Keyword tip: when soccer and football mean the same thing

Soccer. Football. Fútbol. Fussball.

In the US we refer to the game as "soccer", but remember, it has many different names around the world. This concept also applies to AdWords, where keywords in the same language can mean different things to different people. A good example of this is prominently highlighted during the World Cup, when millions of fans outside the US refer to their favorite sport as "football".

In such cases, you should carefully monitor your keyword traffic and consider modifying your regional targeting preferences so that the right audience sees your ads. For example, let's say you sell football jerseys in the US but are targeting your ads to a worldwide audience; you may want to change your ad text to specify that you are selling "jerseys for American football". Or, as an alternative, you may simply change your targeting preferences so that your ads with football-related keywords only appear to users in the US.

And with this quick tip, we're off to watch highlights from the many soccer (or football) matches this weekend.

Posted by Sarah & Vivian, Inside AdWords crew