Negative keywords list for trades and service businesses
A starter list of negative keywords for Australian trades and service businesses, and how to keep it up to date.
Why they matter
Without negative keywords, a plumber’s ads can show for “plumber salary” or “how to fix a tap”. Every one of those clicks costs money and brings no work.
Starter list
Employment: jobs, job, career, careers, salary, wage, apprentice, apprenticeship, hiring, recruitment, seek, indeed
Learning and DIY: how to, diy, course, training, tafe, certificate, youtube, video, tutorial, guide
Wrong intent: free, second hand, used, wholesale, supplier, parts (unless you sell them), bunnings
Wrong place: suburbs and cities you don’t service
Be careful with “cheap”
If you compete on price, “cheap” may be a buyer’s word. Check before you block it.
Match types
Add negatives as phrase or exact match where you need precision.
Keep it current
Review the search terms report every week. Every irrelevant search you find is a new negative keyword.
Frequently asked questions
What are negative keywords?
Words or phrases you tell Google not to show your ads for.
How many negative keywords should I have?
There’s no set number. Most accounts build a list of dozens to hundreds over time.
Can negative keywords block good traffic?
Yes, if they’re too broad. Check the impact after adding them.
