How Do You Check Ad Rank in Google Ads?

Alexandre Airvault
January 30, 2025
If you advertise using Google Ads, understanding how to check ad rank is crucial. Ad rank determines where your advertisement appears on the search results page and is influenced by factors like your bid amount and the quality of your ad. This guide will walk you through the steps to check and enhance your ad rank in Google, helping you optimize your campaigns for better visibility and performance.

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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