Campaigns Crossing Over and Stopping Ads

need help with campaign structure

[adammiller44]

Hey guys, would really appreciate some advice here.

I have an ad words account which I have split into different campaigns....

2 of the campaigns target the same keywords BUT are separated by state....
What started happening was Google stopped showing my ads for keywords in the one campaign because it was used in the other campaign EVEN THOUGH they both target different states....

Does anyone know a way around this?

If that is the case how do you set up multi campaigns targeting different cities?

Thanks for the Help.....

[RhinoFish]

geo targeting works on 2 fronts, location (where they are located) and intent (what their search indicated regarding geo location), and you have options to control each.

take a look at those controls, and you'll likely find the answer to your issue.

campaign settings, Advanced location options

[mememax]

As RhinoFish said, you have to control your geotargeting options in the campaign settings.

Just for you to understand better the issue you may be experiencing, check this [adwords.google.com ]

The paragraph: "Use a keyword from a campaign with the most specific geographical location targeting" may be of your interest.

[adammiller44]

Thanks for the advice

But I have done this and set each campaign with a specific geo targeted region,
However I spoke with Google who said that if you have the same keyword throughout the campaigns google will only display the one with the highest ad rank...this is where the issue lays.....

So if you guys have a way around that please do let me know

thanks again

Adam

[mememax]

Hi Adam. Google will always show the most restrictive keyword. If you set two identical keywords for two different regions like california and florida, that SHOULD not be an issue because google SHOULD recognize the user location and user intent (if you configured the campaign like this) and will show the keyword matching those geo-filters.

In my own experience, google editor will show me those keywords as duplicated. The only way you're sure to not activate double serving issues is to point to 2 different domains. Build a site for each region with its own campaign (or account if you prefer).

[RhinoFish]

if the 2 geo regions do not overlap (see my earlier post here), they cannot cross over, only the single ad in the location targeted is eligible to enter the auction.

[adammiller44]

Thanks for the reply,

When I set up the campaigns i did it in such a way that I geo targeted different cities across the country...then the issue begun.

I spoke with google and they said the keyword with the highest ad rank will show.....forgive my nivitie but isnt that what you suggested I do?

With regards to landing pages if I send users to different landing pages on the same site do you think this will solve the problem?

Cheers

[RhinoFish]

"the keyword with the highest rank" only comes into play when there is more than one eligible keyword. if you have no overlap between these 2 campaigns targeting, there cannot be a keyword in each one, at the same time, for one search, that is eligible to compete for the auction. the key to avoiding overlap is to understand BOTH facets of geo targeting, location and intent. have you looked at the advanced location options in each campaign's settings? the settings you choose there will affect how your geotargeting is working, you need to examine it. :-)

if you want more specific input, please make up a specific example.

[adammiller44]

I will indeed thanks!

[adammiller44]

is there anyway I can send you a screen shoot?

[Kobayashi]

I have experienced a similar thing. The problem was the order in which Google determined all these factors. In my testing, I had two campaigns targetting different countries with the same keyword at the same max CPC and one of the two keyword statuses would often show another one of your ads is showing for this keyword when it was not. In other words, it was like they determined the ad in my account with the best ad rank first, and THEN looked at targeting criteria for that campaign like which country was targeted instead of doing those things first. If the ad with the highest ad rank happened to be in a campaign that targeted a country that was not where the searcher was no ad would get shown.

[adammiller44]

Yeh that was the issue that was happening with me.....

did you manage to find a solution?

[Kobayashi]

No, and I don't think there is a solution until they fundamentally change or fix the way they determine what ad to show. They of course need to determine what ad has the best rank AFTER all the other campaign targeting criteria have been applied, not BEFORE. This may be how the system is supposed to work but it is not in practice how it did when I tried it.

Another similar problem is if two advertisers are bidding on the same keyword for an ad with the same domain but are targeting different countries. I'll get the message that I am outranked, even though the other advertiser is not targeting the country I was targeting and no ad is shown. This is another indication that they take into consideration the ad rank before considering campaign targeting criteria such as country targeted.

[adammiller44]

So then whats your take or understanding of the statements that the other people have posted above?

[Kobayashi]

Seems like they are all saying how it is supposed to work, which I agree, just stating that from my own experience, it did not work that way. It has been awhile since I tried it though so things may have been fixed since then although from what you describe it sounds like, at least in some circumstances, they still determine ad rank before taking campaign settings into consideration.

[mememax]

Exactly as kobayashi said, I told you the way this should work. However (citating myself) "in my own experience, google editor will show me those keywords as duplicated. The only way you're sure to not activate double serving issues is to point to 2 different domains. Build a site for each region with its own campaign (or account if you prefer)."

Create two different domains like nycexample.com and laexample.com (being example your main keyword) and then create campaigns. If you want to be sure to not make duplicate content with those new site, noindex them or disallow the entire site with robots.txt and go with your geo-campaign.

[adammiller44]

thanks guys....I really appreciate all your help :)

How long you guys been doing adwords?

[adammiller44]

thanks guys....I really appreciate all your help :)

How long you guys been doing adwords?

[mememax]

too much adam :) Let us know how you solved your issue!

[adammiller44]

I rebuilt the account and structured the campaign a little differently using different keywords in different campaigns but have the main one in their own umbrella account (if that makes sense) mememax where are you from? if you dont mind me asking....

Cheers :)

[RhinoFish]

i don't know what you guys are talking about, the system works. problem is, there are choices to be made, if you make those choices a certain way, the system works, just differently than you expect. :-)

i still think this is a case of not understanding the role played by "intent versus location", and knowing what your settings are and how the affect your targeting. but hey, the idea that adwords is broken is fun too. okay, fun for me to hear, but not fun for those trying to reach their goals.

:-)

[adammiller44]

Hey just thought of something......
If you create a mobile campaign for mobile devices do you find the same problem occurs?
And in regards to your new domain strat.....Does 301ing apply?
cheers

Adam

[adammiller44]

I think there is a misunderstanding....

HAHAHAH you know that moment where you figure out in your own head how to fix a problem....Just had it :) :)

I think there is a mis understanding going on here....but anyway i agree with all of you and what your saying....

thanks for the info all of you