Running paid ads—especially something like Google Ads—should help you get in front of more local customers fast. But what happens when your carefully-built ad campaign just…doesn’t show up?
At EVpro Marketing, we work with a lot of local service businesses here in Austin, and this is one of the most common issues we see: business owners spending money on ads only to wonder why no one is clicking. Or worse, why no one is seeing them at all.
If you’re wondering, *”Why are my ads not showing?”*—you’re not alone. And don’t worry, in most cases, there’s a clear fix.
Let’s break it all down, piece by piece.
Common Reasons Your Ads Aren’t Showing
Before you can fix it, you need to figure out why. There are several reasons your ads could be invisible, and not all of them are technical.
Here are the most common culprits:
1. Your Daily Budget Is Too Low
Budgeting comes first for a reason. If your daily budget is too small, your ads may get very limited visibility—or stop showing entirely before the day’s over.
Why it matters:
- Google paces your ad impressions based on your budget.
- A budget that’s too low compared to your target keywords means fewer showings—or none at all.
Quick Fix:
- Revisit your daily budget and compare it to average cost-per-click (CPC) in your industry.
- Increase your budget where appropriate or narrow your targeting to stretch those dollars.
2. Your Keyword Bids Aren’t Competitive
If your bids are lower than your competitors, your ads may be getting outbid in auctions.
What to look at:
- What’s your current max CPC?
- Do your keywords have high competition?
Fix it by:
- Increasing your bid limits for high-value keywords.
- Using automated bidding strategies like “Maximize Clicks” or “Target CPA” to stay competitive.
3. Low Quality Score
Google uses something called a Quality Score to determine how well your ad matches a search term. It’s a 1–10 rating based on:
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Keyword relevancy to the ad
- Landing page experience
If your Quality Score is low, even a high bid might not get your ad displayed.
Improve it by:
- Making sure your ads align closely with your keywords.
- Writing clear, compelling ad copy.
- Optimizing your landing page to load quickly and match user expectations.
4. Ads Are Disapproved
It happens more often than you’d think—and Google doesn’t always make it obvious. If your ads are disapproved for violating policies, they’ll quietly stop running.
Common reasons include:
- Using restricted language or content
- Violating local services guidelines
- Linking to a poorly-functioning website
To check and fix:
- Head into your Google Ads dashboard and look for disapproved ads under the “Status” column.
- Correct the violation and resubmit for approval.
5. Targeting Settings Are Too Narrow
Your ad may simply be too picky about who it’s being shown to.
Things to review:
- Geo-targeting: Are you targeting too tight of a location?
- Audience segments: Are you excluding too many groups?
- Scheduling: Are your ads only running during a few hours of the day?
If your targeting is too niche, your ads might not run very often—if at all.
How to fix it:
- Widen your geographical radius slightly (especially if you serve a broader metro).
- Recheck audience exclusions and ad schedule settings.
6. You’ve Hit Daily Limits or Ad Schedule Restrictions
Even if your ad was showing earlier in the day, it can stop later if:
- You’ve hit your daily spend
- Your ad schedule restricts run hours
Check this by:
- Looking at the “Ad Schedule” report in Google Ads.
- Expanding your ad delivery times to cover business hours.
How to Diagnose Why Your Ad Isn’t Showing
Now that you know what could be wrong, let’s walk through how to find out exactly what’s going on.
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Checklist
Once you’ve worked through the diagnostic checklist, you should have a clearer picture of what’s going on under the hood. Whether it’s a simple disapproval or a deeper issue with targeting or bidding, these tools give you real insight into why your ads might be missing in action. Don’t rely on assumptions—use the data inside your account to drive the next steps. Fixing even one overlooked detail can be the turning point for getting your campaign seen by the right people.
- Check Ad Status in Google Ads
- Go to Ads & Extensions and look at the Status column.
- If it says “Eligible,” the ad is technically active (but not necessarily showing).
- Use the Ad Preview Tool
- Access from your account or go to Google Ad Preview Tool.
- This allows you to preview how your ad would appear without racking up impressions.
- Review Your Campaign Budget and Bids
- Under Campaign Settings, check your daily budget.
- Compare bid suggestions with your current max CPC.
- Scan for Disapprovals or Policy Violations
- In your account, hover over disapproved ads for specific error messages.
- Analyze Keyword Status
- Visit Keywords tab and look at the “Status” column.
- Watch for warnings like “Low Search Volume,” “Below First Page Bid,” or “Rarely shown due to low quality score.”
- Audit Targeting and Scheduling Settings
- Go to Settings → Locations and Ad Schedule to ensure your ads are actually reaching people at the right times and places.
Troubleshooting by Scenario
Let’s match some common symptoms to potential fixes using the table below:
Symptom | Likely Cause | How to Fix It
|
|---|---|---|
You can’t find your ad through search | Targeting isn’t matching your search | Use Ad Preview Tool instead of live search |
Ads were working, now they’re not | Budget cap hit / disapproval | Increase budget or check for issues |
Zero impressions or clicks after campaign launch | Low bids / wrong ad schedule | Raise bids or adjust timing |
High number of impressions, zero clicks | Poor ad copy or irrelevant keywords | Rewrite ads and refine targeting |
Low conversion rate from ads | Bad landing page or mismatch | Improve website speed and messaging |
Tips for Avoiding These Issues in the Future
Once your ads are back up and running, here’s how to keep them that way:
1. Set Up Alerts and Notifications
Customize alerts in your dashboard to notify you of performance drops or disapprovals.
2. Regularly Monitor Campaign Performance
Block off 15–30 minutes a week to check for:
- Impressions, clicks, and conversions
- Campaign budget and spend
- Any downward KPI trends
3. Run A/B Tests on Ad Copy
Continually test different headlines, calls to action, and descriptions.
4. Partner With a Local Expert
Working with a local-focused agency like EVpro Marketing ensures your campaigns are optimized specifically for your regional market and services.
FAQs: Why Your Ads Aren’t Showing
Can I check if my ad is showing by Googling myself?
Not a good idea. Repeatedly searching your keyword without clicking can hurt your click-through rate—and your Quality Score. Use the Google Ad Preview Tool instead.
Why are impressions showing but no clicks?
This usually means your ad is showing but not attracting engagement. Tweaking your headline and call-to-action can improve CTR.
My ads are approved, but I still don’t see them—why?
Could be low bids, poor Quality Score, or tight audience targeting. Use the Ad Preview tool and diagnosis features in Google Ads.
Do I need a big budget to make Google Ads work?
Nope—but your budget needs to be appropriate for your industry and goals. A small, smart campaign often beats a large, messy one.
Conclusion: Fix It or Get Help—Don’t Let Your Ads Sit Idle
Your ads not showing doesn’t mean your strategy is broken—it means it’s missing a few key adjustments. Whether it’s fixing your targeting, boosting your Quality Score, or simply adjusting your daily spend, the problems are fixable. And quickly, in most cases.
The key is to not set it and forget it. A Google Ads campaign is like a garden: it needs tending.
If you’re stuck—or just tired of guessing—EVpro Marketing is here to help. We specialize in local service businesses, and we know exactly how to get campaigns running efficiently right here in Austin and surrounding areas.
Need a hand getting your ads back on track?
Let us take a look. Schedule a free account audit or check out our blog for more real-world strategies tailored to your local business.
Even just one fix could bring in the traffic you’ve been missing.