When running Google Ads, choosing the right number of keywords is important. If you use too few, you might miss out on potential customers. If you use too many, you could waste your budget. Here’s an easy guide to help you decide how many keywords to use.
1. Keywords and Ad Groups
In Google Ads, you organize keywords into ad groups. Each ad group should have keywords that are closely related. This helps make your ads more relevant and can improve your results.
How Many Keywords per Ad Group?
- Start with 10-20 keywords per ad group.
- Make sure the keywords are related to the same product or service.
- For example, if your ad group is about “Online Marketing Courses,” use keywords like: “digital marketing course”, “learn online marketing”, “marketing certification online”
2. Why Fewer Keywords Can Be Better
Using fewer, more focused keywords can help you:
- Make Better Ads: Your ad copy can match the keywords better.
- Save Money: Google likes relevant ads, which can lower your costs.
- Stay Organized: It’s easier to manage and improve fewer keywords.
If a keyword isn’t working well, pause it and focus on the ones that bring results.
3. Types of Keywords to Use
Use a mix of these types of keywords:
- Broad Match: Reaches many people but may show your ad to the wrong audience.
- Phrase Match: Shows your ad to people searching for phrases that match your keywords.
- Exact Match: Very specific; only shows ads to people who search exactly for your keyword.
- Negative Keywords: These prevent your ad from showing to people who are not a good match.
Example:
For an ad group on “Online Marketing Courses,” you might use:
- Broad Match: marketing courses
- Phrase Match: “online marketing course”
- Exact Match: [digital marketing course]
- Negative Keyword: free (if you don’t want to attract people looking for free courses)
4. Match Your Budget
Think about your budget when choosing how many keywords to use:
- Small Budget: Use 5-10 keywords to stay focused and avoid wasting money.
- Larger Budget: Try 20-50 keywords to reach more people.
Tip:
If a keyword costs a lot but works well, spend more on it. If it doesn’t work, pause it or reduce the bid.
5. Dynamic Search Ads (DSA)
If you’re unsure which keywords to use, Dynamic Search Ads can help. Google will automatically show your ads to people based on your website content.
6. Keep Improving Your Keywords
Good Google Ads campaigns need regular updates:
- Check Your Search Terms: See which searches trigger your ads and add or remove keywords based on this.
- Test Different Keywords: Try new keywords and see which ones work best.
- Update Often: Remove low-performing keywords and add new ones that perform well.
Conclusion
For most Google Ads campaigns:
- Start with 10-20 keywords per ad group.
- Focus on keywords that match what people are searching for.
- Keep improving your keywords to get the best results.
This way, your ads will reach the right people and help you get the most out of your budget.
