Ever clicked on your own Google Ad in a moment of curious self-scrutiny? It’s a common impulse, especially for those managing their own Google Ads campaigns. However, while checking your ad’s placement is understandable, searching for yourself on Google when running Google Ads can actually have negative consequences for your campaign’s performance.
This blog from Tenlee Media, your trusted partner in digital marketing, explains why self-googling your ads is a habit you should break, and offers alternative strategies for monitoring your Google Ads campaigns effectively.
The Pitfalls of Self-Googling for Your Google Ads
Although seemingly harmless, searching for and clicking on your own ad can have a domino effect on your campaign’s performance. Here’s why you should avoid it:
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Affects Click-Through Rate (CTR): CTR, the percentage of times your ad is shown that results in a click, is a crucial metric for Google Ads. Google Ads uses CTR to determine ad rank and cost-per-click (CPC). Every click, including yours, inflates your CTR. While a high CTR might appear positive, it attracts misleading data. An inflated CTR may paint a false picture of your ad’s effectiveness, leading to a higher CPC and potentially less exposure for relevant audiences. Conversely, each time you don’t click on your own ad lowers your CTR.
- Ad May Not Show Up Which is Misleading: Realistically, your ad won’t show up every single time. It will show up to the relevant audience when it needs to, based off of many factors like budget, account quality, and time allowed for optimization.
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Reduced Ad Relevance Score: Google prioritizes ads that are relevant to users’ searches. When you click your own ad, you’re sending a signal to Google’s algorithm that your ad might not be relevant to real searchers with similar queries. This can decrease your ad’s relevance score, leading to lower rankings and decreased visibility.
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Wasted Budget: Every click on your ad costs money, even if it’s your own. This is especially true for highly competitive keywords. By clicking on your own ad, you’re essentially burning a click that could have been used by a potential customer.
Effective Monitoring Strategies: Alternatives to Self-Googling
Now that you understand the downsides of self-googling, let’s explore better ways to monitor your Google Ads campaigns:
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Utilize Google Ads Reporting Tools: Google Ads provides a comprehensive suite of reporting tools that let you track your campaign’s performance in detail. These reports offer valuable insights on metrics like impressions, clicks, conversions, cost, and much more. Monitor these reports regularly to gauge your campaign’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
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Set Up Conversion Tracking: Setting up conversion tracking allows you to measure not just clicks, but also how many clicks actually lead to desired actions like website sales or form submissions. This provides a more accurate picture of your campaign’s overall performance and return on investment (ROI).
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Consider Third-Party Tracking Tools: Several third-party tools like SEMrush or SpyFu offer advanced ad tracking capabilities. These tools can provide valuable insights into your ad’s performance compared to competitors and can be helpful for identifying areas for improvement.
Embrace Smart Monitoring, Ditch the Self-Googling Habit
By adopting these strategies and ditching the self-googling habit, you can gain valuable insights into your Google Ads campaign performance without negatively impacting its effectiveness. Remember, Google Ads is a powerful tool for reaching new customers and growing your business. By focusing on smart monitoring and optimizing your campaigns based on real data, you can ensure your ads are reaching the right audience and delivering results.
Ready to take your Google Ads campaigns to the next level? Contact Tenlee Media today! Our team of experienced digital marketing professionals can help you develop and manage effective Google Ads campaigns that deliver measurable results.