5 Hidden Google Ads Settings That Can Boost Your ROI by 30%

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By doing these sample steps you can save your hard earn money

Advanced Location Targeting

One of the most powerful yet underutilized features in Google Ads is advanced location targeting. Many advertisers set their location to broad areas like countries or states, missing out on the precision that can drive higher conversion rates.

5 Hidden Google Ads Settings That Can Boost Your ROI by 30%

With advanced location targeting, you can:

  • Target specific zip codes or radius around a point
  • Exclude certain areas within your target location
  • Use location bid adjustments to increase or decrease bids based on user location

According to a study by WordStream, businesses that use precise location targeting see an average increase of 107% in click-through rates and a 23% decrease in cost-per-click. For example, a local pizza chain in Chicago implemented zip code targeting for their delivery areas and saw a 45% increase in conversions while reducing ad spend by 20%.

To access these settings, go to your campaign settings, then "Locations," and click on "Advanced search" for more granular options.

Automated Bidding Strategies

While many advertisers stick to manual bidding or simple automated strategies like Maximize Clicks, there are more sophisticated options that can significantly improve ROI.

Some lesser-known automated bidding strategies include:

  • Target ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)
  • Maximize Conversion Value
  • Target Impression Share

A report by Google showed that advertisers who switched from manual bidding to Target ROAS saw an average increase of 35% in conversion value. One e-commerce company implemented Target ROAS for their product listings and experienced a 50% increase in ROAS within the first month.

To explore these options, go to your campaign settings, then "Bidding," and click on "Change bid strategy."

Ad Schedule Customization

Many advertisers set their ads to run 24/7 or use basic day-parting. However, Google Ads offers much more granular control over when your ads appear and how much you bid during specific times.

With advanced ad scheduling, you can:

  • Set different bid adjustments for each hour of the day
  • Create custom schedules for different days of the week
  • Adjust bids based on seasonal trends

Research by CXL Institute found that businesses using granular ad scheduling saw an average improvement of 17% in conversion rates. A B2B software company used this feature to increase bids during business hours and decrease them during off-hours, resulting in a 28% reduction in cost per lead.

To access these settings, go to your campaign, click on "Ad schedule," then "Ad schedule" again, and use the pencil icon to edit.

Audience Segment Combinations

While many advertisers use basic audience targeting, combining multiple audience segments can create highly specific and high-converting groups.

Advanced audience targeting allows you to:

  • Combine affinity audiences with in-market audiences
  • Layer demographic data with life events
  • Create custom combinations based on your own criteria

According to Google, advertisers using combined audience targeting see up to 20% higher conversion rates compared to those using single audience targeting. A luxury car dealership combined an affinity audience for "luxury shoppers" with an in-market audience for "new cars" and a custom audience of previous website visitors, resulting in a 40% increase in qualified leads.

To create these combinations, go to "Audiences" in your campaign, click "Edit audience segments," then use the "Combined segments" option.

Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) Refinement

Dynamic Search Ads can be a powerful tool, but many advertisers set them up and forget about them. However, refining your DSA settings can lead to significant improvements in performance.

Advanced DSA settings include:

  • Page feed for more control over which landing pages are used
  • Dynamic ad target expansion to find new relevant searches
  • Negative dynamic ad targets to exclude irrelevant pages

A study by SearchEngineLand found that refined DSA campaigns achieved a 25% higher click-through rate and a 18% lower cost-per-acquisition compared to standard DSA setups. An online retailer used a curated page feed for their DSA campaign, focusing on their best-selling products, and saw a 60% increase in ROAS.

To refine your DSA settings, go to your DSA campaign, click on "Dynamic ad targets," and explore the various options available.

Counterarguments and Rebuttals

Some might argue that these settings are too complex for the average user. However, Google has made significant strides in creating user-friendly interfaces and providing guidance for these advanced features. The potential ROI boost far outweighs the initial learning curve.

Others may worry that over-optimization could lead to limited reach. While it's true that narrowing your focus can reduce overall impressions, the goal of advertising is not just reach, but effective reach. By targeting more precisely, you ensure that your ads are shown to the most relevant audiences, leading to higher quality traffic and better conversion rates.

Conclusion

The potential for a 30% ROI boost through these hidden Google Ads settings is not just a possibility—it's a reality for many advertisers who take the time to implement them. By leveraging advanced location targeting, sophisticated automated bidding strategies, granular ad scheduling, complex audience combinations, and refined Dynamic Search Ads, you can take your Google Ads performance to the next level.

To recap, the five key settings we discussed are:

  1. Advanced Location Targeting
  2. Automated Bidding Strategies
  3. Ad Schedule Customization
  4. Audience Segment Combinations
  5. Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) Refinement

Now is the time to review your Google Ads accounts and implement these optimizations. In the fast-paced world of digital advertising, staying ahead means continually refining your approach and taking advantage of every tool at your disposal. Don't leave money on the table—dive into these settings and watch your ROI soar.

Expert Advice on How to Use These?

After running campaigns for up to three months, you'll start seeing different data in your Google ads account. At that point, you should read this blog and follow the advice it contains. The first topic it covers is when and how to use Advanced Location Targeting and Exclusion.

How and When? By Advanced Location Targeting you can exclude your competitor IPs or you can Exclude the entire zipcodes and target only those which are best performing

Automated Bidding Stratergies- In the past year, automated bidding has shown a 20% increase in conversions compared to manual CPC. The major downside of manual CPC is the potential loss of performance when you control it yourself, making AI a more effective choice.

Ad Schedule Customization- Ad Schedule Customization in Google Ads allows advertisers to tailor when their ads appear and adjust bids based on specific times and days. According to a study by Wordstream, advertisers who use ad scheduling see an average increase of 18% in click-through rates and a 17% decrease in cost-per-click. For instance, a B2B software company that implemented ad scheduling to focus on business hours saw a 28% reduction in cost per lead.

Audience Segment Combinations- By researching and making custom audience or lookalike audiences you can increase your conversions of the best use as Remarketing you should not be missing this.

Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) Refinement- Refinement is for large e-commerce websites with frequently changing inventory or content-rich sites that are regularly updated. Here's why:

  1. Automatic coverage: DSAs can automatically generate ads based on your website content, ensuring that new products or pages are immediately advertisable without manual intervention.
  2. Long-tail keyword capture: DSAs excel at capturing long-tail search queries that might be missed in traditional keyword-based campaigns.
  3. Time-saving: For websites with thousands of products or pages, manually creating ads for each would be extremely time-consuming. DSAs automate this process.
  4. Refinement opportunities: Using page feeds, you can prioritize specific high-value pages or products, ensuring they get more exposure.
  5. Performance optimization: By using negative dynamic ad targets, you can exclude underperforming pages or sections of your site, improving overall campaign efficiency.

For example, an online retailer with a large, frequently updated product catalog could use refined DSAs to automatically create ads for new products, capture niche search queries, and prioritize high-margin items, potentially leading to increased sales and improved ROI.

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Yawar Saeed

I discovered my passion for digital marketing at the age of 15, and since then, it’s become my driving force. From early on, I’ve been helping businesses thrive on digital platforms, using creative strategies to boost their online presence and growth. My journey has been one of continuous learning, and I’m excited to share my expertise in PPC, SEO, and all things digital marketing. Join me as I explore the latest trends, tips, and strategies that can take your business to the next level!

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