Many businesses running Google Ads face the same frustration: ads that should be live but seem invisible
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“I just created an ad, but I don’t know if it’s running.”
“I’ve seen my ad before, but now I can’t see it.”
“I know my ad is running because data is showing in my account, but I can’t see it.”
If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many businesses running Google Ads face the same frustration: ads that should be live but seem invisible. It can feel confusing and discouraging, especially when you’ve already invested time and money into your campaigns.
At Branderah, we’ve helped countless businesses troubleshoot this issue. The good news is, there are always reasons and solutions. In this article, we’ll break down why your Google Ads aren’t showing and what you can do to fix it.
One of the most common reasons your ads aren’t visible is that your daily budget is too small. When your competitors are bidding higher, Google prioritizes their ads. If your budget runs out early in the day, your ads won’t appear later.
Fix:
- Adjust your daily budget to match the competitiveness of your industry.
- Focus on fewer, high-intent keywords instead of spreading your spend too thin.
- Use the Keyword Planner to estimate costs per click (CPC).
Google is strict about ad content. If your ad violates our policies, whether due to restricted terms, misleading claims, or improper formatting, it won’t appear at all.
Fix:
- Check for disapproval notices in your Google Ads account.
- Adjust your ad to comply with Google’s advertising policies.
- Resubmit once corrected.
Tip: Even small issues, like too many exclamation marks or a broken landing page, can trigger disapproval.
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Even if your ads are approved, they need to win in Google’s ad auction. Ad Rank is based on your bid, ad quality, and expected CTR. If it’s too low, your ad won’t show.
Fix:
- Write relevant ad copy that matches your keywords.
- Improve your landing page experience.
- Increase your bids if necessary.
Sometimes your ads don’t show because your keywords aren’t firing correctly. This can happen if:
- They have low search volume.
- They are too broad or too specific.
- Blocked by negative keywords.
Fix:
- Use Keyword Planner to refine your keyword list.
- Adjust negative keywords that may be overly restrictive.
- Experiment with different match types (broad, phrase, exact).
If your location targeting is too narrow, your ads won’t reach enough people. For example, if you set a small radius, you may rarely see your ads yourself.
Fix:
- Expand your radius or include additional regions.
- Use the “Presence: People in or regularly in your targeted locations” setting.
Your ad might not be showing simply because it’s paused or set to run only during certain hours.
Fix:
- Double-check campaign, ad group, and ad status.
- Review your ad schedule and adjust it to when your audience is actually searching.
Expired cards or billing errors can cause your ads to stop showing without warning.
Fix:
- Verify your billing info in your account.
- Ensure your payment method is valid and has funds.
Sometimes it’s not your setup, it’s the market. If competitors are outbidding you, your ad impressions will drop.
Fix:
- Target long-tail keywords to reduce competition.
- Focus on Quality Score improvements, not just higher bids.
- Use audience targeting for more efficiency.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why aren’t my Google Ads showing?”, the key is knowing where to look and how to fix it.
At Branderah, we help brands troubleshoot and optimize their Google Ads so they actually generate leads and sales, not confusion.
Need help getting your ads seen by the right people? Contact Branderah today, and let’s get your campaigns working for you.
Reach out today — we’d love to hear from you! Let’s bring your vision to life.
