Paid media fundamentals

Ad group

Last updated:

Mar 23, 2023

Learn about ad groups and how they can help you organize your PPC campaigns. Discover the best practices for creating and organizing ad groups for maximum results.

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James Deeney

James Deeney

Senior Content Manager

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An ad group is a set of individual advertisements that are grouped together within a paid search campaign. Ad groups are created to organise and manage a group of ads that share similar themes, targeting, and landing pages.

The primary purpose of ad groups is to organise and structure a PPC campaign in a logical and easy-to-understand way. This allows advertisers to focus their efforts on specific themes, products, or services, and to target their ads to specific groups of users.

Structure of an Ad Group

An ad group consists of several elements, including:

  • Ads: These are the individual advertisements that are displayed to users. Each ad group can contain multiple ads, with each ad targeting a specific keyword or group of keywords.
  • Keywords: These are the words or phrases that trigger the display of an ad when a user searches for them. Advertisers choose specific keywords to target with their ads, and these keywords are usually related to the theme or focus of the ad group.
  • Landing pages: These are the pages on an advertiser's website that users are taken to when they click on an ad. Advertisers typically create specific landing pages for each ad group, and these pages should be closely related to the theme or focus of the ad group.
  • Targeting: This refers to the specific groups of users that an ad group is targeting. Advertisers can use various targeting methods, such as location, age, gender, and interests, to ensure that their ads are only shown to users who are most likely to be interested in their products or services.

Creating an Ad Group

When creating an ad group, it is important to carefully consider the theme, focus, and targeting of the ad group. Advertisers should choose keywords that are closely related to the theme of the ad group, and create ads and landing pages that are relevant and targeted to the specific group of users that the ad group is targeting.

It is also important to ensure that the ad group is structured in a logical and easy-to-understand way, with clear and distinct themes and targeting. This will help to maximise the effectiveness of the ad group and ensure that it is delivering the best possible results for the advertiser.

Example of an Ad Group

Consider the following example of an ad group for a car dealership:

  • Ad group theme: Used cars
  • Keywords: Used cars, second-hand cars, pre-owned cars
  • Ads:
    • "Find the perfect used car at XYZ dealership"
    • "Huge selection of used cars available now"
  • Landing pages:
    • "/used-cars"
    • "/used-cars/inventory"
  • Targeting:
    • Location: London
    • Age: 25-44
    • Interests: Cars, automotive

In this example, the ad group is targeting users in the London area who are aged between 25 and 44 and have interests in cars and automotive. The ads and landing pages are focused on the theme of used cars, and the keywords used are related to this theme.

Benefits of Ad Groups

Ad groups offer several benefits to advertisers, including:

  • Increased control and flexibility: Ad groups allow advertisers to create and manage multiple ads within a single campaign, giving them greater control over the themes, targeting, and landing pages of their ads.
  • Improved targeting: By creating specific ad groups for different themes and targeting groups, advertisers can ensure that their ads are shown to the most relevant users, improving the chances of success.
  • Better budget management: Ad groups allow advertisers to allocate different budgets to different themes and targeting groups, allowing them to focus their spending on the areas that are most likely to yield the best results.
  • Enhanced tracking and measurement: Ad groups allow advertisers to track the performance of their ads and landing pages separately, making it easier to identify areas that are performing well and those that may need improvement.
  • Simplified management: Ad groups make it easier for advertisers to manage their PPC campaigns, as they can focus on specific themes and targeting groups rather than trying to manage a large number of individual ads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ad groups should I have in my PPC campaign?

The number of ad groups that you should have in your PPC campaign will depend on the size and complexity of your business and the products or services that you offer. As a general rule, it is best to have a small number of highly targeted ad groups rather than a large number of broad, untargeted ad groups. This will help to ensure that your ads are shown to the most relevant users and are more likely to be successful.

Can I use the same ad in multiple ad groups?

Yes, it is possible to use the same ad in multiple ad groups. However, it is generally recommended to create unique ads for each ad group to ensure that the ads are as relevant and targeted as possible. This will help to maximise the effectiveness of the ad group and improve the chances of success.

Can I use the same landing page in multiple ad groups?

Yes, it is possible to use the same landing page in multiple ad groups. However, it is generally recommended to create unique landing pages for each ad group to ensure that the page is as relevant and targeted as possible. This will help to maximise the effectiveness of the ad group and improve the chances of success.

Can I change the keywords in an ad group after it has been created?

Yes, you can change the keywords in an ad group after it has been created. However, it is important to carefully consider any changes that you make, as changing the keywords may affect the performance of the ad group. It is generally recommended to thoroughly research and test any changes before implementing them.