In case you are not aware Google has been using keyword variations to send you more traffic for your keywords that are using Broad or Phrase match. As they explain it:



"Broad and phrase keyword matching options allow your ads to appear for queries that don't exactly match your keywords. This provides you with additional ad coverage without having to generate an exhaustive keyword list. However, what if not all variations work well for you or what if a keyword isn't as targeted as it could be to begin with? There is a greater chance that you'll accrue less-targeted clicks and inflate your costs. We take a couple steps to help prevent this.

First, your broad- and phrase- matched keyword variations must maintain a high relevance factor (automatically determined by analysis of Google search queries, your ad text, keywords, and CTR). The evaluation of these matches is, in most cases, stricter than the CTR performance requirement for the exact keyword form.

Additionally, the keyword variations and expanded broad matches are monitored closely and can be disabled if they don't achieve a high enough relevance factor. (Your original keyword can continue to be active even if some of its variations are disabled.) This way, your keywords aren't penalized for underperforming variations or expansions."


I think somewhere the numbers have started to impact the CTR - though from the above Google is claiming that is not the case. But when I place the term in Exact match - the CTR improves and I do not have the disabling problems I have when trying to reach more traffic.


I use negatives heavily so I am at a loss to figure exactly what is having the impact. The only thing that I cannot directly influence is the variations that are added via the "variation expansions". Given that my problems with this have been ever increasing since this was introduced I am leaning towards a widget not working right over at Google.


Anyone else have any experience with this?

Aussie, I'm not seeing this. In fact, lately I've found that my exact match keywords get disabled a lot quicker than broad or phrase match - which didn't used to be the case. That tells me that, for us anyway, the feature is working? Like you, we use a lot of negatives.

I can't say I've tested this or even collected any stats to prove what I'm saying, so this is all just my observation.

I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on this.

Melissa

Aussie, I'm not seeing this. In fact, lately I've found that my exact match keywords get disabled a lot quicker than broad or phrase match - which didn't used to be the case. That tells me that, for us anyway, the feature is working? Like you, we use a lot of negatives.

I can't say I've tested this or even collected any stats to prove what I'm saying, so this is all just my observation.

I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on this.

Melissa
In some cases exact match with negatives works in others it speeds the disabling... we have this happen too, mainly we overlook that regular users can think of some terms in completely different ways - or the exact searchers are skeptical of paid listings... hard to know exactly - though impression fraud is always a possibility in a seriously competitive niche.