Can I Add More Keywords to My Ad Group in Google Ads?

Short Answer: Yes, you can add more keywords to your ad group in Google Ads, but typically, you don’t need to add more than five keywords. When you use phrase match keywords, Google Ads will automatically pick up relevant variations.

Full Explanation

Adding additional keywords to your ad group in Google Ads is possible and often beneficial in refining your ad targeting. However, it is generally recommended not to exceed five keywords per ad group. This is because keeping keywords focused and limited helps maintain better control over your campaign’s relevance and performance. Phrase match keywords are especially helpful in this regard since Google Ads automatically recognizes similar search queries, reducing the need for extensively lengthy keyword lists.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Log into your Google Ads account and navigate to the ad group where you want to add keywords.
2. Select the keywords tab within the ad group.
3. Click the option to add new keywords.
4. Enter up to five relevant keywords to maintain focus.
5. Consider using phrase match for these keywords to allow Google Ads to match search queries closely related to your phrases automatically.
6. Save your changes and monitor the performance to optimize further if needed.

Real Examples

While the exact examples are not provided here, the general concept is to use a focused list of keywords in phrase match. For instance, if you sell running shoes, your keywords might include phrase match terms like “running shoes,” “best running shoes,” “comfortable running shoes,” and so forth. In this case, more than five keywords might be unnecessary because Google Ads will automatically detect relevant searches that include those phrases.

Common Mistakes

• Adding too many keywords in one ad group, which can dilute relevance and lower ad quality scores.
• Not using phrase match when appropriate, leading to missing out on automatically matched search queries.
• Ignoring the keyword limit recommendation and overcomplicating ad groups, which makes managing campaigns more difficult.

FAQs

Q: Is there a strict limit to the number of keywords per ad group?
A: While Google Ads allows many keywords, it is usually best practice to stick to about five to maintain focus.

Q: What is phrase match, and why is it important?
A: Phrase match allows your ads to show for search queries containing your keywords in the same order, helping Google Ads automatically pick up relevant variations and reducing the need for many keywords.

Key Takeaways

• You can add more keywords to an ad group in Google Ads, but it’s often unnecessary to exceed five.
• Phrase match keywords help Google Ads automatically find relevant searches, lessening the need for a lengthy keyword list.
• Maintaining a focused and concise keyword list helps keep your ads relevant and easier to manage.