The Google Ads Account Structure for PPC Success

Account structure for Google Ads refers simply to how you structure all the ads in your account. 

It’s actually very straightforward, and we can create some basic different structures depending on our type of business.

This guide will show you how to structure your Google ads account in 10 minutes, with some real life examples that we've personally used at PPC.io, our PPC agency.

Google wants:

1. Large volumes of learning data at the ad group level.
2. Because this improves smart features such as bidding and responsive search ads.
3. And removes the human element (requirement).

We want:

1. Control of budget delivery across the best performing areas.
2. Strategic decision making that doesn’t let Google make all the decisions for you.
3. Better control of negative keywords.
4. Better control of landing pages that match user intent. 

Google Ads Account Structure Breakdown

Time to show you exactly how you should structure your ads account for optimal performance.

Account Level

This is simply your Google ads dashboard - It’s the highest level of your account. 

From here you can set things like your assets (logos, phone numbers etc.) and look at various insights across the whole account.

Campaign Level

Generally speaking nowadays, your campaign type will typically be either one of the following options:

1. Search
2. Shopping 
3. Performance Max - Covers absolutely everything (YouTube, display, gmail, search, shopping etc.) powered by Google AI 🤖

(See the differences between shopping & performance max in this article) 

And then you'll select your campaign type...

Ad Group Level

The next level down is our ad groups. This is where we start to get more granular! 

Ad groups are used to organize ads by theme or product type, leading to more targeted ad delivery. 

Keywords Level

Next up, we need to select all of the keywords that we want to target within each ad group.

We can select the following keyword matches:

• Broad match - Google's machine learning will pick out any keywords it thinks are a good match, even if they're very broad.
• Phrase match - Google's machine learning will pick out phrase matches that are considerably closer. 
• Exact match - Only very close variants of your keyword will be matched.  

Let's take a look at an example below.

Ads Level

Beneath all of this comes the advert itself! 

This is what Google displays to the end user. 

Google recommends setting up at least 3 different ads per ad group for variation. 

They will automatically serve the best performing ads more regularly, and it usually makes sense to add additional ads purely because it simply cannot hurt! 

Negative Keywords

The final piece of account structure is our negative keywords. These are keywords that we explicitly tell Google we want to blacklist entirely.

For example - 

• "Motorcycle insurance new drivers "- might be a negative if we don’t offer this type of insurance to new drivers.
• "New driver insurance South Africa" - assuming we’re in the USA, this wouldn’t match.

There's a ton of nuances to negative keywords, and we've listed many more examples in this guide.

Regular Ads Account Optimization

This is a list of regular activities you should be doing until you're achieving strong profitability within your Google ads account.

1. Evaluate ad groups based on like minded and topical keywords.
2. Adjust ad groups and campaigns based on significant metric changes.
3. Consider splitting ad groups or refining site links.
4. Consider changing landing pages to improve user experience (that better suits the specifics of a particular ad group). 
5. Remove unnecessary keywords.
6. Apply negative keywords to increase relevance.

And these are some things you should be doing to regularly assess performance:

1. Make sure conversion rates are strong across ad groups and campaigns.
2. Make sure the cost per acquisition is strong.
3. Pause campaigns  / ad groups / keywords that are consistently under-performing.

See the marketing funnel image below.

If you don't invest money into the top of funnel, then you're missing out on a huge volume of potential customers.

So even though your ROAS (return on ad spend) is going to be worse the higher up the funnel you go, it's still often a very strong way of acquiring lots of customers.

Golden Rules for Account Structure

OK, now we're going to give you some golden rules that you can copy and follow. 

If you follow these simple rules, you'll find it very hard to fail with your Google ads account structure.

1. Golden Numbers:
   • Aim for 15-20 keywords per ad group, considering all match types.
   • Allocate at least 1 ad group per unique landing page.
   • Maintain a minimum of 1 active ad per ad group, or 2 for higher impressions.
   • For dynamic search ad groups, have at least 2 active ads.
   • Target a minimum of 30 monthly conversions before using target CPA (tCPA) bidding
   • Target a minimum 50 monthly conversions for target ROAS (tROAS) bidding. Some will do just fine with 20 conversions though.
   • Strive for at least 1,000 impressions per landing page per month. If not achievable, consider consolidating.
2. Account Size and Budget Considerations:
   • Account size scales with budget and website complexity.
   • Initially focus on best-selling products or most profitable services, especially with limited budgets.
   • Large accounts can benefit from testing Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) to consolidate lower impression areas.
3. Ad Group Structure and Keyword Strategy:
   • Start with 1 ad group per unique landing page.
   • Ensure ad messages serve all keywords in the group. If not, create separate ad groups.
   • Use broad match and broad match modifier (BMM) for long-tail queries, reserve exact match for primary volume and value drivers.
   • Keywords should connect commercial intent without bias towards any specific entity.
4. Alpha/Beta Campaigns and Close-Variants:
   • Alpha campaigns contain exact match, high-performing keywords.
   • Beta campaigns have broad keywords to discover additional performing keywords.
   • Focus on exact match keywords for high-value queries and simplify accounts by not overcomplicating with too many variations.
5. Kingmaker Campaigns:
   • This references very specific keywords that just perform insanely well. You want to create entire campaigns around these. 
   • Utilize for high-spend keywords, creating highly precise ads.
   • A Kingmaker campaign should represent significant spend or conversions but avoid brand terms.
6. SPAG Campaigns and Shopping Behavior:
   • SPAG (Single Product Ad Groups) are viable for top-selling products but not recommended for every product.
   • Understand that shoppers often browse whole categories rather than search for specific products.
7. Segmenting and Dynamic Search Ads:
   • Segment ad groups or campaigns when metrics change significantly, like a dip in performance or uneven spend.
   • Avoid DSAs for websites with daily content updates or in specific restricted industries - they won't work.
8. Remarketing and Audience Lists:
   • Use IF functions in ads for specific remarketing purposes.
   • Apply remarketing audiences to ad groups for targeted messaging.
   • Consider using bid modifiers for RLSAs.
9. Device and International Campaign Segmentation:
   • Generally, avoid segmenting campaigns by device, except in cases of substantial budget and clear performance discrepancies.
   • For international accounts, consider splitting campaigns due to different schedules and audiences.

Budget Allocation

OK, so we have all of these different campaigns created across our Google Ads account.

But we also have a limited PPC budget, and we need to know how the heck we should allocate our budget appropriately across the account. 

Fair warning - Budget allocation is is always going to vary massively depending on the industry and website in question. 

With that said, let's look at an example below...

Budget Adjustments

If we find that certain campaigns are performing incredibly well, then of course we’re going to want to adjust budgets accordingly.

For example, we may discover that our brand campaigns are converting like crazy and we’re limiting those ads with a low budget. In this case, it makes sense to put more budget into our brand campaigns.

OR we may find that putting 70% of our budget towards middle of funnel is inefficient because the budget isn’t spending, and therefore decide to allocate more to our top of funnel (discovery) campaigns instead. 

Example PPC Account Structures

Let's talk through a couple of example account structures now to help you visualize the optimal set up.

1) Account Structure for UK Travel Site 🇬🇧

🌴 Let’s imagine our client is a UK travel agency, offering travel packages in major UK cities.

1️⃣ Campaign 1: Vacation Packages Edinburgh

• Objective: To attract travelers looking for vacation packages in Edinburgh.
• Budget: Allocated based on the popularity of Edinburgh as a travel destination vs. other key locations + competitor analysis.
• Bidding Strategy: Optimized for Edinburgh's search traffic patterns (they have a festival in August) and seasonal trends.
• Ad Schedule: Adjusted to match the times when potential travelers are most likely to plan and book Edinburgh trips.

   👉 Ad Group 1: Edinburgh City Breaks

• Keywords: "Edinburgh vacation packages," "city breaks in Edinburgh"
• Ads: Strong ad copy which highlights the unique attractions of Edinburgh, special deals, and easy booking.
• Landing Page: Focus on showcasing Edinburgh vacation packages, highlighting key attractions, customer reviews, and booking incentives.

   👉 Ad Group 2: Edinburgh Historic Tours

• Keywords: "Edinburgh historic tours," "Edinburgh castle vacations"
• Ads: Emphasize guided tours, history-focused vacation packages, and exclusive access to historic sites.
• Landing Page: Detail the historic tour packages available in Edinburgh, including itineraries, tour guides’ profiles, and booking information.

2️⃣ Campaign 2: Vacation Packages London

• Objective: Target individuals planning a vacation in London, emphasizing the city's vast cultural, historical, and entertainment offerings.
• Budget, Bidding Strategy, Ad Schedule: Specifically tailored to London’s market dynamics and travel trends.

   👉 Ad Group 1: London Sightseeing Packages

• Keywords: "London vacation deals," "sightseeing tours London"
• Ads: Promote comprehensive sightseeing packages, including top attractions like the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and more.
• Landing Page: A vibrant display of London sightseeing packages, with attractions, tour schedules, and easy booking options.

   👉 Ad Group 2: London Theatre Breaks

• Keywords: "London theatre vacation packages," "West End theatre breaks"
• Ads: Highlight the allure of London’s theatre scene with package deals including show tickets and accommodations.
• Landing Page: Focus on London’s theatre vacation packages, featuring popular shows, exclusive deals, and customer testimonials.

2) Account Structure for Outdoor eCommerce Store 🥾

⛰️ Let’s imagine our client is an ecommerce store selling lots of different products like tents, jackets, walking boots etc.

1️⃣ Campaign 1: Tents & Camping Gear

• Objective: To drive sales for tents and related camping gear.
• Budget: Based on historical sales data, product margins, and seasonal peaks in camping interest.
• Bidding Strategy: Focused on maximizing ROI during peak camping season and clearance periods.
• Ad Schedule: Adjusted for higher visibility during peak camping planning times (e.g., late spring to early fall).

👉 Ad Group 1: Family Tents

• Keywords: "family camping tents," "large tents for families"
• Ads: Highlight features like spaciousness, easy setup, and weather resistance. Promote free shipping or seasonal discounts.
• Landing Page: Showcase a selection of family tents with detailed product comparisons, customer reviews, and setup guides.

👉 Ad Group 2: Backpacking Tents

• Keywords: "lightweight backpacking tents," "durable hiking tents"
• Ads: Emphasize weight, durability, and ease of transport. Highlight awards or endorsements from outdoor enthusiasts.
• Landing Page: Focus on backpacking tents, with guides on choosing the right tent, weight specifications, and user testimonials.

2️⃣ Campaign 2: Outdoor Clothing

• Objective: Promote sales of outdoor and hiking clothing, including jackets and boots.
• Budget and Bidding Strategy: Allocated based on product popularity, seasonality (e.g., higher budget for winter gear in colder months), and competitive landscape.
• Ad Schedule: Peaks in early spring and late fall when shoppers update their outdoor wardrobes.

👉 Ad Group 1: Waterproof Jackets

• Keywords: "waterproof hiking jackets," "durable rain jackets"
• Ads: Feature benefits like waterproof rating, breathability, and mobility. Offer bundle deals or loyalty discounts.
• Landing Page: Display a range of waterproof jackets with technology explanations, fit guides, and care instructions.

👉 Ad Group 2: Hiking Boots

• Keywords: "durable hiking boots," "waterproof hiking boots"
• Ads: Stress on traction, support, durability, and comfort. Highlight customer favorites and expert picks.
• Landing Page: Curated selection of hiking boots with buying guides, video reviews, and user-generated content showcasing the boots in action.

3️⃣ Campaign 3: Seasonal Sales

• Objective: Leverage seasonal trends to clear inventory and boost sales across all categories.
• Budget: Flexible, with adjustments based on inventory levels and sales goals.
• Bidding Strategy: Aggressive during sale periods to capture high intent traffic.
• Ad Schedule: Timed with major sale seasons (e.g., Black Friday, end-of-summer clearance).

👉 Ad Group 1: Summer Sale

• Keywords: "summer outdoor gear sale," "camping equipment discount"
• Ads: Promote the breadth of the sale, highlighting top categories and specific deals. Use urgency (“While supplies last!”).
• Landing Page: Dedicated sale page with featured deals, countdown timers, and easy navigation to sale categories.

👉 Ad Group 2: Winter Clearance

• Keywords: "winter gear clearance," "outdoor winter apparel sale"
• Ads: Focus on clearing out winter inventory with deep discounts. Highlight exclusive online offers.
• Landing Page: Winter clearance section with options to filter by product type, size, and price range. Include cross-sell recommendations (e.g., buy a jacket, get a discount on gloves).

Hopefully these examples will give you some clear ideas on exactly how to structure your Google ads accounts for optimal performance.