Are You Wasting Your Google Ads Budget? Let’s Talk About Phrase Match

Here’s a more specific and conversational version that feels human and connects with your audience on LinkedIn:

Are You Wasting Your Google Ads Budget? Let’s Talk About Phrase Match

If you're running Google Ads, here’s a truth bomb: not all clicks are good clicks.

You might be pouring your budget into irrelevant traffic, and it’s probably because of your keyword match types. I’ve been there, trust me—seeing ads show up for random searches and wondering “Why am I paying for this?”

The solution? Phrase Match.

What Is Phrase Match, and Why Does It Matter?

Phrase Match allows your ads to appear when a search query contains the meaning of your keyword. It’s not as broad as Broad Match (which can go wild) and not as strict as Exact Match.

Let me simplify this:

• Keyword: “digital marketing course”
• Matched Searches:Best digital marketing course onlineAffordable digital marketing course near me
• NOT Matched:How to build a digital clock (thankfully!)

With Phrase Match, you hit that sweet spot: reaching the right people while avoiding irrelevant traffic.

Why Should You Care?

Here’s what happens when you use Phrase Match: Less Waste: No more budget on people who aren’t your target audience. More Relevance: Your ads align with what users are actually searching for. Better Results: Higher click-through rates (CTR), more conversions, and a better ROI.

How I Learned the Hard Way

When I started working on Google Ads campaigns, I relied heavily on Broad Match. Why? Because I thought “more reach = more leads.”

Big mistake.

My ads showed up for completely irrelevant queries, and my budget vanished faster than my morning coffee.

Switching to Phrase Match was a game-changer. I got fewer clicks, but those clicks were high-quality. I was targeting people who actually wanted what I offered.

How You Can Use Phrase Match Effectively

Start Simple: Use phrase match for your core keywords.

• Example: “social media services,” “SEO training program” Add Negative Keywords: Filter out searches that don’t align with your goals. Analyze the Search Terms Report: See what people are searching for and fine-tune your keywords.