Step 1: Access Google Ads

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to ads.google.com.
3. Sign in with your Google Ads account.
4. Click "All Campaigns" in the left menu.

Step 2: Navigate to Campaign Data

1. Select your desired campaign.
2. Click the ad groups tab.
3. Choose your target ad group.

Step 3: Add Metric Columns

1. Click the columns icon (three vertical dots).
2. Select "Modify columns".
3. Open the "Competitive metrics" section.
4. Check these boxes:

• "Search absolute top impression rate"
• "Search top impression rate"
• "Impr. (Absolute Top) %"
• "Impr. (Top) %"
• Click "Apply" to save changes.

Understanding Your Metrics

1. Impression (Absolute Top) %

What it means: Percentage of ads appearing in the very first position.

Example: If this shows 25%, your ad appeared in position #1 for 25 out of 100 impressions.

Good performance: Above 15% indicates strong positioning.

Poor performance: Below 5% suggests improvement needed.

2. Impression (Top) %

What it means: Percentage of ads showing above organic results.

Example: If this shows 60%, your ad appeared above organic results for 60 out of 100 impressions.

Good performance: Above 50% is strong.

Poor performance: Below 30% needs attention.

3. Search Absolute Top Impression Share

What it means: How often you get the #1 spot when eligible.

Example: 40% means you got position #1 in 40 out of 100 possible times.

Good performance: Above 35% shows competitive strength.

Poor performance: Below 20% indicates opportunities for improvement.

4. Search Top Impression Share

What it means: How often you appear above organic results when eligible.

Example: 75% means you appeared above organic results in 75 out of 100 possible times.

Good performance: Above 65% is strong.

Poor performance: Below 45% suggests optimization needed.

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Common Scenarios

1. High Quality, Low Budget

Metrics you'll see:

• High Absolute Top % (30%+)
• Low Impression Share (below 40%)

This means: Your ads perform well but run out of budget.

Solution: Increase daily budget or narrow targeting.

2. Low Quality, High Budget

Metrics you'll see:

• Low Absolute Top % (below 10%)
• High Impression Share (80%+)

This means: Your ads show often but in lower positions.

Solution: Improve ad quality and relevance.

3. Competitive Market

Metrics you'll see:

• Medium Top % (40-50%)
• Low Absolute Top % (5-15%)

This means: Strong competition for top spots.

Solution: Increase bids or focus on quality improvements.

Quick Tips for Improvement

1. Quality Score Focus

1. Check your Quality Score daily.
2. Aim for scores above 7/10.
3. Improve ad relevance to keywords.
4. Optimize landing page experience.

2. Bidding Strategy

1. Start with manual CPC bidding.
2. Monitor position metrics daily.
3. Adjust bids up 10-15% if below targets.
4. Reduce bids 5-10% if exceeding targets.

3. Ad Extensions

1. Add all relevant extensions.
2. Update extensions monthly.
3. Test new extension combinations.
4. Remove underperforming extensions.

Remember: Ad Rank changes with every auction. Focus on trends over daily fluctuations. Monitor weekly and monthly averages for better insights.

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