If you’re thinking about Google Ads (formerly known as Google AdWords) campaign, then you’ve probably given a great deal of thought to which keywords will result in more clicks and higher conversions – not to mention that Hawaii vacation you’ve been dreaming about.
Negative Keywords 101
You probably know by now that Google Ads is an auction, and the way you get your ad in front of customers is by bidding on keywords. If your bid is right and your ad is relevant, your ad will show in Google results and your potential customer will click on it to visit your website.
But how do you prevent your ad from showing when you know the audience isn’t interested or the keyword is not relevant? That’s where a negative keyword list comes in.
When would you use negative keywords?
Google defines negative keywords as “A type of keyword that prevents your ad from being triggered by a certain word or phrase. Your ads aren’t shown to anyone who is searching for that phrase. This is also known as a negative match.”
A common example of negative keyword use is ‘cheap.’ Let’s say you make high-end athletic apparel; it makes sense that you would not want to pay for clicks from searchers looking for cheaper alternatives. That is not the type of shoppers you’re looking for.
Don’t waste your digital ad budget by missing opportunities to maximize your investment; or, in the case of negative keywords, allow Google Ads to charge you for clicks via search queries that are irrelevant to you and your business. Negative keyword optimization is just as important as bidding on keywords that relevant to your business.
