How do I add negative keywords on the campaign level?

Short Answer: When adding negative keywords at the campaign level, these typically represent specific cities or locations that you want to exclude. For example, if your business is located in Orlando but you want to avoid showing ads to people searching for Boca Raton, you would add “Boca Raton” as a negative keyword on the campaign level.

Full Explanation

Negative keywords at the campaign level serve as a filter to prevent your ads from showing to users searching for certain terms, such as cities outside your target area. This practice helps ensure that your ads are displayed only to those relevant to your actual service or location. In many cases, these negative keywords are specific cities you want to exclude, preventing your budget from being spent on irrelevant traffic.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Identify the campaign in which you want to add negative keywords.
Determine which cities or locations you want to exclude. For instance, if your business operates in Orlando, you may want to exclude cities like Boca Raton.
Add these city names as negative keywords at the campaign level. This will prevent your ads from appearing in search results that include those city names.

Real Examples

Suppose your business is in Orlando and you find that people searching for Boca Raton are clicking your ads but not converting. To fix this, you add “Boca Raton” as a negative keyword to your Orlando campaign. This ensures your ads won’t show up when someone searches including Boca Raton, focusing your ad spend on more relevant audiences.

Common Mistakes

Not adding city names that you want to exclude, leading to irrelevant ad impressions.
Adding negative keywords at the wrong level (e.g., ad group level instead of campaign level), which may lead to inconsistent exclusions.
Overlooking the importance of location-based negative keywords, which can reduce wasted budget.

FAQs

Q: Can I add multiple cities as negative keywords at the campaign level?
Yes, you can and should add all cities that are outside your target area to avoid irrelevant clicks.

Q: Why add negative keywords at the campaign level instead of the ad group level?
Adding negative keywords at the campaign level ensures that all ad groups within that campaign exclude those terms, maintaining consistency.

Key Takeaways

Negative keywords at the campaign level often consist of city names or other location-specific terms to exclude unwanted traffic.
Adding cities as negatives helps focus your ads on your desired geographic area, improving ad relevance and budget efficiency.
Always review and update your negative keywords to align with your campaign goals and location targeting.