Modified Broad Match -"+Blue +Widget"

[cybergal]

While implementing modified broad match in the campaigns, I had accidentally entered a modified broad match keyword as a phrase match keyword type ie "+blue +widget", after 1 week when I noticed it, I found out that this keyword had incurred impressions & clicks. I analyzed the search terms & found these - blue widget, blue widget san francisco,...Can somehow explain how adwords system handles modified broad match terms when bid as phrase match type

[Channel01]

I'm guessing it just treats the keywords as phrase match types. I don't believe you can work out a combination between the two.

[cybergal]

So does adwords system ignore the plus symbol when modified broad match is bid as phrase match?.. technically phrase match keyword should be triggered only when the user query matches the exact phrase

[LucidSW]

I did the exact same error once. Got a couple of impressions, no clicks. Best I can determine is that any non alpha-numeric characters inside the quotes will be ignored. Therefore, it triggers as a phrase match. I assume the same would happen if you used exact match.

Along the same lines, I had a client seeing what I did and decided that was cool and created their own modified broad keywords. However, they often made the mistake of typing "+blue+widget" (without quotes). Did not get any impressions. If my theory is correct, ads would trigger on "bluewidget".

[RhinoFish]

(thought bubble... wonder if incorrectly entered keywords affect your account's quality score...)

[Eschatonic]

Has anyone tested combining different types? I'm sure I heard somewhere that it was possible - for example, something like +big +[blue widgets]

[LucidSW]

No, that won't work at all, at least not the way you're thinking about it. Actually, I'm not sure what you're thinking in your example. My guess on this is that the square brackets would be ignored so you'd end up with the keyword effectively being:

+big +blue widgets

If I recall, the system rejects (or at least used to) mixing match types such as:

big "blue widgets"

Don't mix your match types in one keyword. It would be like mixing metaphors and saying "I'll burn that bridge when I get to it".

[Eschatonic]

Ah yes, looks like you're correct.

Can I use broad match modifier with other match types?

No, the broad match modifier feature only works when used with broad match keywords. Putting a plus symbol (+) in phrase match or exact match keywords (e.g. "+tennis +shoes" or [+tennis +shoes] ) will not change their matching behavior.

In addition, putting a plus symbol (+) in front of the brackets or quotes around a phrase match or exact match keyword (e.g. +[tennis shoes] or +"tennis shoes") will treat the keyword as a broad match keyword, where the brackets and quotation marks are part of the term.

From [adwords.google.com...]