About contextual targeting

Contextual targeting is one of a few different methods that you can use to get your display ads on sites, apps, and webpages that are part of the Display Network. This method of targeting uses the keywords or topics you’ve chosen to match your ads to relevant sites.

Note: This only applies to keywords with “Content” selected for the keyword setting.
1. You choose keywords and topics

Contextual targeting starts with you adding content keywords or topics to ad groups in your Display Network campaigns. Keywords are individual words, whereas a topic is a webpage’s concepts or central theme rather than its individual terms.

2. Our system analyzes webpages that make up the Display Network

Our system analyzes the content of each Display Network webpage or URL, considering factors such as the following:

  • Text
  • Language
  • Link structure
  • Page structure

Based on this analysis, the central theme of each webpage is determined.

3. Your ad gets placed

By content keywords

When your keyword (using the “Content” keyword setting) matches a webpage’s concepts or its central theme, your ad is eligible to show on that webpage (also known as an automatic placement). Whether your ad actually shows there is determined by a number of factors, including your language and location targeting.

 

Example

Suppose you've created an ad group to advertise your car dealership’s latest lineup and you've included keywords like fuel efficient cars and 2015 electric cars. We use contextual targeting to identify and place your ad on Display Network pages that match those keywords.

By topic

When your topic matches a webpage’s central theme, your ad is eligible to show on that webpage. Whether your ad actually shows there is determined by a number of factors such as your language and location targeting.

Example

Let's imagine again that you want to show ads about electric cars that are for sale. You could add the sub-topic Autos & Vehicles > Vehicle Shopping > Vehicle Specs, Reviews & Comparisons to your ad group. This would help you target all pages on the Display Network related to car reviews and comparisons, regardless of whether your exact keywords appear on the page.

4. Effect of inclusive and exclusive targeting

The tables below explain the effect of inclusive and exclusive targeting.

Inclusive targeting

  If contextual targeting (inclusion) is applied, where do ads serve?
  Placements Topics Display/Video keywords
In-stream yes, confirmed yes, confirmed yes, confirmed
Watch next feed yes, confirmed yes, confirmed yes, confirmed
Shorts red x mark
Home feed red x mark
Search feed red x mark yes, confirmed yes, confirmed

Exclusive targeting

  Where do exclusion limits determine where ads can show?
(For example, where ads can only serve to entities not matching the advertiser’s exclusion)
  Placement exclusions Topic exclusions Keyword exclusions Inventory type Content label exclusion Content type exclusion
In-stream yes, confirmed
Watch next feed yes, confirmed
Shorts red x mark red x mark red x mark yes, confirmed red x mark red x mark
Home feed red x mark
Search feed red x mark yes, confirmed yes, confirmed red x mark red x mark red x mark

Next steps

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