How to Use Negative Keywords to Improve Google Ads Performance

Understanding Negative Keywords

What are Negative Keywords in Google Ads?

Negative keywords? Here’s the scoop: they’re like those “Do Not Enter” signs for your Google Ads. You drop them into your campaigns to stop certain searches from making your ads pop up where they shouldn’t. It’s a nifty way to cut out clicks from folks who aren’t in your business’ wheelhouse and keep your ads popping for the right crowd.

See them in action:

Search Query	Keyword	Negative Keyword	Does the Ad Show?
Red running shoes	running shoes	-red	Yes
Cheap running shoes	running shoes	-cheap	Yes
Red cheap running shoes	running shoes	-red, -cheap	No

Why Negative Keywords Matter for Google Ads

Throwing negative keywords into your Google Ads setup is a smart move. Let’s see why:

Boosting Ad Relevance

Chop off the junk, and what’s left? An ad that’s sharper and more appealing to people actually looking for what you’ve got. If your ad piques their interest, they might just click and stick around.

Saving Ad Dollars

Unwanted clicks are like tossing money out the window. Negative keywords guard your budget from users who are just browsing and unlikely to fall in love with what you’re selling. Stretch those bucks where they count. For ways to spend smarter, browse our google ads budgeting ideas.

Increasing Click-Through Rates

Stick to the words that matter, and your click-through rate (CTR) will climb. A better CTR can jazz up your Google Ads Quality Score, help your ads hit prime spots, and trim your click costs a bit.

To really get your campaigns cruising, dive into our google ads guide and google ads strategies.

Negative keywords? They’re not just a cool trick—they’re a powerhouse for fine-tuning your Google Ads campaigns. Nail them down, and you’ll find your ads working harder, squeezing more out of each click. Keep things fresh and check your negative keywords often. Our google ads best practices guide has more tips to keep you winning.

Using Negative Keywords Like a Pro

Negative keywords are basically your secret weapon for turning Google Ads campaigns from “eh” to “wow!” They help you dodge irrelevant clicks and zero in on the audience that really matters.

Spotting Negative Keywords

Now, how do you figure out which words to sideline? It’s all about spotting the search terms that scream, “Not my crowd!” This spares you from blowing your ad budget on folks who are just window-shopping or barking up the wrong tree.

Steps to Uncover Negative Keywords:

1. Dig Through Search Terms Report:

• Jump into the Search Terms report in Google Ads to see the real-deal phrases folks used when they clicked your ads.
• Weed out the oddballs that have nothing to do with what you’re selling.

1. Listen to Customer Chatter:

• Tune into customer questions and feedback. This intel can tip you off about search terms leading to no-gain traffic.

1. Snoop on Competitors:

• Peek at the competition’s ads and keywords. This strategy can highlight keywords that drag in unworthy traffic.

1. Keyword Sleuthing Tools:

• Launch keyword research tools to find unwanted search phrases. For more snooping tips, check out our keyword research hub.

Tool	What It Does
Google Ads Search Terms Report	Shows what folks are really searching
Keyword Planner	Digs up related phrases
Competitor Analysis Tools	Exposes rivals’ keyword moves

Plugging Negative Keywords into Your Campaign

Once you’ve rounded up your negative keywords, it’s time to drop them into your Google Ads campaigns. This helps keep your ads far away from pointless searches.

Steps to Plug In Negative Keywords:

1. Throw Them in at the Campaign Level:

• Head over to the ‘Keywords’ tab on your AdWords dashboard.
• Tap ‘Negative Keywords’ and toss in your finds at either the campaign or ad group tier, depending on your tactic.

1. Fine-Tune with Ad Group Placement:

• For more control, chuck negative keywords into specific ad groups.
• This lets you tweak individual segments without messing up broader campaign settings.

1. Keep Lists Handy:

• Whip up negative keyword lists for swift handling. Slap these on multiple campaigns for time-saving and consistency.

1. Pick Your Match Types:

• Mix and match types (broad, phrase, exact) to sharpen how Google overlooks these terms. For more on match types, see our guide.

Take a peek at the table below for ways to organize your negative keywords:

Keyword	Match Type	Why It’s Here
Free	Broad	Stop freebies seekers
Cheap services	Phrase	Deter those who want bargain-basement rates
“Beginner guides”	Exact	Block beginners if you’re after experienced users

Get smart about finding and loading up on negative keywords to supercharge your Google Ads game. This tactic boosts relevance, cuts down on wasted ad dollars, and can give your click-through rates a nice nudge. Keep tabs on and tweak your negative keywords by checking out our ad checklist to keep campaigns in fighting shape.

Benefits of Negative Keywords

Improving Ad Relevance

You’re running Google Ads, and notice folks clicking who aren’t quite the right fit for your offers. That’s where negative keywords jump in to save the day. By tossing out those pesky terms that don’t align with your biz, you’re dialing in your ads to reach the folks who matter. That translates to better traffic quality and folks actually interested in what you’re selling. It’s like having a VIP list for your customers.

Take a moment to think about someone hunting for “free marketing tools.” Probably not the best match if you’re selling top-dollar software, right? By marking “free” as a negative keyword, you’re waving off those freebie seekers.

Want to keep those ads tight and tidy? Check out our write-up on google ads quality score for some savvy tips.

Reducing Ad Spend

Nobody likes chucking money at clicks that don’t pay off. Negative keywords step in as the budget heroes, cutting out those irrelevant searches. When your ads zero in on the right folks, you’re less likely to throw cash away on ghost clicks that lead nowhere.

Scenario	Cost per Click	Impressions	Clicks	Conversion Rate	Total Spend
Without Negative Keywords	$1.50	1,000	100	1%	$150
With Negative Keywords	$1.50	800	90	1.5%	$135

Focusing on negative keywords keeps those unnecessary clicks out. Your budget will thank you. For more budget-smart moves, check out our guide on google ads budgeting.

Enhancing Click-Through Rates

Boosting your click-through rate? Negative keywords got your back. When only the right crowd sees your ads, they’re more likely to click through. Higher CTR? Yes, please. It’s a make-it-or-break-it measure for any ad campaign on Google.

Nail this and your ads could bump up the ladder in search results, getting more eyeballs for less cost per click (CPC). Sounds like a win, right? Dig deeper into tricking out your CTR with our article on optimize google ads.

Metric	Without Negative Keywords	With Negative Keywords
Impressions	1,000	800
Clicks	20	24
Click-Through Rate (CTR)	2%	3%

Saying no to certain keywords can seriously up your ad game, pulling in more of the audience you’re after and boosting ad stats all around. For more pro tips, swing by our guide on google ads best practices.

Negative Keyword Best Practices

Getting your Google Ads to hit the right crowd means you gotta nail down those negative keywords. This way, your ads don’t show up for the wrong searches, making your performance stats look sharp.

Regular Monitoring and Updating

Keeping an eye on those negative keywords is gonna be your best friend here. Dive into that search terms report often, so you can spot those iffy keywords that might be sneaking into your ads. Knock those out to keep your content zoned in on people who actually care.

Why Bother with Regular Checks:

• Makes your ads feel more spot-on
• Saves you cash on ads that aren’t doing their job
• Kicks your campaign performance up a notch

Need a deeper dive on getting your ads to work for you? Check out our google ads optimization guide.

Utilizing Keyword Match Types

Google Ads gives you the keys to the castle with different match types for negative keywords, letting you decide exactly when your ads should or shouldn’t pop up. Here’s the rundown:

Match Type	How It Works
Broad Match	Skips over any searches with those words.
Phrase Match	Ignores searches containing that exact phrase.
Exact Match	Stops searches that bang on match your word.

Mixing these up lets you steer your ad ship with more skill. Get the full scoop on google ads match types.

Analyzing Performance and Adjusting Strategies

Keep tabs on how your ads are doing to see how much help those negative keywords are giving. Be sure to check out metrics like CTR, CPC, and conversion rates to sniff out potential tweaks.

Key Stuff to Watch:

• CTR: Tells you if folks find your ad relevant
• CPC: Shows how smooth your budget is rolling
• Conversion Rate: Sees if your ad is pulling its weight

With regular check-ins, you’ll have those strategies tuned up and raring to go. For a deeper dive into metrics, pop over to our guide on google ads metrics.

Locking down these straight-up tricks will have your Google Ads working like a charm. For more juicy details, head to our google ads strategies.