Negative Keywords: The Quickest Way to Stop Wasting Google Ads Budget
Updated: Jun 23
Every click on a search that was never going to become a customer is wasted budget. Negative keywords tell Google which searches you do not want to show for, and a well-kept list is one of the fastest ways to improve a Google Ads account.
What are negative keywords?
They are words or phrases that block your ads from appearing when someone includes them in a search. For example, a commercial cleaning company may add words linked to jobs, free advice or training courses.
Where to find them
The search terms report in your Google Ads account
Searches that got clicks but no calls or forms
Words that suggest the wrong intent, such as free, jobs, courses or DIY
Competitor or brand names you do not want to target
Match types matter
Negative keywords can be broad, phrase or exact. Be careful with broad negatives, because a word that seems irrelevant may block good searches too.
Make it a habit
Review search terms weekly in the first month
Move to a fortnightly review once the account settles
Keep shared lists of negatives for common unwanted terms
Record changes so you can undo any mistake
Negative keywords will not fix a weak offer or a poor landing page, but they stop the budget going to the wrong people.
If you would like a second pair of eyes on this, get in touch with Merx Marketing via the Contact page for a free consultation.
