Step 1: Access Google Ads
- Open your web browser.
- Go to ads.google.com.
- Sign in with your Google Ads account.
- Click "All Campaigns" in the left menu.
Step 2: Navigate to Campaign Data
- Select your desired campaign.
- Click the ad groups tab.
- Choose your target ad group.
Step 3: Add Metric Columns
- Click the columns icon (three vertical dots).
- Select "Modify columns".
- Open the "Competitive metrics" section.
- 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.
Optimize your Google Ads spending with AI
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
- Check your Quality Score daily.
- Aim for scores above 7/10.
- Improve ad relevance to keywords.
- Optimize landing page experience.
2. Bidding Strategy
- Start with manual CPC bidding.
- Monitor position metrics daily.
- Adjust bids up 10-15% if below targets.
- Reduce bids 5-10% if exceeding targets.
3. Ad Extensions
- Add all relevant extensions.
- Update extensions monthly.
- Test new extension combinations.
- Remove underperforming extensions.
Remember: Ad Rank changes with every auction. Focus on trends over daily fluctuations. Monitor weekly and monthly averages for better insights.