What if a locksmith doesn’t do car keys for VW, but does do car lockouts? If someone says they locked their keys in their VW, would you put an exact negative keyword like ‘Volkswagen car key made’?

Short Answer: It depends on your specific case. Generally, when the negative keyword is one word, you use broad match. When it’s two words or more, you use phrase match. Ultimately, you must decide based on your budget and the type of services you offer.

Full Explanation

Deciding on whether to use an exact negative keyword such as “Volkswagen car key made” depends on how detailed and targeted you want your advertising or SEO efforts to be. One-word negative keywords are usually added as broad matches to exclude all related searches easily, while longer, multi-word phrases are more effective when included as phrase matches. This approach allows more control over traffic filtering without accidentally excluding related but relevant queries.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Evaluate Your Services: Determine whether you provide car key making for VW, or only car lockouts.
2. Identify Keywords: List keywords you want to exclude, such as “Volkswagen car key made,” if this service is not offered.
3. Choose Match Type: For one-word negative keywords, use broad matches. For two or more words, apply phrase match to refine targeting.
4. Consider Budget: Decide how much you are willing to spend to attract relevant leads and avoid wasting money.
5. Update Campaigns: Apply negative keywords accordingly to minimize irrelevant clicks while focusing on your locksmith specialties.

Real Examples

If you do not offer key making for VW vehicles but do offer lockout services, adding “Volkswagen car key made” as an exact negative phrase match can help filter out searches from people looking for key duplication services. On the other hand, a broad negative keyword like “key” would block too much traffic, including lockout requests, so using phrasing wisely is crucial.

Common Mistakes

• Using broad match negative keywords when you should use phrase match, leading to filtering out valuable traffic.
• Not considering budget impacts and excluding too many keywords, which might limit potential clients.
• Ignoring the specific nature of your services and using generic negative keywords that block relevant searches.

FAQs

Should I always use phrase match for multi-word negative keywords?

Generally, yes, especially if the phrase includes two or more words to avoid excluding unrelated searches.

What if my budget is limited?

You should balance negative keyword use carefully to avoid excluding potential clients unintentionally while minimizing spend on irrelevant clicks.

Can using negative keywords reduce my client inquiries?

It can if applied incorrectly. Make sure to tailor negative keywords specifically to services you do not provide.

Key Takeaways

• Use broad match for one-word negative keywords and phrase match for two or more words.
• Decide your negative keyword strategy based on your service scope and budget.
• Carefully analyze keyword usage to avoid blocking relevant customer searches.
• Regularly review and adjust negative keywords to optimize ad campaigns and SEO efforts.