Google AdWords Broad Match Tips for Affiliates

Filed under: Affiliate Marketing, Google AdWords; Author: Adrian; Posted: October 19, 2007 at 7:19 pm;

Google seems to have changed the way that broad match works in recent weeks for their Google AdWords pay per click advertising system.

To kick off, some basic definitions:

Broad Match: The words you select can appear in any order of a search string, e.g. you enter TENNIS SHOES then it is possible your ad could be displayed for the search TRAINING SHOES NOT TENNIS STYLE

Phrase Match: You enter in quotes “” and the words must appear in that sequence but can be part of a longer search string, e.g. TENNIS SHOES could have your ad shown for LATEST TENNIS SHOES but not the example given in broad. Finally…

Exact Match: Does what it suggests on the tin!

Using Broad Match, especially without negative keywords, has always been a risky proposition but now you need to be even more vigilant. Basically, Google seem to be using more synonyms to match searches with what the system ‘thinks’ is appropriate for you. For example, it is possible that using our TENNIS SHOES example as a broad match that the system ‘thinks’ that you may also sell TENNIS BALLS or DANCE SHOES.

There has been more written on this in a great article called AdWords Expanded Broad Match Warning.

My tips:

  • If you’re using loads of broad matches, consider changing to phrase match and re-introduce broad match terms progressively after first checking what synonyms the Google keyword tool suggests
  • Run search query reports for your account to see where you money has been spent. You may get some surprises
  • Use negative keywords
  • I hope this helps!

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    1 Comment »

    1. Pingback by My Ghillie » Google AdWords Broad Match Tips for Affiliates

      [...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptBasically, Google seem to be using more synonyms to match searches with what the system ‘thinks’ is appropriate for you. For example, it is possible that using our TENNIS SHOES example as a broad match that the system ‘thinks’ that you … [...]

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