The same keyword bidding against itself in two campaigns

Two campaigns of one account do not bid against each other, so they do not raise each other's price. They split the traffic in a way nobody chose, and the reports for both campaigns describe half a keyword.

It also makes changes unpredictable: pausing or rebidding the keyword in one campaign moves traffic to the other.

The check reads keywords with impressions recently in live campaigns and ad groups.

Checks that weigh money or clicks judge what they find on your own account's numbers, not on one figure applied to every account, so what counts as a problem on a small account is not the same on a large one. Checks on settings read how the account is set up.

When there is too little to go on, the check says so instead of guessing. A finding always comes with the rows behind it, so you can read the evidence before you decide.

1. In Google Ads, open Search keywords for the last 30 days and download them with campaign, match type and cost.
2. Find keywords with the same text and match type in two or more campaigns.
3. Check each campaign's locations. Only those that overlap compete.
4. Note which campaign spends most on each shared keyword.

Keep each keyword in one campaign per location. Remove or pause the copy in the campaign it fits less, or add it as a negative there so the right campaign always takes it.

If the duplication is deliberate, for example a test, note it and give it an end date.

• Ad group

The checks next to this one in Campaign structure, each with its own page.

• Remarketing lists too small to serve
• Who can change this account
• No list separating people who already bought
• No audience list on any campaign
• Google widening the audience past the one you chose
• Google is applying its own recommendations