What Are Google Ads Keyword Match Types and How Should You Use Them?

Learn how to effectively use Google Ads keyword match types—broad, phrase, and exact—to reach the right audience and get better ad results.

Understanding Google Ads Keyword Match Types

SEO Basics

Get to know the basics of keyword match types. It's simple and will help you get results.

Broad Match

  • More eyeballs: Your ads show up a lot.
  • Risk: Sometimes the wrong people see your ads.

Phrase Match

  • Nice fit: Your ad shows when people look for a phrase.
  • Good control: You reach a better audience.

Exact Match

  • Laser focus: Your ad hits the exact search terms.
  • Best control: Very targeted.
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How to Use Google Ads Keyword Match Types

Choose the right keyword match types can be tricky. Here's how to nail it.

Start with Broad Match

Test waters: Find what works without spending too much. When you're just starting, you may not know which keywords will give you the best results. Using broad match helps you gather data and see what words people are using to find your ad.

Gather data: See what words people like. The data collected from broad match can help you understand which keywords are getting the most clicks. It's like dipping your toes in the pool before jumping in!

Move to Phrase Match

Narrow it down: Get more relevant hits. Once you have some data from your broad match, you can start to narrow down your keywords. Phrase match means your ad will show up when someone searches for a specific phrase. This helps in getting more relevant clicks.

Balance reach and control: You get better results. Phrase match gives you a good balance between reaching more people and targeting the right audience. It's like tightening the focus of your camera to get a clearer picture.

Finish with Exact Match

Go for gold: Only show ads for exact searches. When you know exactly what keywords work best, switch to exact match. This means your ad will only show up when someone types in that exact keyword.

Max ROI: Best for budget control. Exact match helps you spend your budget wisely. You're only paying for clicks that are highly relevant to your ad. It's like aiming at a bullseye—you hit the target every time!

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Benefits of Using Different Match Types

Using different match types give you better results. Here is why.

Broader search: Reach more people with broad match. It’s like casting a wide net. You’ll get lots of fish, some of them might not be what you want, but you’ll see a lot of different options.

Specific searches: Phrase and exact match get you closer to what people want. It’s like zeroing in on a target. You won’t just get anyone, you’ll get more of the people who are really looking for you.

Smart spending: Mix and match to get the most bang for your buck. Think of it like a budget. You don’t spend all your money on one thing. You balance it out to get the best return. That way, you get more results without wasting money.

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