intent Scrolling-focused High-intent
PPC Strategy ·
AI is reshaping paid media campaigns by automating processes, improving accuracy, and saving time. Here’s how it’s changing the game: Key Highlights: AI complements human
Analytics & Tracking ·
Cross-channel attribution helps businesses understand how different marketing channels work together to drive customer conversions. With 73% of customers using multiple channels before purchasing, this
PPC Strategy ·
It’s easy to get lost in jargon, guru advice, and endless platform updates. Too often, when campaigns underperform, people point fingers at “the algorithm.” But
Case Studies ·
We just wrapped up 2024 and confirmed that we added another seven figures (millions) to one of our client’s gross profit. Here are the three
PPC Strategy ·
Every business faces it at some point—growth stalls, performance plateaus, and your tried-and-true strategies stop delivering. Frustrating, isn’t it? When this happens, many business owners
PPC Strategy ·
If you’ve been running Facebook ads for a while, you’ve likely experienced both the highs and lows. At first, it might have felt like magic—sales
PPC Strategy ·
Throwing more money into ads seems like the easiest way to grow your business, right? Boost the budget, boost the sales—it sounds simple. But in
eLearning Marketing ·
Running an online school is no easy task. Between managing courses, serving students, and staying ahead of competitors, it’s easy for marketing efforts to fall
Analytics & Tracking ·
📌 resource: Download the Measurement Framework In today’s digital-first world, businesses are generating more data than ever. Every click, view, and interaction provides an opportunity
Analytics & Tracking ·
The Ultimate GA4 Configuration Health Check: Ensure Your Analytics Foundation Is Rock-Solid Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a powerful tool for tracking, analyzing, and optimizing
eLearning Marketing ·
Scaling online course sales with Google Ads isn’t about running random campaigns—it’s about following a proven system. At the heart of this system is understanding
PPC Strategy ·
Scaling Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns on Google, Meta, Microsoft ads and other platforms can feel like a cheat code to growing your sales. But when done
Case Studies ·
Executive Summary Contractors Intelligence School, an online contractor’s school from California, partnered with nn.partners to confront a challenge familiar to many businesses: declining ad performance,
eLearning Marketing ·
“Facebook ads is just not working for my industry…” That was what my client said when we started on the platform a few months ago.
Case Studies ·
Not tracking conversions is like driving without a GPS—you might be moving, but are you headed in the right direction? In today’s constantly changing digital
Next step
Book your data audit. We'll go through your goals, your accounts and your tracking, and show you the first thing we'd fix.