“Hey, could you look at my Google Ads? I keep getting notification emails.”
You open your inbox and sigh – yet another email from Google Ads. Sound familiar? Many small business owners find themselves bombarded with Google Ads notifications and aren’t sure what to do about them.
“Can you check my Google Ads account? I keep getting notification emails” is something we hear often.
Let’s dive into why Google is emailing you, why it matters, and how you can take control of those alerts (instead of letting them stress you out!).
Why It Matters
Those Google Ads notification emails aren’t just random nagging – they’re actually important signals about your online advertising. Ignoring them could mean missed opportunities or problems in your campaigns.
For example, an email might be warning you about a disapproved ad (meaning your ad isn’t running due to a policy issue), a billing problem, or suggestions to improve performance. If left unaddressed, a disapproved ad could mean your marketing message isn’t reaching anyone at all, and a billing issue could pause all your ads! In short, these emails matter because they often highlight issues that can waste your ad budget or stunt your campaign’s success. Paying attention can save you money and help your ads perform better.
Solutions
Actionable Steps to Handle Google Ads Notifications
So, what can you do when Google Ads keeps pinging your inbox?
Here’s a step-by-step approach to regain control:
Log in and Review the Notifications Tab: Start by signing in to your Google Ads account and clicking on the bell icon (🔔) or Notifications. Google usually mirrors those email alerts here. See what the alert is about – is it an Ad Disapproval, a Budget Alert, or a Recommendation?
Identify the Type of Notification: Not all emails are equal. An ad disapproval notice means a specific ad violated Google’s policies (common issues include using a prohibited word, or a URL problem). A budget notice might say your campaign is limited by budget (meaning your daily budget is too low to show ads consistently). A recommendation email could be suggesting new keywords or ad optimisations. Figure out what you’re dealing with first.
Address the Issue or Apply the Suggestion: Once you know the type, take action. If it’s a disapproved ad, go to your ads and look for any marked “Disapproved” or “Eligible (Limited)”. Google will usually tell you the policy reason. Fix it by editing the ad (for example, remove any trademarked term or add a required disclaimer) and then resubmit. If it’s a budget issue, consider whether you can increase your budget or if the campaign is hitting its cap early. If it’s a performance recommendation, review it critically – some recommendations (like adding new keywords or enabling automated features) might help, but only apply ones that make sense for your goals.
Check Your Account Settings: Sometimes the notifications are about account settings – e.g. verification needed, or new features. Ensure your billing info is up to date and your account is verified where required. This will prevent those urgent “action required” emails.
Adjust Email Preferences (If Needed): Did you know you can choose which emails you get? If the volume of notifications is overwhelming, you can tweak your email settings. In Google Ads, go to Tools & Settings > Preferences > Notifications. Here you can opt to receive only critical alerts or turn off others that you find less useful (How To Turn Off Google Ads Email Notifications). For instance, you might keep disapproved ad emails on (critical to know) but turn off “performance tips” emails if you check the account regularly anyway.
Monitor Regularly: The best way to avoid surprise emails is to keep a regular eye on your Google Ads account. Set a reminder to log in, say, once or twice a week and scan for any alerts. By catching issues early in the account interface, you’ll feel more on top of things – those emails will simply reinforce what you already know.
Seek Expert Help if Confused: If you’re not sure what a notification means or how to fix the issue it flags, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. This could be Google’s support (they have a chat and phone support for advertisers) or a marketing professional who can quickly identify the problem. Sometimes a quick fix by an expert can save hours of frustration on your end.
By following these steps, you can turn those annoying emails into helpful to-do’s. Instead of “Ugh, another Google Ads email…”, you’ll think “Okay, Google’s telling me something useful – let’s handle it.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When dealing with Google Ads notifications, beware of these common pitfalls:
Ignoring the Emails Entirely: It’s easy to just delete or ignore the emails if you don’t understand them. This is the number one mistake. Remember, some of these alerts could be warning you of an urgent issue (like your payment method failing or an ad that’s been stopped). Don’t let important emails sit unopened for weeks.
Panic-Clicking “Apply All” on Recommendations: Google might send suggestions like “add these 100 keywords” or “turn on automated bidding.” While these can be useful, don’t blindly apply everything. Make changes that align with your business goals, not just because Google suggests it. Applying all recommendations without a strategy can lead to overspending or off-target ads.
Failing to Fix Disapproved Ads: If an ad is disapproved and you do nothing, your ad isn’t running – simple as that. Some folks think the email is a mistake and assume the ad will start showing eventually. In reality, you need to edit the ad to comply with policies or submit an appeal if you believe it was an error. Leaving a disapproved ad in your account means missed opportunities.
Turning Off All Notifications Without Monitoring: Adjusting your email preferences is fine, but make sure you’re checking the account regularly if you do this. Some business owners turn off emails to reduce noise, then forget to log in for months – during which time their card on file expired and ads stopped (oops!). If you reduce emails, commit to manual check-ins to compensate.
Making Changes Without Understanding the Alert: Perhaps you got a notification saying your keyword “XYZ” has a low search volume, and you go and delete a bunch of keywords in response. Before taking drastic action, ensure you truly understand what the issue is. Deleting keywords might not have been necessary at all in that case. Avoid knee-jerk reactions; when in doubt, do a quick Google search of the notification message or ask an expert.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Staying on top of Google Ads emails can feel like playing whack-a-mole, but with the right approach, you can make those notifications work for you.
Key takeaways:
Google Ads notification emails are there to highlight important account issues or opportunities – don’t ignore them.
Tackle each alert step-by-step: log in, find the issue, and fix or address it (whether it’s an ad violation, budget cap, or a suggested improvement).
Customise your email alerts to strike a balance between staying informed and avoiding overwhelm (How To Turn Off Google Ads Email Notifications).
In summary, treat Google’s emails as a helpful assistant rather than a nuisance. By addressing problems early (and avoiding common mistakes like ignoring disapprovals), you’ll keep your campaigns running smoothly.
So next time you see a Google Ads email, take a deep breath and dive into your account to see what’s up – your advertising ROI will thank you!
If you ever feel out of depth, remember you’re not alone and there are experts (and Google’s support team) ready to help. Now, let’s turn those pesky notifications into improvements for your marketing success.
