Re: Negative keywords in google adwords api

[David Torres (AdWords API Team)]

Hi Israel,

In order to designate a keyword as negative you need to wrap it within a NegativeAdGroupCriterion.

Best,

- David Torres - AdWords API Team

On Tuesday, December 25, 2012 4:00:18 PM UTC-5, israel epstein wrote:

I must admit at the outset that I am a bit of a neewb at this, but I have been struggling with this for hours and I would be so grateful if some one out there could help...

I guess I really have two questions, both concerning negative keywords match types in the google adwords api.

1. I understand that there are three basic match_types PHRASE, EXACT, BROAD., so my question is, how do you designate a keyword as NEGATIVE?
2. I am currently working on a project that involves two steps. 1. someone enters keyword into database surrounded by match type symbols (+,[],",-)  2. I wrote a program that strips those symbols and writes the keyword to google adwords with the appropriate match type. question: I noticed that on the google adwords dashboard the keywords reappear with the same symbols that I had previously stripped off, does this mean I might as well leave them on in the first place? and could this be the answer to my first question, i.e. that I need simple leave the minus sign on the keyword, designate it as broad and send it?

as mentioned above, I have been struggling with this for quiet some time and would be ever so grateful for any assistance...
thanks so much and merry Christmas!

[Oliver]

1. Match types (phrase, broad, exact) have nothing to do with being Negative.  These are two different things. A negative keyword can also be phrase, broad or exact just like any other (positive) keyword.

2. What you see in the dashboard is formatted for display purposes only.  When communicating with the API, you must strip the keyword from all formatting (+, [], etc.)

Oliver

[israel epstein]

Know your busy and really appreciate your response...

Thanks so much!

[mm]

Hey Israel -
Negatives can also be campaign-level... but in that case you use a NegativeCampaignCriterion

HTH -
mm