What does it mean when you say the ad visible URL domain must match the domain for which we have the ratings?

Short Answer: The visible URL domain shown in your Google Ads must exactly match the domain where your ratings are registered. For example, if your website’s rating is for www.locksmith24.com, then the visible URL in your ad needs to have the same www prefix without any changes. If the ad’s visible URL does not match exactly, including subdomains like www, it can cause issues with your ratings being properly associated.

Full Explanation

This requirement means that the domain displayed in your Google Ads as the visible URL must be identical to the domain for which your website has received ratings. The match has to be precise, down to the use of prefixes such as “www.” If your rating is for www.locksmith24.com, then your visible URL in the ad should also include “www.” Conversely, if you do not use “www” in your Google Ads visible URL, then your ratings should also be without it. This consistency ensures the review system can properly recognize and link the ratings to your advertised domain.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Identify the exact domain where your ratings are assigned (e.g., www.locksmith24.com or Roofing247.com).
Ensure your Google Ads visible URL matches this domain exactly.
Check for subtle differences, especially in prefixes like “www” — this must be consistent.
If you use “www” in your ratings domain, include it in your ad’s visible URL.
If you do not use “www” in your ad’s visible URL, the ratings should also omit it.
Verify final URLs and visible URLs are aligned to avoid mismatches that could affect the display of ratings.

Real Examples

If your website rating is for www.locksmith24.com, the visible URL in your ad must show www.locksmith24.com and not locksmith24.com. The presence or absence of “www” must be consistent.

Similarly, if your rating belongs to Roofing247.com without the “www,” then your ad URL should reflect that exactly. Mismatches, even small ones, can lead to ratings not being properly connected to your ads.

Common Mistakes

Omitting “www” in the ad visible URL when the rating domain includes it.
Including “www” in the ad visible URL when the rating domain does not have it.
Assuming similar-looking domains are interchangeable without exact matching.
Failing to verify the exact domain used for rating registrations before setting up ads.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a different subdomain than the one rated?
No, the visible URL domain must be identical to the domain for which the ratings are given.

Q: Does the http or https protocol matter?
The focus is on the domain part of the URL; the protocol itself is not part of the visible domain matching requirement.

Q: What happens if domains do not match?
If there is a mismatch, your ratings may not be displayed alongside your ads, impacting your credibility and click-through rates.

Key Takeaways

Always ensure the domain in your ad’s visible URL matches exactly with the domain used for ratings.
Pay special attention to “www” or other subdomain prefixes when setting up your ads.
Matching domains helps maintain consistency and ensures your ratings will appear correctly with your ads.