SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Google Confidential and Proprietary
Common Quality Score
Misconceptions
Google Confidential and Proprietary
5 Quality Score Misconceptions Uncovered
1.  There is only one Quality Score
2.  Using different match types can improve your Quality Score
3.  You can buy your way to a great Quality Score
4.  High CTR = high Quality Score
5.  Quality Score is reset when you optimize your account
6.  Quality Score suffers when your ad is not running
WRONG:
Google Confidential and Proprietary
Misconception #1
Misconception: There is only one Quality Score
Fact: There are separate Quality Scores used to set minimum
bids and rank ads. In addition, the Quality Score is different for
search and content.
Google Confidential and Proprietary
1a. The Quality Score Impacts Minimum CPC
• Static elements determine Quality
Score
–  keyword relevance
–  ad text relevance
–  landing page relevance
• The Quality Score determines the
minimum CPC
–  active / inactive keyword status
–  more granular min CPC
• Quality Score is updated frequently so
an inactive keyword could become
active automatically.
Google Confidential and Proprietary
1b. The Quality Score Impacts Ad Rank
• Unique properties of a query let us refine the Quality Score
–  If I sell Hawaiian cruises and I have the keyword ‘cruises’, I’ll get a better
score for the query “Hawaiian cruises” than for “Alaskan cruises”.
–  The Quality Score is updated for every query
• Quality Score on Search
–  With maximum CPC, determines ad rank
–  Determines promotion to top of page
• Quality Score on Content
–  With maximum CPC, determines ad rank on content pages
–  On content, we use a content Quality Score when ads are ranked in the auction.
As with search, ads are ranked based on CPC x QS, where the content Quality
Score is used. The content Quality Score is determined by the CTR of your Ad
Group on that specific site, as well as the historical performance of that Ad Group
and related Ad Groups on similar sites.
Google Confidential and Proprietary
2. Keyword Match Types
Misconception: Changing keyword match types can alter my Quality
Score
Fact: Quality Score is calculated using only data from queries that
exactly match your keyword
•  [red flowers], “red flowers”, ‘red flowers’ may all have different CTRs
but they all have the same Quality Score
•  Because Quality Score doesn’t depend on the match type, you won’t get
lower costs by using all 3 match types
• Negative keywords help you eliminate irrelevant queries
–  This helps improve your account’s performance
TIP: Use match types to target your audience but not to improve
Quality Score or decrease cost
Google Confidential and Proprietary
3. Impact of Position on Quality Score
Misconception: Showing up in a higher position will benefit my QS
Fact: Quality Score is normalized to compensate for differences in
performance for ads in different positions
–  An ad in a higher position is predisposed to get a better CTR
–  An ad above the search results is predisposed to get a better CTR
• You can’t buy your way into top position with a low quality ad
Google Confidential and Proprietary
4. The Relationship between CTR and QS
Misconception: A high CTR means that I’ll have a high Quality Score
Fact: Quality Score (for min CPC and for AdRank on search) is based
on your ad’s performance on Google.com
• It is possible that your ad has a low Quality Score despite having a
stellar CTR because it does not perform well on Google properties
• There is a level playing field when all ads are judged on the same
criteria
Google Confidential and Proprietary
5. Optimizations and Quality Score
Misconception: I’ll lose my history if I optimize my account
Fact: History of keywords, ad texts and landing pages is preserved
when the account is restructured
•  Visible history is reset
•  History to calculate Quality Score is preserved
TIP: Experiment with improved account structure, you can always go
back if it wasn’t a success
Google Confidential and Proprietary
6. Paused Ads
Misconception: My Quality Score suffers when my ad is offline
Fact: Quality Score is partially based on an account’s history
so when an ad is paused, it accrues no history and there is no
penalty for being offline
•  Use ad scheduling to only show your ads when they perform at their
best
•  Pause keywords and creatives that are out of season and resume
them next time they come in season
Fact: Quality Score is partially based on system-wide data so a
paused ad’s Quality Score could change when it is resumed.
•  E.g. the keyword “Christmas Tree” will have a better Quality Score
around the holidays. If you unpause it in March, it may have a worse
Quality Score, however this is an external factor and not a penalty
because your keyword was paused.

More Related Content

PPT
ADSPACE Measurement and Metrics — Arjun Jayaram
DOC
Digital_Marketing
PPTX
ADSPACE Measurement and Metrics — Jarck Mardack
PPTX
SEMpdx PPC Basics January 2013
PPT
Paid Advertising - Internet Marketing Pillar #5
PPTX
Pay per Click 101- America Outdoors 2012
PDF
Digital Marketing Audit - What's your Silver Lining Story?
PPTX
ADSPACE Measurement and Metrics — Arjun Jayaram
Digital_Marketing
ADSPACE Measurement and Metrics — Jarck Mardack
SEMpdx PPC Basics January 2013
Paid Advertising - Internet Marketing Pillar #5
Pay per Click 101- America Outdoors 2012
Digital Marketing Audit - What's your Silver Lining Story?

What's hot (20)

PPTX
What is ad rank in adwords?
PPTX
Christoffer Berg - Prioritize better with a weighted keyword visibility score
PPT
DFW-State of-Search-succeeding_with_google_display_network_van_wagner
PDF
PPC Audit Sample & AdWords Review from Markitors
PPTX
Introduction to PPC by Brandon Hess [Metrics Marketing Bootcamp]
PPTX
NIFE - Adwords presentation1hour
PPTX
Search Engine Marketing
PDF
19 AdWords Bidding Strategies Your Competitors Don't Know
PPTX
Ross Plotkin - Take a Walk on the Paid Side - KahenaCon Spring 2012
PPTX
How To Spend Less and Sell More With Paid Search #EdgeBristol
PPTX
Budgeting for Metasearch
PPT
Google Quality Score & the PPC Black Hole
PPTX
How to Audit PPC (Adwords) Accounts - Complete Checklist
PDF
PPTX
Webinar 3 rate parity
PPTX
Google AdWords
PDF
What is keywords match type?
PPTX
Are you Wasting PPC Budget?
PPTX
Webinar 2 - pros & cons of asst booking
PPTX
How Agencies Use Their Competitors’ Data to Develop the Perfect Ad Campaign
What is ad rank in adwords?
Christoffer Berg - Prioritize better with a weighted keyword visibility score
DFW-State of-Search-succeeding_with_google_display_network_van_wagner
PPC Audit Sample & AdWords Review from Markitors
Introduction to PPC by Brandon Hess [Metrics Marketing Bootcamp]
NIFE - Adwords presentation1hour
Search Engine Marketing
19 AdWords Bidding Strategies Your Competitors Don't Know
Ross Plotkin - Take a Walk on the Paid Side - KahenaCon Spring 2012
How To Spend Less and Sell More With Paid Search #EdgeBristol
Budgeting for Metasearch
Google Quality Score & the PPC Black Hole
How to Audit PPC (Adwords) Accounts - Complete Checklist
Webinar 3 rate parity
Google AdWords
What is keywords match type?
Are you Wasting PPC Budget?
Webinar 2 - pros & cons of asst booking
How Agencies Use Their Competitors’ Data to Develop the Perfect Ad Campaign
Ad

Viewers also liked (13)

PDF
Understanding Media Analytics and Reporting
PPTX
Case Study: Quality Content
PDF
The 3 Facebook Advertising Metrics That Matter
PPT
Google workshop
PPTX
PPC Results
PDF
Ecommerce Social Media Marketing Case Study
PPTX
Leveraging Customer Reviews to Boost Performance & Efficiency in PPC Channels
PDF
ADMA IQ - Digital Project Management
PDF
Display Advertising @ Mindscripts
PDF
Campaign Optimization Tips for Success
PPTX
Q3 2016 Benchmark Report: Advertisers on Facebook Scale Revenue Through Video...
PDF
Google AdWords Quality Score Hacking
PPTX
Facebook Advertising Benchmarks: Q2 2016
Understanding Media Analytics and Reporting
Case Study: Quality Content
The 3 Facebook Advertising Metrics That Matter
Google workshop
PPC Results
Ecommerce Social Media Marketing Case Study
Leveraging Customer Reviews to Boost Performance & Efficiency in PPC Channels
ADMA IQ - Digital Project Management
Display Advertising @ Mindscripts
Campaign Optimization Tips for Success
Q3 2016 Benchmark Report: Advertisers on Facebook Scale Revenue Through Video...
Google AdWords Quality Score Hacking
Facebook Advertising Benchmarks: Q2 2016
Ad

Similar to Google qs misconceptions (20)

PPTX
What is quality score?
PPT
Avoiding the Google Slap - Dush Ramachandran
PPTX
PPC explained visually
PPTX
Quality score
PPTX
Quality score
PPTX
To know Quality Score and what role it plays in Digital Marketing
PDF
Cracking Quality Score
PDF
Quality Score Is King: Triple PPC Traffic & 2X Your ROI
PDF
Improve AdWords Performance using a Weekly Optimization Checklist - Workshop ...
PPT
Google Quality Score Workshop: How to Raise Your Quality Score and Increase t...
PDF
Improving Quality Score - The Value of Being More Relevant
PPT
Adwords campaign management
PDF
Settling the Quality Score Whitepaper
PDF
Settling the Quality Score - AdWords Best Practices Series by Google
PPTX
SAScon June 2014 - PPC Quality Score
PDF
Webmarketing123: Everything You Need to Know About PPC Quality Score-08-24-2011
PDF
Quality score
PPTX
What is quality score in google adwords
PPTX
What is quality score in Google Adwords
PDF
Adwordscampaignmanagement 110824161202-phpapp01
What is quality score?
Avoiding the Google Slap - Dush Ramachandran
PPC explained visually
Quality score
Quality score
To know Quality Score and what role it plays in Digital Marketing
Cracking Quality Score
Quality Score Is King: Triple PPC Traffic & 2X Your ROI
Improve AdWords Performance using a Weekly Optimization Checklist - Workshop ...
Google Quality Score Workshop: How to Raise Your Quality Score and Increase t...
Improving Quality Score - The Value of Being More Relevant
Adwords campaign management
Settling the Quality Score Whitepaper
Settling the Quality Score - AdWords Best Practices Series by Google
SAScon June 2014 - PPC Quality Score
Webmarketing123: Everything You Need to Know About PPC Quality Score-08-24-2011
Quality score
What is quality score in google adwords
What is quality score in Google Adwords
Adwordscampaignmanagement 110824161202-phpapp01

More from Marco Ma (9)

PDF
How to increase international students from China to study in Australian univ...
PDF
Youtube basic reach - by Google
PDF
Google Analytics Attribution & Multi-Channel Funnel Analysis
PDF
Digital impact-on-in-store-shopping research-studies
PDF
Consumer Barometer Australia 2015
PDF
Consumer barometer-insights-from-australia
PDF
Consumer barometer uk_infographic_2015
PDF
UK Seasonality Calendar
PDF
Retail marketing funnel & o2 o activities
How to increase international students from China to study in Australian univ...
Youtube basic reach - by Google
Google Analytics Attribution & Multi-Channel Funnel Analysis
Digital impact-on-in-store-shopping research-studies
Consumer Barometer Australia 2015
Consumer barometer-insights-from-australia
Consumer barometer uk_infographic_2015
UK Seasonality Calendar
Retail marketing funnel & o2 o activities

Recently uploaded (20)

PDF
It Takes a Village Campaign Plan Book; Sidra Medicine
PPTX
Opening presentation of Sangam Hospital Bodeli
PPTX
SaaS intelligence platform for B2B founders and marketers - Toksta
PDF
Pay-Per-Click Marketing: Strategies That Actually Work in 2025
PDF
SEO vs. AEO: Optimizing for Google vs AI-Powered Search Assistants
PPTX
Best Mobile App Development Company in Lucknow
PDF
Social Media Marketing in 2025 blog 1 2.pdf
PDF
5 free to use google tools to understand your customers online behavior in 20...
PDF
FSSC 22000 Certification: Meaning, Benefits & Food Safety Compliance
PPT
Market Segmentation and Positioning(3).ppt
PPTX
Unit 2 - Architects Act, COA n competitions.pptx
PPTX
Mastering in Website Competitor Analysis
PPTX
Strategic Sage Digital-The Professional Digital Marketing Company in Mohali.pptx
PDF
Instagram Marketing Agency by IIS INDIA.pdf
PPTX
APA Examples Reference Examples Style and
PDF
Biography of Brady Beitlich
PPTX
CH 1 AN INTRODUCTION OF INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATION (COMBINE)
PDF
Social Media Optimization Basic Introduction
PDF
Wondershare Filmora Crack Free Download 2025
PDF
The Role of Search Intent in Shaping SEO Strategies in 2025
It Takes a Village Campaign Plan Book; Sidra Medicine
Opening presentation of Sangam Hospital Bodeli
SaaS intelligence platform for B2B founders and marketers - Toksta
Pay-Per-Click Marketing: Strategies That Actually Work in 2025
SEO vs. AEO: Optimizing for Google vs AI-Powered Search Assistants
Best Mobile App Development Company in Lucknow
Social Media Marketing in 2025 blog 1 2.pdf
5 free to use google tools to understand your customers online behavior in 20...
FSSC 22000 Certification: Meaning, Benefits & Food Safety Compliance
Market Segmentation and Positioning(3).ppt
Unit 2 - Architects Act, COA n competitions.pptx
Mastering in Website Competitor Analysis
Strategic Sage Digital-The Professional Digital Marketing Company in Mohali.pptx
Instagram Marketing Agency by IIS INDIA.pdf
APA Examples Reference Examples Style and
Biography of Brady Beitlich
CH 1 AN INTRODUCTION OF INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATION (COMBINE)
Social Media Optimization Basic Introduction
Wondershare Filmora Crack Free Download 2025
The Role of Search Intent in Shaping SEO Strategies in 2025

Google qs misconceptions

  • 1. Google Confidential and Proprietary Common Quality Score Misconceptions
  • 2. Google Confidential and Proprietary 5 Quality Score Misconceptions Uncovered 1.  There is only one Quality Score 2.  Using different match types can improve your Quality Score 3.  You can buy your way to a great Quality Score 4.  High CTR = high Quality Score 5.  Quality Score is reset when you optimize your account 6.  Quality Score suffers when your ad is not running WRONG:
  • 3. Google Confidential and Proprietary Misconception #1 Misconception: There is only one Quality Score Fact: There are separate Quality Scores used to set minimum bids and rank ads. In addition, the Quality Score is different for search and content.
  • 4. Google Confidential and Proprietary 1a. The Quality Score Impacts Minimum CPC • Static elements determine Quality Score –  keyword relevance –  ad text relevance –  landing page relevance • The Quality Score determines the minimum CPC –  active / inactive keyword status –  more granular min CPC • Quality Score is updated frequently so an inactive keyword could become active automatically.
  • 5. Google Confidential and Proprietary 1b. The Quality Score Impacts Ad Rank • Unique properties of a query let us refine the Quality Score –  If I sell Hawaiian cruises and I have the keyword ‘cruises’, I’ll get a better score for the query “Hawaiian cruises” than for “Alaskan cruises”. –  The Quality Score is updated for every query • Quality Score on Search –  With maximum CPC, determines ad rank –  Determines promotion to top of page • Quality Score on Content –  With maximum CPC, determines ad rank on content pages –  On content, we use a content Quality Score when ads are ranked in the auction. As with search, ads are ranked based on CPC x QS, where the content Quality Score is used. The content Quality Score is determined by the CTR of your Ad Group on that specific site, as well as the historical performance of that Ad Group and related Ad Groups on similar sites.
  • 6. Google Confidential and Proprietary 2. Keyword Match Types Misconception: Changing keyword match types can alter my Quality Score Fact: Quality Score is calculated using only data from queries that exactly match your keyword •  [red flowers], “red flowers”, ‘red flowers’ may all have different CTRs but they all have the same Quality Score •  Because Quality Score doesn’t depend on the match type, you won’t get lower costs by using all 3 match types • Negative keywords help you eliminate irrelevant queries –  This helps improve your account’s performance TIP: Use match types to target your audience but not to improve Quality Score or decrease cost
  • 7. Google Confidential and Proprietary 3. Impact of Position on Quality Score Misconception: Showing up in a higher position will benefit my QS Fact: Quality Score is normalized to compensate for differences in performance for ads in different positions –  An ad in a higher position is predisposed to get a better CTR –  An ad above the search results is predisposed to get a better CTR • You can’t buy your way into top position with a low quality ad
  • 8. Google Confidential and Proprietary 4. The Relationship between CTR and QS Misconception: A high CTR means that I’ll have a high Quality Score Fact: Quality Score (for min CPC and for AdRank on search) is based on your ad’s performance on Google.com • It is possible that your ad has a low Quality Score despite having a stellar CTR because it does not perform well on Google properties • There is a level playing field when all ads are judged on the same criteria
  • 9. Google Confidential and Proprietary 5. Optimizations and Quality Score Misconception: I’ll lose my history if I optimize my account Fact: History of keywords, ad texts and landing pages is preserved when the account is restructured •  Visible history is reset •  History to calculate Quality Score is preserved TIP: Experiment with improved account structure, you can always go back if it wasn’t a success
  • 10. Google Confidential and Proprietary 6. Paused Ads Misconception: My Quality Score suffers when my ad is offline Fact: Quality Score is partially based on an account’s history so when an ad is paused, it accrues no history and there is no penalty for being offline •  Use ad scheduling to only show your ads when they perform at their best •  Pause keywords and creatives that are out of season and resume them next time they come in season Fact: Quality Score is partially based on system-wide data so a paused ad’s Quality Score could change when it is resumed. •  E.g. the keyword “Christmas Tree” will have a better Quality Score around the holidays. If you unpause it in March, it may have a worse Quality Score, however this is an external factor and not a penalty because your keyword was paused.