NatWest Accelerator Events Free one-day marketing seminar at the NatWest Accelerator, Milton Keynes · 10 November 2026 Free marketing seminar · NatWest Accelerator, Milton Keynes · 10 Nov 2026 Free seminar · 10 Nov 2026
NatWest Accelerator, MK
Get your free invite →Invite →

Home › Blog › Google Ads

Google Ads

Google Ads Keyword Match Types

Google Ads Keyword Match Types
Read the video transcript

So I'm often asked, which is my favorite keyword match type for Google Ads? Well, there isn't any and it depends on how the campaign structure has been set up. But as you know there are four match types. One is the broad match phrase match, broad modified and exact match and obviously the negative keywords. If somebody was going to ask me, which is my favorite ones and I had to choose one, I would probably say the negatives because negatives are the ones which will make you the most money.

It cuts out all the wasted spend, the element clicks and does not let your keywords you add show up for the irrelevant systems. So yeah, negative keywords would be my favorite ones. But after that, the ones which I use mostly for my campaigns for Google Ads is the broad modified match and the exact match. I don't use broad match at all.

No. The phrase match. I would also recommend that you don't use a broad match because that really is too broad and you are going to waste pretty much all of your budget. You're going to get all the clicks, lots of clicks, but they won't be relevant. They won't convert, and eventually you will get frustrated and you will probably stop or pause your ads.

So I hope you enjoyed this video. And I look forward to seeing you in my next one.

I’m often asked, “which is my favorite keyword match type for Google ads?”

I don’t really have a favourite and it depends on how the campaign structure has been set up. As you may know from my previous articles, there are four match types.

Free NatWest Accelerator event

Get Found, Get Chosen, Get Your Time Back

A free one-day marketing seminar in Milton Keynes · 10 November 2026

Get your free invite →

These are the broad match phrase match, broad modified, exact match and the negative keywords. If somebody was going to ask me, what is my favorite one and I had to choose one, I would probably say the negatives, because negatives are the ones which will make you the most money. They cut out all the wasted spend, the element clicks and do not let your keywords you add show up for the irrelevant systems. So yeah, negative keywords would be my favorite ones. But after that, the ones which I use mostly for my campaigns for Google ads is the broad modified match and the exact match.

Get your free Marketing Action PlanNot sure where to start? Answer a few questions and get your plan in about a minute. No email needed.

Uzair KharawalaLIVE
Free weekly YouTube live

Live every Tuesday at 2pm UK. Bring your marketing questions.

Get your Google, local SEO and AI questions answered live.

Join for free
Get my plan →

I don’t use broad match at all – the phrase match. I would also recommend that you don’t use a broad match because that really is too broad and you are going to waste pretty much all of your budgets. You’re going to get all the clicks, lots of clicks, but they won’t be relevant. They won’t convert, and eventually, you will get frustrated and you will probably stop or pause your ads.

Uzair Kharawala

Written by Uzair Kharawala

Partner at SF Digital Studios, a Google Premier Partner agency. Uzair has been helping businesses grow with Google Ads since 2002 and teaches it every week on YouTube.

Book A Call →Subscribe on YouTube for new videos every weekday →
Free every week

Get our best Google Ads tips by email

New articles and videos, straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe any time.

We respect your privacy at all times. Privacy Policy

You may also like

Read the blog →

Your next customers are out there. Let's go and get them.

Tell us where you want your business to be, and we'll show you how to get there.

Book A Call →or get your free Google Health Check →
Happy clients

Don't take our word for it

4.9 from 157 Google reviews, plus case studies and client videos.

See our happy clients →
"It has now been 3 months since we started and our sales have increased 300%."
Ruhi Latif Rafplay, Dubai
"Uzair and Farzana are two of the most honest, sincere and trustworthy people you will ever meet."
Gavin Morgan GDM Jewellery · Google review
"If I needed a campaign built, this is one of the rare few people IN THE WORLD I would trust to do it properly."
Hemmel Amrania Google Ads professional · Google review
Book A Call →
Chat with us on WhatsApp