Should I include ‘fences’ in my keywords if I’m offering gate repair and installation services?

Short Answer: No, you should not include ‘fences’ in your keywords if you do not offer fence services. Instead, add ‘fences’ to your negative keyword list to avoid showing ads for irrelevant searches and to focus on gate repair and installation services only.

Full Explanation

When running ads or optimizing your website for gate repair and installation, it is important to ensure your keywords are relevant to the exact services you provide. Including “fences” as a keyword is not advisable if fence services are not part of your offerings. Doing so can cause your ads or content to appear in search results for fence-related queries, which can attract visitors who are not looking for gate services. This mismatch reduces the efficiency of your advertising budget and lowers the quality of site traffic.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Identify the exact services you provide, such as gate repair and gate installation.
Avoid including keywords related to non-offered services, like “fences” if you do not work on fences.
Add the term “fences” to your negative keyword list to exclude it from triggering your ads.
Review your keyword list regularly to keep it focused and relevant.
Monitor your ad performance and traffic to ensure that irrelevant searches are minimized.

Real Examples

If your business specializes exclusively in gate repair and installation, including “fences” as a keyword may lead to your ad showing to someone seeking fence installation or repair. Since those services are outside your scope, this can lead to wasted ad spend and unqualified leads.

By contrast, if you add “fences” to your negative keyword list, your ads won’t show for these searches, helping you target only the right customers looking for gate-related solutions.

Common Mistakes

Including broad keywords like “fences” without ensuring they represent your services.
Failing to use negative keywords to filter out irrelevant search terms.
Assuming all related keywords will improve ad performance regardless of service offerings.
Not regularly updating keyword lists to reflect your business focus.

FAQs

Q: Can I target “fences” if I only do gate repairs?

A: No, you should exclude “fences” from your keywords to avoid irrelevant ad impressions.

Q: What is a negative keyword?

A: A negative keyword is a term you specify so that your ads do not appear when that word is searched, helping to avoid irrelevant traffic.

Key Takeaways

Include only the keywords relevant to the services you offer.
Add terms related to non-offered services, like “fences,” to your negative keyword list.
Using negative keywords improves ad targeting and reduces wasted budget.
Regularly review and refine keyword lists based on your business scope and ad performance.