Getting Started With PPC: Canterbury Businesses

Running a funeral home in Canterbury presents its own set of challenges, one being how you get noticed online amid a sea of advertisements. PPC campaigns are a vital tool to ensure your business is seen when people need it most. But, as powerful as they can be, they also risk burning through your budget with irrelevant clicks if not handled correctly. That’s where negative keywords come in.

Whether you’re new to the game or have been running PPC campaigns for a while, you might already know the benefits of targeting relevant search terms. However, avoiding unwanted clicks through the use of negative keywords can save resources and ensure your adverts reach the right people. This post dives into the details of why negative keywords are crucial for Canterbury funeral homes, offering tips to run your campaigns more effectively.

Understanding Negative Keywords

In simple terms, negative keywords prevent your ad from appearing in certain searches. If you’re managing a funeral home, you probably don’t want your ads to show up for people searching for gig tickets or pizza delivery. By utilising negative keywords, you can stop these irrelevant clicks and direct your ad budget more effectively.

Imagine you’re running ads with the keyword “funeral services” – it sounds perfect, but what if your ad pops up for searches like “cheap funeral services” or “DIY funeral”? These clicks won’t lead to potential customers if your business doesn’t offer those services. By adding “cheap” and “DIY” to your negative keywords list, you narrow down who sees your ads, saving money in the long run.

Why They Matter for Canterbury Funeral Homes

Local businesses in Canterbury often face unique marketplace conditions. Unlike broader markets, local services thrive on reputation and connections. Negative keywords help by ensuring that your ads appear for relevant local searches, ensuring that anyone clicking on your ad is more likely to reach out.

Being strategic with your negative keywords in Canterbury means more than just curbing irrelevant clicks. It involves understanding the local nuances—knowing what people in the area are genuinely searching for when they need a funeral home. This knowledge allows you to craft a more refined list of negative terms that directly aligns with the needs of the community.

Creating an Effective Negative Keyword List

A good starting point is to review your current PPC campaigns and identify which search terms are wasting your budget. Google Ads offers a search terms report showing where your ads have been appearing. Go through this list and note words that should be excluded from future ad displays.

Build a list that grows over time. As you gather more data about what works and what doesn’t, adjust your negative keywords accordingly. Regular reviews ensure your PPC remains sharp and cost-effective. Incorporate negatives like “careers”, “jobs”, or “video” if they’re not pertinent to your funeral home services. Pay attention when someone inquires about services unrelated to your unique offerings.

Potential for Boosting Campaign Performance

Using the right negative keywords can significantly enhance your PPC campaign performance. With fewer unrelated clicks, your conversion rate should improve as those searching for your specific services are the ones seeing your ads. This approach not only secures a better return on investment but also gives you more detailed insights into customer behaviour.

For example, if you run a Canterbury-based traditional funeral service, you can use negative keywords to filter out searches related to alternative funeral practices. This ensures that when local residents are seeking traditional services, your advert is seen at the right time.

Common Misconceptions

Some believe that using too many negative keywords might limit ad exposure, but it’s about striking the right balance. The goal is not to restrict but to channel your advertising budget where it’s needed the most. Misunderstanding what people in Canterbury search for can also lead to incorrect assumptions. Always back your decisions with data and keep testing new keywords.

  • Engage consistently with local search trends.
  • Update your keyword lists based on campaign data.

Adopting a Continuous Improvement Mindset

In the rapidly changing digital landscape, what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. That’s as true in 2024 as it was last year. Keep refining your list as you gather new insights and keep up with evolving search behaviours in Canterbury.

Conclusion

Negative keywords are an underrated yet powerful part of any PPC strategy, particularly for funeral homes in a tight-knit community like Canterbury. By blocking unwanted traffic, you help your ads reach those who are genuinely interested in your services, maximising your budget’s efficiency and effectiveness.

For tailored advice or services specifically aimed at enhancing your campaigns, consider speaking to a professional in PPC Management in Canterbury.

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