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Adwords: Charged for a Negative Keyword?

by Bon508
4 replies
  • SEO
    • |
How can an Adwords campaign get charged for a click on a negative keyword?

When you add negative keywords to a campaign, that means you do not want the ads showing for those keywords, right?

In one campaign, I have -how to as a negative keyword... but stats show that keyword got a click (and the account charged a PPC fee).

That doesn't make sense to me. Or am I misunderstanding how negative keywords are supposed to work? :confused:
#adwords #charged #keyword #negative
  • Profile picture of the author ThatAblaze
    I think it's more likely that you're using the syntax incorrectly. What is that - doing before the keyword? I would have it in like this: [how to]

    Also, if it got a click before you added the keyword it would still show.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      I may be wrong, so someone please add if you wish.

      I don't believe putting a minus sign in front of two words
      negates them both. I thought the negative keywords
      should(?) be a single word. I'm thinking
      -how
      -to

      I would also say that "how to" would not be a good
      example of a negative keyword. It might get ignored.
      It's not really a keyword or keyphrase.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Hi Bonnie,

      There a couple of things to consider when using negative match keywords.

      They can be applied at the campaign level, or the ad group level. If you applied it to one ad group, but not another, then you will still get impressions.

      You can use negative phrase, and negative exact match which is often preferable on a multiple word negative match keyword.

      For example:
      -how to (filters your ad from displaying "how much does does product x cost")
      -"how to" (will not filter "how much does product x cost")

      Choose your negative match keywords carefully or you'll end up filtering out some great converting keywords.

      Can I make negative phrase-matched and negative exact-matched keywords? - AdWords Help
      Signature

      * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management |
      *       Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com

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      • Profile picture of the author Bon508
        Thank you very much, Don. I'll go back and check on whether I entered them at campaign level or ad group level. I made them exact match. Your explanation gave me an "Ahhh" moment.

        Paul, my intent with making "how to" a negative keyword phrase is to prevent the ads from showing (and my client being charged for clicks) on searches such as "how to install vinyl siding" -- he's selling siding installation services; "vinyl siding" is one of the (many) keyword phrases in the campaign.
        Signature
        Bonnie
        ProfitBasedMarketing.com
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