About keyword matching options

Keywords are words or phrases that are used to match ads with the terms that people are searching for. The keyword match types dictate how closely the keyword needs to match with the user’s search query so that the ad can be considered for the auction. For example, you could use broad match to serve your ad on a wider variety of user searches or you could use exact match to hone in on specific user searches.

Tip

Broader match types capture all the queries of narrower match types, plus more. This means that a phrase match keyword will match all the searches as the same keyword in an exact match. Similarly, a broad match keyword will match all the searches of equivalent phrase and exact match keywords, plus additional related searches. Therefore, you get the same benefits of multiple match types in one broad match type without needing to repeat keywords.

Keyword match types

This diagram explains the different keyword match types, including broad match, phrase match and exact-match keywords.

Broad match

Ads may show on searches that are related to your keyword, which can include searches that don’t contain the keyword terms. This helps you attract more visitors to your website, spend less time building keyword lists and focus your spending on keywords that work. Broad match is the default match type that all your keywords are assigned because it is the most comprehensive. That means you don't have to specify another match type (like exact match, phrase match or a negative match type).

The syntax for broad match is to simply input the keyword. Below is an example of how broad match works:

This diagram explains that a broad match keyword may allow your ads to show on searches that relate to your keyword.

To deliver relevant matches, this match type may also take into account the following:

The user’s recent search activities
The content of the landing page
Other keywords in an ad group to better understand keyword intent

Note: It’s critical to use Smart Bidding with broad match. This is because every search query is different, and bids for each query should reflect the unique contextual signals present at auction time. Smart Bidding uses these signals to ensure that, for all of the relevant searches you could reach with broad match, you’re only competing in the right auctions, at the right bid, for the right user. Learn more about how to grow your Smart Bidding campaigns with broad match

Tips

Adding very similar keywords, such as 'red car' and 'car red' isn’t recommended, as only one keyword would match both searches. However, doing so won’t affect your costs or performance in any way. For example, the broad match keywords 'red car' and 'car red' will be recognised as duplicates and the one with the higher Ad Rank will be used. Even though all your similar keywords may be eligible to serve on the same search, you'll have only one bid in the ad auction. Learn more About similar keywords in a Google Ads account
Check out the Search Automation technical guide to learn more about the signals Google uses, how queries match to keywords, how automation makes keyword matching more effective and what you can do to improve performance.

Phrase match

Ads may show on searches that include the meaning of your keyword. The meaning of the keyword can be implied, and user searches can be a more specific form of the meaning. With phrase match, you can reach more searches than with exact match and fewer searches than with broad match, only showing your ads on the searches that include your product or service.

The syntax for phrase match is to put quotes around your keyword, such as 'tennis shoes'. Below is an example of how phrase match works:

This diagram explains that a phrase-match keyword may allow your ads to show on searches that include the meaning of your keyword.

Exact match

Ads may show on searches that have the same meaning or same intent as the keyword. Of the three keyword matching options, exact match gives you the most control over who views your ad, but reaches fewer searches than both phrase and broad match.

The syntax for exact match is to use square brackets, such as [red shoe]. Below is an example of how exact match works:

This diagram explains that an exact match keyword may allow your ads to show on searches that are the same meaning as your keyword.

Tip

Use Smart Bidding with all match types to automatically optimise for your performance objectives. Smart Bidding works best with broad match because the wide set of searches allows it to learn what works best for you. Learn more about Smart Bidding

Negative keywords

You can use negative keywords to exclude your ads from showing on searches with that term. For example, if you’re a hat company that doesn’t sell baseball hats, you could add a negative keyword for baseball hats.

Note: Negative keyword match types behave differently from positive match types. Learn more about negative keyword match types

How Performance Max works with Search campaigns and keywords

Performance Max complements existing Search campaigns and respects your keyword targeting. If the user’s search query is identical to an eligible Search keyword of any match type in your account, the Search campaign will be prioritised over Performance Max. If the query isn’t identical to an eligible Search keyword (including the spell-corrected search term), the campaign or ad with the highest Ad Rank, which considers creative relevance and performance, will be selected. Learn more about Performance Max campaigns

At times, you may find existing keywords showing in Performance Max instead of Search campaign due to ineligibility factors. Here are a few reasons why a Search keyword isn’t eligible to trigger an ad:

All campaign or ad group targeting isn’t met.
All creatives or landing pages for the ad group are disapproved.
It has low search volume status.
The campaign is limited by budget.

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