Google AdWords Ads not Showing?

Wondering Why Your Google Ads Aren’t Showing?

It’s a common worry—sometimes, your Google Ads just don’t appear in search results and you’re left wondering why. If this sounds familiar, don’t panic! There are several straightforward steps you can take to diagnose and solve the issue.

Use the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool

Don’t search for your own ads directly in Google!

If you constantly search for your keywords to check if your ads are running, you’re actually doing more harm than good. Each search creates an ad impression (an opportunity for an ad to be shown) but if you don’t click, it lowers your overall Click Through Rate (CTR), which can hurt your ad’s performance and visibility.

Instead, use Google’s official Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool. This tool lets you:

• See if your ads are displaying for specific keywords or locations
• Avoid creating unnecessary impressions
• Troubleshoot why ads might not be appearing

It’s especially handy if you’re running ads that target areas outside of New Zealand, letting you preview search results from other countries.

You may be seeing search results personalised to you

If you are frequently and repeatedly conducting searches on your keywords, you may not see your ads at all as Google will be serving a variation of results in an effort to be more relevant to you in an effort to get you to make a selection (click).

Google customises search results based on your browsing habits and geographic location. If you keep searching for your own ads and not clicking, Google may eventually stop showing them to you altogether.

Pro Tip: Even searching in “incognito mode” can still register an impression, so it’s best to stick with the Ad Preview tool for checks.

Common Reasons Your Google Ads Aren’t Showing

If you still can't see your ads, then you should check your account status by logging into your Google Ads account. Check for the following issues:

• Bids: bid pricing may not be high enough for 1st page
• Geographic targeting: your ad may not be set to show in your current area
• Budget: your daily budget may have run out
• Disapproved ads: your ad copy may have been disapproved and needs updating
• Payment issue: credit card payment issues or your card may have expired

Carefully check each setting to be sure everything is in order.

Need Help with Google Ads?

Managing Google Ads can be tricky, especially for busy NZ small businesses and tradies. If your campaigns aren’t showing or performing, Adhesion is here to help! We’re Google Partners with 18+ years of experience in New Zealand’s unique market. Get in touch for friendly, expert support—whether you need help fixing a campaign or want a fully managed service.