So you've launched Google search ad campaigns. You want to see your ads show up on Google. So you're Googling some of your keywords, and all you see are ads from your competitors. Dammit!

There could be various reasons why your ad isn't appearing on Google. Remember, just because you aren't seeing your ad doesn't mean your potential customers aren't. In any event, it's worthwhile to perform further research to identify why you're not seeing your ad.

Here are 14 reasons why your ad isn't appearing in Google searches:

1. Billing difficulties

First, confirm if your account is still active. There may be an issue with your billing details. If there are any issues, you should see a giant red banner when you log in to your account. Otherwise, you should be fine. To be particular, go to Tools Settings Billing Billing Summary.

2. Paused campaigns, ad groups, keywords, or advertisements
Then, go through your campaigns and check that all of the moves, ad groups, keywords, and advertisements are enabled. Although it appears simple, you may have neglected something when you went live. Find your most important keywords and double-check that everything works properly.

3. The ads have not yet been approved
It may take some time for your advertising to be approved, particularly if you have a fresh Google Ads account. Typically, it should go quickly through the approval process. However, in extreme cases, it could take up to 24 hours or three days. If this is the case, you have only one option: wait. Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the process.

4. Unapproved ads
Google has a number of criteria and standards that your ad must fulfill. Otherwise, your ad will be rejected. Google's advertising policies fall into four categories: prohibited content, prohibited behaviors, limited content and features, and editorial and technical. If your advertisement is rejected, it will be placed in one of the following categories: If all of the ads in an ad group are discarded, no keywords from that ad group will be activated.

5. Unaccepted Keywords
Certain keywords are infrequently refused. Again, this suggests that they do not follow Google's advertising guidelines. To find these terms, go to your Google Ads account's keyword tab and apply a filter that only shows prohibited keywords.

6. Bids with Low CPC
Cost-per-click bids are occasionally lower than the minimum required to compete in an ad auction. It simply means that your ad is appropriate for display, but your competitors outbid you. To get your ads to show, you'll need to increase your keyword's cost-per-click bids.

7. Low Quality Rating
A low-quality score can prevent your ads from being perceived as inexpensive CPC bids.
This is quite likely if you've already started your initial campaigns. The quality score is obtained by demonstrating to Google that the advertising you run is relevant to a user.
So, if your ad isn't showing up because of a low-quality score, you can increase your CPC bid. Your cost-per-click will eventually decrease as you enhance your quality score (by displaying highly relevant advertising and landing pages). Again, navigate to your Google Ads account's keyword tab and create a filter to identify these terms.

8. Geographic Targeting
If you are not physically located in the country or city you are targeting, your ad will not be shown. There are some exceptions to the norm. If you use the targeting method "People in, or who show interest in, your targeted locations," your ad may appear if you include the location in the search query. It is the default setting in your Google Ads account, so you are presumably using it. We won't go into a dispute here, but you're better off separating your efforts and only targeting folks who are physically present in your target location. If you need any additional information, please contact us.

9. Targeting within a radius
Radius targeting is more complex than traditional location targeting. If you are in a large metropolis like Dubai, Google knows exactly where you are. However, Google is less specific when targeting a smaller radius within Dubai. If Google is not obvious to someone inside that radius, your ad will not appear.
The smaller the radius, the more likely Google will not recognize your ad and you will be unable to view it.

10. Time management
If you utilize an ad schedule, your ad will not appear 24/7.
Your account's time zone controls the ad schedule. If you're in a different time zone, you'll need to adjust your ad schedule accordingly. Your account's time zone can be located in the account options.

11. Budget restrictions
Your budget could be limiting the reach of your ads.
This means that your ad is still being viewed, but it appears less frequently during the day. Instead of boosting your budget (which will almost surely increase your cost), consider lowering your CPC bids. As a result, your ad will rank lower but appear more frequently.
Keep in mind that decreasing your CPC bids may result in your ad not appearing for reason 6.

12: Personalized search
When deciding ad ranks, Google employs "personalized search." This means that the sequence you see may be different from the advertising viewed by others.
So, if a user sees an ad multiple times (as appears to be the case with the branded ad) but does not click on it, Google will consider the ad less relevant and show it less frequently or at a lower position for this user.

13. Negative Keyword Phrases
Negative keywords prevent your ad from displaying in specified (typically unrelated) search queries. However, they may occasionally impede your essential keywords.
Examine the shared negative keyword lists for your campaigns. Also, ensure that any negatives are checked at the drive or ad group level.

14. Bid alterations
If you employ bid modifications, your ad may not be shown in certain instances.
If you set the bid adjustment to -100% for (say) mobile devices, your ad will not appear when you search on a mobile device.
However, even if you have a -50% bid adjustment, your ad may not be displayed for (yet another) reason number 6.

Hopefully, these reasons will help you understand why your ad is not being displayed. Remember that just because your ads don't appear on your device doesn't mean no one else is seeing them. There could be various reasons why your ad isn't being shown.

If you want to preview your ad, we strongly recommend that you use Google's Ad Preview and Diagnostic Tool. This prevents tailored searches and allows you to view your ad from several devices and locations.

Stay in touch with BM Marketing, the top Google Ads Management and SEO Agency in Dubai, to stay current on developing concerns in digital marketing. If you have any questions, need assistance, or are looking for a digital marketing agency in Dubai, please contact us immediately.