The entire purpose of a pay-per-click (PPC) campaign is to immediately attract prospects from the search engine results pages (SERPs) and direct them to a landing page where they can be converted into paying customers.
Clearly, the impetus of any PPC campaign is targeting an exhaustive list of short and long-tail or target keywords to attract as many prospects as possible. Of course, this has to be done while maintaining a reasonable budget.
Creating a successful PPC campaign is about finding equilibrium between exact keyword usage and budget management. To achieve remarkable growth in your PPC campaign, it’s important to learn and master the concept of using exact-match keywords.
Using Positive or negative exact match keywords can help deliver the most qualified leads to your landing pages, improving your ad quality score, and increasing your business’ revenue. If you’re not familiar with this concept, then you’ve come to the right place.
This complete guide will cover everything you need to know to master using exact-match keyword’s in your PPC campaign.
Understanding what an/how exact match keyword is is fairly simple. It’s a different keyword match type that are available in both Google and Bing Ads. When you use an exact match keyword, your google ads campaigns will be able to reach potential customers searching for the exact match search term you’re bidding on, or at least a very close variant.
By placing bids on exact match keywords, you can explicitly control how much you’re spending on Google and Bing Ads. This will help you to achieve a higher ROI with your campaign.
If you’re a beginner creating online ads, then it’s best for you to learn what the same or different keyword match types is (let’s use Google Ads for an example). When you want to create a textual ad in Google Ads, you can choose between a wide variety of different match types, such as broad, exact match keyword, and phrase.
Let’s discuss the other keyword types below.
Broad match is the standard choice for text ads on Google Ads. As its name suggests, broad match keywords are designed to reach the widest audience possible. When you choose to target broad match keyword’s, your ad will reach internet users who use search term’s that match any word of your targeted keyword, in any order.
For example, if your modified broad match keyword is “luxury race car”, your ad will appear for user search terms like “fast cars”, “fast race cars” “luxury cars” and many more different variations.
With broad match keyword’s, Google will also match your Google ads with synonymous variations. For example, Google may show your ad when a person types in “expensive cars” in their search bar.
Since broad match types are designed to reach the largest audience possible, it can capture the attention of people who may not be looking for your particular service or product. As such, your ad costs can quickly increase without affecting your conversion rate.
Unfortunately, broad match type is the default option for text ads. This means that your google ads could be set to this option without you even realizing it. To put it simply, broad match keywords drive a lot of clicks, but you should be careful about positioning your business for keywords that aren’t going to result in more conversions.
For example, here is what an SERP looks like for the same keyword “Google ads”:
Of course, the first ad placement is from Google. No one is going to outrank them for this keyword. However, the second placement is for a google ads campaign manager tool, and the third placement is for advertising on Snapchat.
These products and services differ tremendously. Therefore, if you’re targeting a specific audience, you’re better off using another match type.
Phrase match keyword’s offer some of the flexibility compared to broad match keywords, while giving them a high level of control over their spending.
When you target phrase keywords match types, your ad will only appear when a user searches for keywords in its exact match order. However, some words can appear either before or after the original search terms.
As you can see, phrase match keywords work a bit differently than broad match keywords. Though, there are some noticeable similarities. Exact match keyword are extremely different from both default match types.
Using them in your campaign can have a significant impact on your upcoming results.
Fortunately, using exact-match keywords isn’t as difficult as it seems. Below, you’ll learn about three proven ways to utilize exact match keywords in your campaign.
The shorter your positive or negative keyword match types is, the more impressions and clicks you’ll receive if you bid on it. However, receiving a lot of clicks isn’t always a great thing. Long-tail keywords are known for having nearly infinite variations.
Thus, if you were to target a bunch of different long-tail keywords while promoting a very specific service, you could waste your budget on a lot of irrelevant search queries/exact keywords.
When targeting a broad target audience, it’s always best to cast a large net in a small pond. Exact match keywords help to narrow down your focus if you’re targeting a large audience.
Wide reach can run up your advertising costs significantly. With exact match keywords, you can at least know that your ads will focus intensely on the most qualified leads for your budget.
Search intent is the context an internet user is looking for when searching for a keyword. Before trying out any exact match keywords, conduct a preliminary search and see what types of words appear in existing ads.
Do you see words like “purchase”, “buy”, and more, then you can potentially target internet users who are more willing to buy than window shop.
Becoming fluent in using exact match keywords isn’t difficult. Though, it requires much patience, experimentation, and a lot of time. If you lack all of these qualities, then it’s safe to say that you need help.
Contact us today to receive a free proposal and start growing your PPC campaign.
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When this apartment complex client partnered with PPC.co, their goal was clear: generate more qualified leads through Google Ads. In just 60 days—from January to March 2025—we transformed their paid acquisition performance. Total conversions more than tripled, jumping from 10 to 32, while the overall conversion rate soared by over 300%. At the same time, we drove down the cost per conversion by 44%, delivering significantly more leads at a much lower cost.
By strategically combining Performance Max and high-intent Search campaigns, we not only increased lead volume but improved overall efficiency and ROI. This rapid and measurable improvement underscores the value of data-driven optimization and expert campaign management.
This case study is a testament to what can happen when a well-structured campaign meets expert strategy and continuous optimization. Whether you're launching a new property or looking to boost occupancy in a competitive market, PPC.co delivers real results—fast.
Ready to grow your leads and lower your cost per conversion?
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If you run a fashion or apparel brand, you already know how fierce the competition is. One scroll through Instagram and you’re up against influencer capsule collections, fast fashion giants, and a dozen other brands selling something that looks eerily similar to what you just launched last week.
So how do you rise above the noise?
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising can be one of your most powerful weapons…if you know how to use it right.
PPC isn’t just about throwing money at Google or Meta and hoping for the best. It’s about strategy. Precision. Timing. And a deep understanding of what makes your ideal customer click, scroll, save, and, most importantly – buy.
This article will show you exactly how successful fashion brands are using PPC to grow fast, scale smart, and stay ahead.
Whether you’re a DTC startup or an established apparel line looking to boost your online sales, you’ll walk away with clear steps to sharpen your strategy and drive real results.
Before launching a single ad, the best fashion brands get laser-focused on who they’re talking to. Not just demographics like age and gender – but psychographics, style preferences, income levels, and buying behavior.
You need to know:
Use Meta’s Audience Insights, Google Analytics, TikTok Creator Marketplace, or post-purchase surveys to dig deep into the habits of your buyers. The more you understand your buyer persona, the easier it is to write ad copy, choose images, and build irresistible offers that convert.
Here’s a pro tip for you. Many successful brands create different audience segments and run tailored ads for each. One segment might respond to lifestyle-focused creative. Another might want free shipping and a clear price. By segmenting the audience into different buckets, these brands are able to consistently deliver ads and creatives that are more likely to convert for each demographic.
In the fashion world, your creative is your first impression. With just a second or two to capture attention, your ad needs to stop the scroll cold. Successful fashion brands do this by focusing on movement, people, and something we like to refer to as “microhooks.”
When it comes to getting people to stop scrolling, movement is the best way to grab attention. Research shows that short-form video (6–15 seconds) outperforms most static images across Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest. (Think quick outfit transitions, close-up fabric reveals, or behind-the-scenes clips.) You can also use stop motion or cinemagraphs to add subtle animation to product shots without producing full video. And for TikTok or Instagram Reels, use fast-paced cuts, trending sounds, and quick outfit changes to match user expectations on the platform.
As for people, do your best to feature user-generated content (UGC) from happy customers wearing your products. (You can reach out to repeat buyers or incentivize customers to tag you for a chance to be featured.) You can also collaborate with micro-influencers to shoot content that feels natural, not like an ad.
Finally, leverage microhooks. This is ad copy that highlights the unique benefits that your audience gets with your products. One way to do this is by asking questions that expose a current pain point and insinuate that your products do the opposite. For example, “Wearing stiff jeans in 2025?” or “Tired of leggings that show everything?”
One of the biggest PPC mistakes you can make? Launching a campaign, watching it flop, and declaring, “PPC doesn’t work for fashion.”
Top brands don’t just test – they test smart. Here’s how you can do the same:
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The objective is to keep refining it until it runs smoother and faster.
Most people won’t buy the first time they visit your site – and that’s not a failure. It’s just how online shopping works, especially in fashion. Shoppers might be comparing prices, waiting for payday, or simply scrolling while distracted.
But successful apparel brands don’t let those warm prospects slip away. They use retargeting to stay top-of-mind and guide potential customers back to the cart.
With tracking pixels installed on your site, you can identify who visited what, how long they stayed, and which products they interacted with. From there, you can serve hyper-relevant ads that feel personal – not generic.
If someone browsed your linen jumpsuit but didn’t add it to their cart, you can show them that exact product again later – this time with a timely offer like “Free Shipping Ends Tonight” or “Only 3 Left in Your Size.”
For cart abandoners, you might highlight a hassle-free return policy, reviews from other buyers, or even a quick video showing how to style the item. Retargeting works because it removes the guesswork and friction that keep shoppers from checking out.
More advanced brands go even further by segmenting their audiences based on behavior. For example, someone who lingered on a high-ticket leather jacket might get a different follow-up sequence than someone who looked at a discounted tee. Some campaigns re-engage past customers with complementary products (“Bought the dress? Here’s the perfect bag.”), while others reach back out to lapsed buyers with a loyalty discount. The goal isn’t to stalk – it’s to stay relevant, helpful, and persuasive at exactly the right moment.
If you’ve already paid to get someone to your site, don’t let that investment go to waste. Retargeting is how you turn passive interest into real sales – and it often delivers the highest ROI of any campaign in your entire funnel.
Successful brands don’t rely on aesthetics. They give people a reason to act now. That’s where the offer stack comes in – everything your customer gets when they click “buy.”
Think about:
But don’t make the mistake of jamming every offer into every ad. Instead, match your offer to the audience and funnel stage. For example:
Make sure your offer feels like a win – not some gimmicky trap to get people to buy something. There has to be a level of consistency with your brand that people recognize and resonate with.
Not all PPC platforms are created equal – and the most successful fashion brands understand that. Instead of putting all their ad spend into one platform, they diversify based on their audience, product category, and buying behavior. They choose channels that align with how people shop for their specific type of apparel. Here’s how smart brands match platform to product:
Google Shopping Ads
If you’re selling products people are actively searching for – like “vegan leather boots” or “wool pea coat men’s” – Google Shopping Ads are your best friend. These ads show up directly in search results with product photos, prices, brand names, and ratings. This format is ideal for intent-driven shoppers who already know what they’re looking for and are ready to compare options. For fashion brands with a strong product-market fit and clear differentiators like price, materials, or shipping perks, Shopping Ads can drive highly qualified clicks that convert.
To get the most out of Google Shopping, successful brands optimize their product titles and descriptions with keywords, upload high-quality images, and keep their feed clean and accurate. This is a volume play – great for staples, seasonal items, or products that meet specific needs.
Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram)
Meta is where most fashion brands start – and for good reason. It’s visually driven, highly customizable, and perfect for storytelling. You can build full-funnel strategies here: introduce your brand with engaging lifestyle video, retarget product viewers with carousel ads, and upsell past customers with limited-time bundles. Meta’s strength lies in its ability to create desire through imagery and social proof.
The most successful apparel ads on Instagram and Facebook pair compelling visuals with aspirational copy. Think: “Your new favorite weekend hoodie,” or “Outfits made for airport looks and coffee runs.” These platforms are especially strong for trend-based products, impulse buys, or highly aesthetic pieces like dresses, outerwear, or coordinated sets.
Pinterest Ads
Pinterest is a hidden gem for fashion brands – especially those targeting women, occasion-based shoppers, or DIY fashionistas. It acts like a visual search engine, which means users are actively planning their next look, vacation wardrobe, or event outfit. Unlike Meta, where ads interrupt, Pinterest ads blend seamlessly into content users are already curating for inspiration.
What works well here? Seasonal collections, bridal and maternity wear, capsule wardrobes, and anything that taps into life milestones. Brands that do well on Pinterest often repurpose lookbooks, blog content, or style guides into promoted pins that link back to product pages or collections. And because pins have a long shelf life, Pinterest campaigns can continue driving traffic well after the ad spend stops.
TikTok Spark Ads
If your brand skews younger – or if you’re trying to reach trendsetters – TikTok is super important. But it’s not about polished brand videos. The content needs to feel native, raw, and personal. That’s where Spark Ads shine. These are paid boosts of organic content (either your own or from creators) that blend seamlessly into the feed.
Fashion brands win on TikTok by showing products in motion, using trending audio, and leaning into humor, storytelling, or transformation-style videos (like before-and-after outfit reveals). Fast fashion, streetwear, bold accessories, and viral-friendly products do especially well here. You can work with creators to show “how it looks on” or do mini hauls that demonstrate fit, stretch, and styling versatility.
This channel is less about direct conversion and more about top-of-funnel discovery. And when it’s done right, it creates cult followings fast.
YouTube Shorts and Pre-Roll Ads
YouTube is an underrated but powerful channel for fashion brands looking to show off movement, build trust, and drive longer engagement. YouTube Shorts (their answer to TikTok) can showcase outfits in action, quick styling tips, or model walk-throughs in 60 seconds or less. Pre-roll ads, on the other hand, give you more control over brand storytelling.
Think of YouTube as a storytelling and branding platform. It’s especially strong for higher-ticket items like outerwear, formalwear, or custom-tailored pieces where the buyer needs more confidence before purchasing. Brands that leverage YouTube well often blend influencer partnerships, educational content (like “how to build a capsule wardrobe”), and in-depth product demos to establish authority and build affinity.
Clicks are worthless if the landing page doesn’t convert.
Once someone clicks your ad, they expect to land on a page that matches the promise of that ad. If they don’t see the product, price, or offer you teased? They bounce.
Here’s what winning landing pages include:
As a final note: Don’t forget to use Dynamic Product Ads (DPAs) where possible, so your landing page and ad are in perfect sync.
Did you know that less than 25 percent of PPC ads industry-wide actually produce conversions? That’s because most PPC agencies are doing it wrong.
At PPC.co, we don’t just pump out ads and try new creatives. We have concrete, proven strategies and frameworks that ensure you get the results you’re looking for.
Want to learn more? Contact us today and we’ll show you how we get results.
