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Exact negative keywords?

by spartanic
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Let's say I have an example keyword like Bulldog Training Tips and I add the following to my negative keyword list to increase my relevancy:

- [bulldog]
- [training]
- [list]
- [training tips]
- [bulldog]

I'm assuming that if someone were to search Bulldog Training tips then my ad will still appear. Correct?
#exact #keywords #negative
  • Profile picture of the author Lucid
    -[bulldog]

    This means that if they type that exact search, your ad won't appear. That's what the square brackets mean, an exact search. Who will search on "bulldog" only and why would you want to bid on that single word?

    You want your full phrase in phrase and exact match types:

    "bulldog training tips"
    [bulldog training tips]

    An example of a negative in this case might be

    -free

    so you won't show your ad for "free bulldog training tips" types of searches.
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    • Profile picture of the author jaaproos
      That is correct. A short piece of advise is that you can also add negatives to nonrelevant ad groups.

      For Example:

      ad group 1 is: BullDog Training New York
      ad group 2: Bulldog Training New Jersey

      Here you want to add New York as an exact negative to ad group 1 and Bulldog training New Jersey also as a negative phrase to New York since Google does not always automatically pick the most relevant ad group,(dont ask me why)
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucid
    The reason why is that if you use broad match, Google "expands" keywords and themes. Simple example is using the plural of words. Another example is expanding cat to feline. hat could be desirable in some cases but not always.

    It shouldn't do it for place names but I can see it for NY/NJ. That's why you should use phrase and exact matches, you wouldn't need negatives such as you propose. Besides, the system should choose the matching keyword anyway if you have two such groups, so again, negatives are redundant.
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    • Profile picture of the author jaaproos
      . Besides, the system should choose the matching keyword anyway if you have two such groups, so again, negatives are redundant.


      I am afraid that the system does not work that way in every case. It has been one of mine tricks that helps to increase CTR. I dont know why but google does not automatically pick the most relevant ad group everytime...

      Exact/Phrase is a good alternative but if you are really in a niche market you might not want to miss out on all the different search queries that might bring business to your site.
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      • Profile picture of the author seostone
        Negative keyword are good if you want your ads to appear for "hungry buyers" and remove the clicks that wont convert for you.

        Put "free", "cheap", "your-competition" type of negatives. Everything else should be normal.

        Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author SDC
    Why not try a negative keyword tool? Take a look at the free paper offered in my signature. It has lots of information about negative keywords and how to find them.
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