[afox716]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on PPC campaigns recently, and one thing I’ve noticed is how quickly a budget can disappear when the wrong keywords are being targeted.

Start With Relevant Keywords​

I think it’s better to focus on keywords that closely match your actual product or service instead of simply choosing terms with high search volume.

A keyword might get thousands of searches, but if most of those people aren’t interested in buying, you could end up paying for a lot of useless clicks.

Pay Attention to Search Intent​

Search intent is another thing I try to consider before adding a keyword.

For example, someone searching for “what is PPC advertising” may only be looking for information, while someone searching for “PPC agency for small business” could be much closer to becoming a customer.

Understanding the reason behind the search can help you choose better keywords.

Use Negative Keywords​

Negative keywords are really useful for avoiding irrelevant traffic.

Depending on the business, searches containing words like “free,” “jobs,” “training,” or “course” might not be useful. Adding them as negative keywords can help prevent ads from showing for searches that aren't relevant to your offer.

Check Your Search Terms Regularly​

I also think keyword research shouldn't stop after launching the campaign.

Checking the actual search terms that triggered your ads can reveal both useful new keywords and irrelevant searches.

If I notice a search term repeatedly spending money without bringing useful traffic, I’d rather exclude it than keep paying for the same mistake.

Don’t Focus Only on Search Volume​

High search volume can look attractive, but it doesn't always mean better results.

A more specific keyword with lower search volume can sometimes bring better-quality visitors because it matches the customer's needs more closely.

For me, relevance and intent are more important than simply chasing popular keywords.

Final Thoughts​

PPC can become expensive when keyword targeting isn't monitored properly. Starting with relevant keywords, understanding search intent, using negative keywords, and regularly checking search terms can help reduce wasted clicks.

I’d love to hear from others who are running PPC campaigns.

How do you normally choose your PPC keywords, and what methods have worked best for you to avoid irrelevant clicks and wasted budget?

 

[Carolineadams]

Negative keywords have made a big difference in my campaigns. They help remove a lot of searches that look relevant at first but aren't actually useful.

 

[sgonzalez330]

I agree about search intent. A keyword can be highly relevant to the business but still bring the wrong type of visitor if the intent isn't considered.

 

[Laura Moore]

I always check the search terms after launching a campaign. Sometimes the results are completely different from what I expected.

 

[afox716]

Negative keywords have made a big difference in my campaigns. They help remove a lot of searches that look relevant at first but aren't actually useful.

yes

I agree about search intent. A keyword can be highly relevant to the business but still bring the wrong type of visitor if the intent isn't considered.

thank you lotts

I always check the search terms after launching a campaign. Sometimes the results are completely different from what I expected.

yeah right

 

[etrevino]

I made the mistake of focusing too much on search volume when I first started PPC. The traffic looked good, but the conversions were poor. Now I care much more about intent.

 

[mbrown975]

Negative keywords are probably one of the easiest ways to control wasted PPC spending. I review them regularly because new irrelevant searches keep appearing.

 

[MaryPalmer6]

Exact and phrase match have worked better for me when starting a new campaign. Once I understand the search behavior, I’m more comfortable testing broader keywords.

 

[SueArcher]

Good point about not chasing high-volume keywords. A keyword with 100 searches and strong buying intent can be much more valuable than one with thousands of searches.

 

[cjohnson522]

I think the search terms report is one of the most useful parts of PPC. It shows you what people are actually searching for instead of what you assumed they would search for.

 

[Leslie Abbott]

I’ve wasted quite a bit of budget on broad keywords in the past. The clicks looked promising, but many of them had nothing to do with what I was selling.

 

[SusanIngram]

For me, keyword research starts with understanding the customer first. Once I know what problem they're trying to solve, finding relevant PPC keywords becomes much easier.

 

[Cynthia Lucas]

I agree that keyword selection should be based on intent rather than just traffic. If the goal is sales, I would rather have fewer visitors who are genuinely interested than lots of random clicks.

 

[AnthonyJackson]

One thing I learned is that negative keyword lists should not be created only once. I keep adding new terms as I review search queries, especially when running campaigns for a longer period.

 

[LisaRamirez]

This is especially important for smaller budgets. When you're spending only a limited amount each day, a few irrelevant clicks can take away money that could have gone toward much better searches.

 

[DeborahSchroeder]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on PPC campaigns recently, and one thing I’ve noticed is how quickly a budget can disappear when the wrong keywords are being targeted.

Start With Relevant Keywords​

I think it’s better to focus on keywords that closely match your actual product or service instead of simply choosing terms with high search volume.

A keyword might get thousands of searches, but if most of those people aren’t interested in buying, you could end up paying for a lot of useless clicks.

Pay Attention to Search Intent​

Search intent is another thing I try to consider before adding a keyword.

For example, someone searching for “what is PPC advertising” may only be looking for information, while someone searching for “PPC agency for small business” could be much closer to becoming a customer.

Understanding the reason behind the search can help you choose better keywords.

Use Negative Keywords​

Negative keywords are really useful for avoiding irrelevant traffic.

Depending on the business, searches containing words like “free,” “jobs,” “training,” or “course” might not be useful. Adding them as negative keywords can help prevent ads from showing for searches that aren't relevant to your offer.

Check Your Search Terms Regularly​

I also think keyword research shouldn't stop after launching the campaign.

Checking the actual search terms that triggered your ads can reveal both useful new keywords and irrelevant searches.

If I notice a search term repeatedly spending money without bringing useful traffic, I’d rather exclude it than keep paying for the same mistake.

Don’t Focus Only on Search Volume​

High search volume can look attractive, but it doesn't always mean better results.

A more specific keyword with lower search volume can sometimes bring better-quality visitors because it matches the customer's needs more closely.

For me, relevance and intent are more important than simply chasing popular keywords.

Final Thoughts​

PPC can become expensive when keyword targeting isn't monitored properly. Starting with relevant keywords, understanding search intent, using negative keywords, and regularly checking search terms can help reduce wasted clicks.

I’d love to hear from others who are running PPC campaigns.

How do you normally choose your PPC keywords, and what methods have worked best for you to avoid irrelevant clicks and wasted budget?

looks good

 

[Rhonda Lane]

I usually separate informational and commercial keywords whenever possible. It makes it easier to understand which type of search is actually contributing to leads or sales.

 

[ElizabethJordan52]

I've found that very specific long-tail keywords can sometimes perform surprisingly well. They don't always have huge search volume, but the people searching those terms often know exactly what they want.

 

[KerrySoto]

Search intent is something I ignored when I first started. I thought finding keywords related to my product was enough. Later I realized that two similar keywords can attract completely different audiences.

 

[eturner451]

I agree with this. Relevance matters much more than simply getting a lot of clicks.