We handle spam leads from PPC by (1) separating true bot or fraud activity from low-intent inquiries, then (2) adding light friction and validation in the form and funnel so only real prospects reach your team.
First, we confirm where the “spam” is coming from, because the fix depends on the source: bots hitting your landing page form, junk submissions from on-platform lead forms, or wasted clicks that never had buying intent. In Google Ads, Google automatically detects and filters invalid traffic, and you typically won’t be charged for invalid clicks or impressions, but junk form fills can still happen if your form is easy to abuse or your targeting is too broad.
What we change right away
- Tighten targeting and intent signals: We review search terms, match types, and negatives, then narrow location settings to people actually in your service area (this matters a lot for Orlando and Central Florida service businesses where “near me” searches can drift). We also trim hours, devices, and networks that correlate with junk submissions.
- Fix the landing page conversion path: Many spam spikes are really “weak leads” created by a page that lets anyone submit with one tap. We adjust the page so it answers the first buying questions fast (service area, availability, pricing range or insurance, next-step expectations) and routes people to the right action. If you want us to handle the build and tracking end-to-end, our web design service work usually pays for itself in better lead quality.
- Add bot protection that does not annoy real people: We commonly add reCAPTCHA (often v3/invisible) plus a hidden honeypot field, rate limiting, and server-side validation so scripts cannot bypass the checks. If spam is heavy, we add a short “two-step” form flow (button click reveals the form) because many bots only target open fields.
- Validate contact details: For form leads, we can add phone and email validation rules (format checks, disposable email blocking, optional one-time code verification when spam is severe). For call leads, we confirm call tracking is set up so you can compare “calls that connected” vs “calls that hung up instantly.”
Filters that improve lead quality without killing volume
For local businesses like dentists, law firms, and home services, a small amount of qualification saves your front desk hours every week. We add fields that confirm buying intent, like “ZIP code,” “service needed,” “preferred appointment window,” or “property type,” and we set routing rules so mismatches do not reach your main inbox or CRM pipeline. On platforms that use native lead forms, we also add higher-intent questions instead of the shortest possible form, because ultra-low friction forms tend to attract junk.
When we use blocking and refunds
If we see repeat abuse patterns, we can block specific IP addresses where the ad platform allows it. In Google Ads, IP exclusions are available in some campaign types but not in every type (for example, they are not available in Performance Max). When click activity looks fraudulent, we document timestamps, sources, and on-site behavior so you have a clean record if you need to request an invalid traffic review.
How we keep it clean long-term
The real win is closing the loop between ad spend and what became revenue. We map each lead source to outcomes inside your CRM (qualified, booked, no-show, spam), then feed that back into bidding and optimization so the platform learns what a good lead looks like for your business, not just what fills a form. This is also where our PPC management work focuses: fewer garbage leads, more calls and appointments you would actually want to take.
If you want a fast self-check today, review your landing page form fields and your location targeting, then compare lead quality by campaign and hour of day. If you are unsure whether the issue is the page or the traffic, our FAQ on website vs. webpage vs. landing page helps you spot when ads are driving people to the wrong type of page.
