{"id":8472,"date":"2025-05-22T02:41:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/?p=8472"},"modified":"2025-05-22T02:41:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:41:36","slug":"using-negative-keywords-to-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/using-negative-keywords-to-cut\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Negative Keywords to Cut Wasted Spend"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"251\"><strong>Using Negative Keywords to Cut Wasted Spend<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"251\">If you&#8217;re running pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns and not using negative keywords, you&#8217;re probably leaving money on the table or, worse, burning through your <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Budget\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">budget<\/a> on irrelevant clicks.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"472\">Negative keywords are one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in your PPC toolbox. They help <strong data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"391\">filter out traffic you <em data-start=\"377\" data-end=\"384\">don\u2019t<\/em> want<\/strong>, ensuring your ads appear only for searches that align with your goals.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"474\" data-end=\"624\">Here\u2019s a deep dive into how negative keywords work, why they matter, and how to use them to cut wasted spend and boost your return on ad spend (ROAS).<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"629\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"631\" data-end=\"665\">\u00a0What Are Negative Keywords?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"667\" data-end=\"880\">Negative keywords are terms you <strong data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"796\">explicitly tell Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, or other PPC platforms not to trigger your ads for<\/strong>. If a user includes a negative keyword in their search query, your ad won\u2019t appear.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"882\" data-end=\"894\">For example:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"1119\">\n<li data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"1030\">\n<p data-start=\"897\" data-end=\"1030\">You sell <strong data-start=\"906\" data-end=\"933\">premium leather jackets<\/strong>. If someone searches for &#8220;cheap leather jackets,&#8221; you probably don\u2019t want to pay for that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/how-to-open-clickbank-account-from-nigeria\/\">click<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1031\" data-end=\"1119\">\n<p data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1119\">Adding <strong data-start=\"1040\" data-end=\"1051\">&#8220;cheap&#8221;<\/strong> as a negative keyword prevents your ad from showing for that query.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-start=\"1121\" data-end=\"1124\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1161\">\u00a0Why Negative Keywords Matter<\/h3>\n<ol data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1727\">\n<li data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1352\">\n<p data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1352\"><strong data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1194\">Reduce Irrelevant Clicks<\/strong><br data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1197\" \/>Your budget is precious. Every click should bring you closer to a conversion. Negative keywords help eliminate traffic from users who aren\u2019t a good fit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1354\" data-end=\"1518\">\n<p data-start=\"1357\" data-end=\"1518\"><strong data-start=\"1357\" data-end=\"1393\">Improve Click-Through Rate (CTR)<\/strong><br data-start=\"1393\" data-end=\"1396\" \/>By filtering out the noise, your ads are shown to more qualified users \u2014 boosting your CTR and improving Quality Score.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1520\" data-end=\"1625\">\n<p data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1625\"><strong data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1551\">Enhance Conversion Rates<\/strong><br data-start=\"1551\" data-end=\"1554\" \/>Fewer irrelevant clicks = a higher percentage of converting traffic.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1727\">\n<p data-start=\"1630\" data-end=\"1727\"><strong data-start=\"1630\" data-end=\"1661\">Stretch Your Budget Further<\/strong><br data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1664\" \/>Cut wasted spend and get more value from the same ad budget.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr data-start=\"1729\" data-end=\"1732\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"1734\" data-end=\"1781\">\ud83d\udd0d Common Types of Negative Keywords to Use<\/h3>\n<ol data-start=\"1783\" data-end=\"2360\">\n<li data-start=\"1783\" data-end=\"1892\">\n<p data-start=\"1786\" data-end=\"1809\"><strong data-start=\"1786\" data-end=\"1807\">Price Sensitivity<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1892\">\n<li data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1892\">\n<p data-start=\"1815\" data-end=\"1892\">cheap, free, low-cost, budget<br data-start=\"1844\" data-end=\"1847\" \/>(If you sell high-end or premium products)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1894\" data-end=\"1977\">\n<p data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1914\"><strong data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1912\">Job Seekers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1918\" data-end=\"1977\">\n<li data-start=\"1918\" data-end=\"1977\">\n<p data-start=\"1920\" data-end=\"1977\">jobs, careers, hiring, resume<br data-start=\"1949\" data-end=\"1952\" \/>(If you\u2019re not hiring)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1979\" data-end=\"2111\">\n<p data-start=\"1982\" data-end=\"2007\"><strong data-start=\"1982\" data-end=\"2005\">Educational Content<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2011\" data-end=\"2111\">\n<li data-start=\"2011\" data-end=\"2111\">\n<p data-start=\"2013\" data-end=\"2111\">how to, tutorial, learn, DIY<br data-start=\"2041\" data-end=\"2044\" \/>(If you&#8217;re selling a product\/service, not offering instructions)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2113\" data-end=\"2228\">\n<p data-start=\"2116\" data-end=\"2144\"><strong data-start=\"2116\" data-end=\"2142\">Geographic Irrelevance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2148\" data-end=\"2228\">\n<li data-start=\"2148\" data-end=\"2228\">\n<p data-start=\"2150\" data-end=\"2228\">city names, countries, &#8220;near me&#8221;<br data-start=\"2182\" data-end=\"2185\" \/>(If you&#8217;re targeting specific locations)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2230\" data-end=\"2360\">\n<p data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2269\"><strong data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2267\">Unrelated Products or Services<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2273\" data-end=\"2360\">\n<li data-start=\"2273\" data-end=\"2360\">\n<p data-start=\"2275\" data-end=\"2360\">Add terms that refer to products you don\u2019t offer, even if they include your keywords.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2365\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"2367\" data-end=\"2403\">\ud83e\uddf0 How to Find Negative Keywords<\/h3>\n<ol data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"3121\">\n<li data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"2668\">\n<p data-start=\"2408\" data-end=\"2565\"><strong data-start=\"2408\" data-end=\"2439\">Use the Search Terms Report<\/strong><br data-start=\"2439\" data-end=\"2442\" \/>In Google Ads, go to <em data-start=\"2466\" data-end=\"2491\">Keywords &gt; Search Terms<\/em>. This shows actual searches that triggered your ads. Look for terms that:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2569\" data-end=\"2668\">\n<li data-start=\"2569\" data-end=\"2593\">\n<p data-start=\"2571\" data-end=\"2593\">Don\u2019t match your offer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2633\">\n<p data-start=\"2599\" data-end=\"2633\">Have high spend but no conversions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2637\" data-end=\"2668\">\n<p data-start=\"2639\" data-end=\"2668\">Seem irrelevant or misleading<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2670\" data-end=\"2835\">\n<p data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2835\"><strong data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2699\">Keyword Research Tools<\/strong><br data-start=\"2699\" data-end=\"2702\" \/>Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to explore common search phrases. Watch out for terms that don\u2019t fit your audience.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2837\" data-end=\"3007\">\n<p data-start=\"2840\" data-end=\"3007\"><strong data-start=\"2840\" data-end=\"2877\">Google Suggest &amp; Related Searches<\/strong><br data-start=\"2877\" data-end=\"2880\" \/>Search your keywords on Google and check autocomplete or related searches at the bottom of the page for potential negatives.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3009\" data-end=\"3121\">\n<p data-start=\"3012\" data-end=\"3121\"><strong data-start=\"3012\" data-end=\"3048\">Ask Your Sales Team or Customers<\/strong><br data-start=\"3048\" data-end=\"3051\" \/>They often know what people <em data-start=\"3082\" data-end=\"3091\">confuse<\/em> your product or service with.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr data-start=\"3123\" data-end=\"3126\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"3128\" data-end=\"3163\">\u270f\ufe0f How to Add Negative Keywords<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3165\" data-end=\"3190\">In <strong data-start=\"3168\" data-end=\"3182\">Google Ads<\/strong>, go to:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3191\" data-end=\"3482\">\n<li data-start=\"3191\" data-end=\"3254\">\n<p data-start=\"3193\" data-end=\"3254\"><strong data-start=\"3193\" data-end=\"3254\">Campaign or Ad Group level &gt; Keywords &gt; Negative Keywords<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3255\" data-end=\"3482\">\n<p data-start=\"3257\" data-end=\"3269\">You can add:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3272\" data-end=\"3482\">\n<li data-start=\"3272\" data-end=\"3342\">\n<p data-start=\"3274\" data-end=\"3342\"><strong data-start=\"3274\" data-end=\"3298\">Negative broad match<\/strong> \u2013 excludes any query containing the word(s)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3345\" data-end=\"3415\">\n<p data-start=\"3347\" data-end=\"3415\"><strong data-start=\"3347\" data-end=\"3372\">Negative phrase match<\/strong> \u2013 excludes exact phrases in the same order<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3418\" data-end=\"3482\">\n<p data-start=\"3420\" data-end=\"3482\"><strong data-start=\"3420\" data-end=\"3444\">Negative exact match<\/strong> \u2013 excludes queries that match exactly<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3484\" data-end=\"3595\"><strong data-start=\"3484\" data-end=\"3496\">Pro Tip:<\/strong> Use <strong data-start=\"3501\" data-end=\"3527\">negative keyword lists<\/strong> to apply the same exclusions across multiple campaigns efficiently.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"3597\" data-end=\"3600\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"3602\" data-end=\"3640\">\ud83e\udde9 Smart Negative Keyword Strategy<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"3642\" data-end=\"4012\">\n<li data-start=\"3642\" data-end=\"3686\">\n<p data-start=\"3644\" data-end=\"3686\">Start small and build your list over time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3687\" data-end=\"3774\">\n<p data-start=\"3689\" data-end=\"3774\">Regularly audit your search terms report (at least once a week for active campaigns).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3775\" data-end=\"3861\">\n<p data-start=\"3777\" data-end=\"3861\">Separate <strong data-start=\"3786\" data-end=\"3795\">brand<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"3800\" data-end=\"3813\">non-brand<\/strong> campaigns with distinct negative keyword lists.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3862\" data-end=\"3933\">\n<p data-start=\"3864\" data-end=\"3933\">Don\u2019t go overboard \u2014 being too aggressive can block valuable traffic.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3934\" data-end=\"4012\">\n<p data-start=\"3936\" data-end=\"4012\">Layer with <strong data-start=\"3947\" data-end=\"3970\">audience exclusions<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"3975\" data-end=\"3991\">geotargeting<\/strong> for tighter control.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-start=\"4014\" data-end=\"4017\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4040\">\ud83d\ude80 Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4042\" data-end=\"4254\">Negative keywords may seem like a \u201cset it and forget it\u201d feature, but they deserve your ongoing attention. Think of them as <strong data-start=\"4166\" data-end=\"4196\">guardrails for your budget<\/strong>, ensuring every dollar is pointed in the right direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Using Negative Keywords to Cut Wasted Spend If you&#8217;re running pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns and not using negative keywords, you&#8217;re probably leaving money on the table or, worse, burning through your&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ppc-advertising"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8472"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8486,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8472\/revisions\/8486"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}