Pulse Agency

How Google Ad Grants Helped Lost in Books Reach the World

March 27, 2024

Services

Campaign Planing, PPC management, Strategy development

When Jane Stratton opened Lost in Books in Fairfield, NSW, she wasn’t just opening a bookshop — she was creating a safe haven for women and children, a multilingual community hub, and a platform for literacy and social change. As founder of both Lost in Books and the Think+DO Tank Foundation, Jane had a compelling story to tell. The challenge? Getting that story in front of the right people.

In 2020, Google Australia featured Lost in Books in their national “From Hardship to Hope” campaign.

Lost in Books — featured in Google Australia’s “From Hardship to Hope” campaign, 2020.

Challenge

Lost in Books and Think+DO Tank Foundation are both not-for-profits operating in South West Sydney — an area with genuine need but limited resources. Jane needed a digital strategy that could:

• Reach parents and educators searching for multicultural and bilingual children’s books

• Build awareness of Think+DO Tank Foundation’s programs • Drive meaningful engagement — not just clicks

• Do all of this at zero cost. That’s where Google Ad Grants came in — a program that provides eligible not-for-profits with up to $10,000 USD per month in free Google Ads spend.

Solution

Pulse Agency took over full management of both organisations’ Google Ad Grants accounts, building campaigns from the ground up with a focus on high-intent search traffic and meaningful conversions.

Targeted keyword research focused on bilingual books, multicultural children’s literature, and community programs

Separate campaigns for Lost in Books (retail/product) and Think+DO Tank Foundation (awareness and programs)

GA4 conversion tracking to measure meaningful actions: time-on-site, purchases, newsletter sign-ups

Google Business Profile optimisation to drive local foot traffic and improve search visibility The Results — October 2025

 

Results

Traffic came from 6,978 cities worldwide. While 99% of visitors were from Australia — with Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney leading — the reach of a small community bookshop in Fairfield extended across the globe. Direct traffic to lostinbooks.com.au grew from approximately 275 to 435 users per month over the year — a 58% increase in people actively seeking out the brand.

 

 

Testimonials

At Pulse Agency, we’re proud of our strong client relationships. Check out real reviews that highlight our commitment to great results and happy customers.

See Google Reviews Watch testimonial videos

After experiencing a drop in website traffic due to increased competition and a lack of marketing focus, this client engaged Pulse Agency for support. Over five months, Nicolas developed and implemented a tailored strategy covering SEO, PPC, and social media. His proactive approach, ongoing optimisation, and dedication delivered strong results. Highly recommended for digital marketing expertise and commitment to success.

“I have worked with Nico and his team over 5 years, and would be LOST without him. His knowledge is encyclopaedic, his approach methodical and his enthusiasm to deliver results genuine. I highly recommend Nico to be part of your team, for the long haul”

Positive: Professionalism, Quality,
Responsiveness, Value

“I began working with Nicolas and Pulse Agency a few months ago. Pulse are managing the digital marketing for my brand, Vitajuwel, which is the leading European manufacturer of gem water products in the world. In a short time, there has been a huge improvement in the return on advertising dollars spent. I am most impressed with the knowledge and professionalism that Pulse displays and I would recommend them to others without hesitation. Ralph Silverman – Vitajuwel Australia”

“Pulse Agency has really made a difference to my business!

With their professionalism, they have been able to properly explain the technical aspects of their plan for my line of work, in a way that I could understand.

Since I engaged the services of Pulse Agency, my business has grown and become more prominent in my industry area.”