What Are The Three Main Factors That Determine Ad Quality
Google Ads are everywhere on YouTube, Google Search, mobile apps, and websites. Running Google Ads is a necessity for every type of business. You can increase brand awareness, generate sales, and drive traffic. When you understand why Google Ads matter, throwing money at a marketing agency won’t work. If your ad quality is poor, your results will fall flat. So, what are the three main factors that determine ad quality? Let’s break them down and explore how they impact your success in online advertising.
Are You Matching What People Are Searching?
The first major factor that determines ad quality is ad relevance. Google evaluates how closely your ad copy matches the user’s search query and search intent. If your ad text is vague, unrelated, or misleading, Google will assign a lower quality score to your ad. That means your ad may not show, or worse, you’ll end up paying more for worse placements.
Let’s say someone searches for “affordable car insurance.” To stay relevant, you need to include that exact phrase in your ad headline and description. This shows both Google and the searcher that your ad directly matches what they’re looking for. Don’t use vague terms like “Best Financial Services.” That might sound impressive, but it doesn’t match the user’s search intent, and that’s exactly how ad relevance issues start. Always build your ad copy around the actual phrases your target audience is searching on Google.
Refining Your Landing Page Experience
The second core factor that determines ad quality is the landing page experience. Once a user clicks your ad, they expect a seamless, helpful, and relevant experience. If your landing page content is slow, cluttered, or doesn’t match the ad and landing page theme, your quality score drops.
Google looks at how well your landing page helps visitors complete tasks. Is the content helpful? Is the site mobile-friendly? Are the keywords they searched for reflected in the page? These things all matter. A good landing page experience keeps users engaged and increases the likelihood that they’ll take action.
Also, remember that most users browse on mobile devices. Your landing page needs to load quickly, look clean, and function smoothly across every screen size. Google factors this into your Google Quality Score.
CTR Is the Proof Your Ad Performs
The third factor is your expected clickthrough rate, or expected CTR. This is Google’s prediction of how likely people are to click your ad based on past performance and other signals. It’s not just about catchy headlines. It’s about showing that your ad is valuable to the person searching. A high expected click-through rate indicates to Google that your ad content resonates with your audience. And that earns you a high-quality score.
You can boost your CTR by writing compelling ad copy. Focus on the user’s search intent, use action-oriented language, and highlight what makes you different from other advertisers. Include benefits. Use numbers. Make it clear why someone should choose your business over the next ad in the lineup. Extra links like sitelinks, callouts, and call extensions give users more reasons to click. Google considers this when calculating ad quality score.
How Quality Score Affects Ad Rank & Cost
Your Google Ads quality score is a combination of these three main factors: ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected CTR. But why does it matter so much? Because quality score plays a big role in your ad rank, which determines where your ad appears in the auction. Google rewards the best experience. So even if your max CPC bid is lower than a competitor’s, you can outrank them with a better ad quality score.
And here’s the best part, better ad quality can lower your cost per click. Yes, Google determines that high-quality ads should cost less because they offer more value to users. If you’re not optimizing for Google, you’re leaving results on the table.
Structuring Your Ads by Grouping & Targeting
To maximize your ad quality, you need to create specific ad groups. Break the keywords into tight themes. One ad group should only contain related keyword performance terms. This allows you to write more focused ad copy that speaks directly to the target audience.
Let’s say you’re a dentist. Instead of one general ad group for “dental services,” create separate ones for “teeth cleaning,” “emergency dental care,” and “cosmetic dentistry.” Each should have custom ad formats and landing pages. You can improve expected CTR and offer a better landing page experience.
Clear, Direct, & Focused Ad Copywriting
Your ad headlines and ad text are the front door of your campaign. They should make users stop scrolling. Be clear, use keywords, and speak directly to the user’s search query.
Don’t just say “Award-winning service.” Say what you’re offering. “Same-day AC Repair – Book Now.” That’s direct and action-based. Note how it also aligns with the user’s search intent. Using the same keyword in your ad text that the user searched for helps your ad stand out and improves ad relevance. That’s something Google actively looks for when assigning your quality score.
Consider Ad Formats & Devices
Google offers a variety of other ad formats, including responsive ads, shopping ads, video ads, and more. Choose the format that fits your goal and your audience. And don’t forget about mobile devices. If your ad looks great on desktop but is cut off on phones, you’ll miss a huge portion of your audience.
Use preview tools to make sure your ad looks clean and complete across all devices. Make every word count.
Why All This Matters in the Bigger Picture
If you care about results, you need to understand what factors determine ad quality. Google rewards a good strategy. And the main factors that determine a good strategy affect everything from ad placement to cost and visibility.
Focus on ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected click through rate. This can help you build better campaigns, save money, and reach more people who actually care about your business.
Quality is the Name of the Game
Online advertising moves fast. Algorithms evolve. New platforms emerge. But one thing remains the same: quality always wins. Create ads that connect with your audience. Ads that match search intent, lead to helpful pages, and speak directly to the user. If you’re struggling with low-quality scores, poor ad position, or underwhelming performance, go back to the basics. Review your ad groups, refine your keyword themes, rework your landing page, and rewrite your ad copy. And once you master these factors, your Google Ads will stop being a cost and start showing results.
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