custom reports for negative keywords

[Jeff Sedlik]

In the hands of a skilled developer, can the API be used to generate a custom report that would provide a list of instances in which a negative keyword caused an ad not to appear.  I am trying to optimize my negative keywords, and need a list that pairs the search terms with the negative keywords that caused the ad not to appear.

Thanks

Jeff

[Bharani Cherukuri (AdWords API Team)]

Hello Jeff, 

I'm afraid, generating a custom report which would return the list of negative keywords that caused an ad to appear is not possible through the API. However, you may use the Search Query Performance Report which will return all statistics aggregated at the search terms level, one row per combination of search terms. Then you can compare the search queries from this report with the negative keywords on your campaigns. Then add those negative keywords that triggered the ad as the positive targeting criteria.

Let me know if you have any other questions. 

Regards,

Bharani, AdWords API Team

[Jeff Sedlik]

A couple of clarifications/questions

You wrote:

"generating a custom report which would return the list of negative keywords that caused an ad to appear is not possible through the API."

<<< my interest is in a list of negative keywords that caused an ad NOT to appear.  I expect that this is not possible through the API, but with this clarification, can you confirm that the balance of your advice remains applicable:

" you may use the Search Query Performance Report which will return all statistics aggregated at the search terms level, one row per combination of search terms. Then you can compare the search queries from this report with the negative keywords on your campaigns. Then add those negative keywords that triggered the ad as the positive targeting criteria."

<<<< I do not understand how negative keywords can trigger an ad. Did you mean to write "negative keywords that would have triggered the ad if they were positive keywords."  If yes, then can you confirm that the search query performance report includes search terms from queries that were blocked by negative keywords.

Thanks

Jeff

[Jeff Sedlik]

Thank you. is the Search Query Performance Report available without use of the API?

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:58:42 AM UTC-8, Bharani Cherukuri (AdWords API Team) wrote:

[Bharani Cherukuri (AdWords API Team)]

Hello Jeff, 

The Search Query Performance Report will return all the search terms that triggered an ad to appear. If the set of negative keywords list include these search terms, you may add them as positive targeting criteria. However, it is currently not possible to explicitly pull the negative keywords list that triggered an ad. The Search Query Report maps with the Search Terms Report in the Google Ads web interface. You may check this help center article and this guide on how API reports map with the UI as a reference. If you would like to explore more options, you may consider using AdWords Scripts. You could post your question on this forum.