Targeting the same keywords

[toddb]

What is the easiest way to switch back and forth between two ads targeting the same keywords?

Just to be clear. This is not one where I want it swap back and forth. I want it to be something I can quickly manually switch.

[poster_boy]

Create two ad groups with the same keywords but unique creative. Pause one, activate the other. Vice versa.

[toddb]

That is what I want to do but I thought Google frowned on 2 ad groups doing that.

[toddb]

My opponent was using 2 accounts and targeting the same keywords. This is explains how he was able to do the switch so fast.

[patient2all]

Using two AdGroups with the same words but for different ads/sites is a legitimate marketing technique that one should not hesitate to try.

Having two accounts for that purpose is frowned on by Google because of the potential that you could use such to show up twice for the same search, a real no-no.

patient2all

[toddb]

if you use them in the same campaign does google just pick one if you leave both on? I assume the highest bid plus ctr would show.

Edit: ugly typo and yes he was showing up twice for the same term. Once from each account.

[sailorjwd]

toddb,

If you do leave them both on it will eventually tell you which creative is better - takes a week of history before it settles out... also found it helps to create them at the same time otherwise one will bully the other for a while.

[etechsupport]

You should be realistic about targeting highly competitive keywords, you may be better off targeting less popular ones.

[toddb]

" You should be realistic about targeting highly competitive keywords, you may be better off targeting less popular ones. "

I target competitive ones in my industry. Hard to know how big they are world wide or anything like that.