How do we export our Adwords ADS to Excel for editing?

[donna130]

We all know there's a bunch of types of exports in Adwords Editor, but where's the one we need most? Where's the one that exports the ads (title, line 1, line 2 etc) so we can edit in Excel? I mean there's every type of export to csv and of everything other than the ads. Obviously my instincts (which I'm trying to ignore) tell me,

"You're an idiot. That's the whole point! Google doesn't want you to be able to export your ads and then reimport them to other search engines like MSN & Yahoo!" .....

But I really don't want to be that pessimistic. I'm sure there's a way/solution to this problem for webmasters. But all my research has produced nothin'. Hopefully someone can help me. Like most of us, I prefer to edit in Excel, esp in bulk, instead of Adwords Editor, which feels like Editing-For-Cretans 101. I'm sure I'm not the only one so thanks for your help and solution.

PS I have nothing against people from Crete.
_{Batteries sold separately. Member FDIC.}

[donna130]

yikes. I think I found the solution (hope it helps others with this same common problem).

Login (My Client Center) > Client Reports > Create new report > Ad Performance ("don't go pickin' any of the other TEN options now" cuz that would be just too easy, ie they won't have your ads like we talked about (title, line 1, line 2 etc))

Like I thought, this isn't meant to be intuitive. Can't make it too easy for you to export your ads (for obvious reasons I guess).

And then there's another problem. Even IF average joe webmaster is lucky enough to figure that out, then he finds out that, of the 24 columns shown, KEYWORDS is NOT one of them! doh!

It's kindof like a lot of stats software that gives you lots of little goodies (IP, visitor paths, zips, etc), but never all the good stuff together on a single spreasheet. That would just be too meaningful.

Well, hopefully I helped a little, at least to export the AdGroups & Ads line-by-line to Excel for webmasters who prefer Excel for editing. Anyway, maybe someone else can show me how to export (as Report or other) the KEYWORDS (too),in addition to the above AdGroups and Adtext line-by-line ....all in ONE view /spreadsheet. That would be cool.

[netmeg]

Um.. I just do an export in AdWords Editor of an entire campaign, and everything is there, including keywords, negative keywords, ads, the whole nine yards.

Plus you can just go into the Ads tab of the AdWords Editor, select all the ads, and copy and paste them right into Excel.

Not sure if I'm talking about the same thing you are?

[donna130]

THANKS! Well, I tried all the exports but never saw the title, line 1, line 2 etc in their own columns. Can you show me where you're seeing it? thanks.

I had great success (thanks to you) using your copy & paste method from paragraph 2. THANKS AGAIN.

[donna130]

Oh! I JUST noticed: your (good) solution has all the parts of the ad, but I noticed KEYWORDS are missing. Do you happen to know a way I can add the keywords on to the same spreadsheet so they fall on the proper lines as the ads we just copied and pasted over? Thanks!

[eWhisper]

Plus you can just go into the Ads tab of the AdWords Editor, select all the ads, and copy and paste them right into Excel.

I didn't know that - that's a great tip! Thank you.

[netmeg]

THANKS! Well, I tried all the exports but never saw the title, line 1, line 2 etc in their own columns. Can you show me where you're seeing it? thanks.

It's not called title, line 1, line 2 - when I export a campaign, it starts with Column S in Excel and says Headline, Description Line 1, Description Line 2, Display URL and Destination URL. When you export a campaign, it uses a alot of columns - mine go all the way to AQ.

Oh! I JUST noticed: your (good) solution has all the parts of the ad, but I noticed KEYWORDS are missing. Do you happen to know a way I can add the keywords on to the same spreadsheet so they fall on the proper lines as the ads we just copied and pasted over? Thanks!

Well the cut and paste won't work, because the keywords are on a different "page" (or tab) in AdWords Editor. You'd have to export the whole campaign.

I didn't know that - that's a great tip! Thank you.

You're welcome. Works for everything in AdWords Editor as far as I can tell. I hardly ever do an export, truth to tell, because it's faster to just cut and paste. I keep an Excel window open *in my sleep*

[eWhisper]

netmeg,

Can you copy/paste keywords into Excel, change the CPCs in excel (leaving everything else alone), and then copy/paste back into the Editor and only the CPCs will change or do you get the message that the keywords already exist and won't be imported?

[netmeg]

I dunno, I only ever tried to get stuff out, not put stuff back in. Let me try it out.

So far, I haven't been able to copy/paste it back into the AdWords Editor. So I think it only works one way.

(It would be WAY COOL if it worked the other way, in case AWA is watching)

[Channel01]

Why wouldn't you just click on the Ads tab then File > Export Spreadsheet > Export Current View? Seems like the easiest way to get the ads in the format you want.

[Channel01]

I dunno, I only ever tried to get stuff out, not put stuff back in. Let me try it out.

So far, I haven't been able to copy/paste it back into the AdWords Editor. So I think it only works one way.

(It would be WAY COOL if it worked the other way, in case AWA is watching)

Unless I'm interpreting this post wrong (highly possible), are you suggesting that you're having difficulty pasting from Excel into the AW Editor? It should work without much of a hassle. I pretty much exclusively do my updates by copy/pasting from Excel into the AW Editor.

[smallcompany]

Where's the one that exports the ads (title, line 1, line 2 etc) so we can edit in Excel?

What does Excel do that Editor doesn't?

[eWhisper]

What does Excel do that Editor doesn't?

For me its usually formulas, conditional formatting, and pivot tables.

[donna130]

great post (great replies). thanks.

btw, how can I quote previous comments (pale blue boxes)? thx. <<I'll just use "<< >>" for this post thx.

netmeg, I'm with you re <<I hardly ever do an export, truth to tell, because it's faster to just cut and paste.>>

Here's a good example why (I know you know but for others thanks):

eWhisper,

<<Can you copy/paste keywords into Excel, change the CPCs in excel (leaving everything else alone), and then copy/paste back into the Editor and only the CPCs will change or do you get the message that the keywords already exist and won't be imported? >>

ABSOLUTELY. Just make your CPC edits and repaste the whole section (exactly as you copied out) back to Editor (ADS > MAKE MULTIPLE CHANGES > ADD/UPDATE multiple KW), checking the box that says "replace the entire contents of the destination ad groups with these kws".

channel01 <<Why wouldn't you just click on the Ads tab then File > Export Spreadsheet > Export Current View? Seems like the easiest way to get the ads in the format you want. >>

You're 100% RIGHT, thank you.

<<I pretty much exclusively do my updates by copy/pasting from Excel into the AW Editor. >>

Exactly. It's so much easier.

small company,

<<What does Excel do that Editor doesn't? >>

thanks. In addition to the ones eW mentions, I just like copy down. It saves a boat-load of time.

thanks!