Negative keywords are an important part of any search engine optimization (SEO) strategy because they help you to fine-tune your campaigns and ensure that your ads are only shown to the most relevant audiences. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at negative keywords and how to use them effectively.
What are negative keywords?
Negative keywords are words or phrases that you add to your campaign to exclude certain search terms from triggering your ads. For example, if you’re selling women’s clothing and you add the negative keyword “men” to your campaign, your ads will not be shown to users who search for “men’s clothing.” This helps to ensure that your ads are only shown to users who are actively looking for the products or services you offer.
Why are negative keywords important?
Using negative keywords helps to improve the relevancy of your ads and increase their performance. When your ads are shown to users who are not interested in your products or services, they are less likely to click on them, leading to a higher cost-per-click (CPC) and a lower return on investment (ROI). By using negative keywords, you can filter out these irrelevant searches and improve the performance of your campaigns.
How to use negative keywords effectively
1. Identify relevant negative keywords:
Start by brainstorming a list of words or phrases that are not related to your products or services. You can also use tools like the Google Ads Keyword Planner to find negative keywords that are commonly searched for in your industry.
2. Organize your negative keywords:
Group your negative keywords into themed lists, such as “competitor names,” “irrelevant products,” and “geographic locations.” This will help you to easily apply these keywords to your campaigns.
3. Add negative keywords at the ad group level:
It’s important to add negative keywords at the ad group level, rather than the campaign level so that you have more control over which searches are excluded.
4. Regularly review and update your negative keywords:
It’s important to regularly review and update your negative keywords to ensure that they are still relevant and effective. You may also want to add new negative keywords as you learn more about your target audience and their search habits.
In conclusion
Negative keywords are an important part of any SEO strategy because they help you to fine-tune your campaigns and improve the relevancy of your ads. By identifying and adding relevant negative keywords to your campaigns, you can increase the performance of your ads and achieve a better ROI.
