When it comes to scaling your Google Ads efforts, duplicating a campaign is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to expand your reach without starting from scratch. Whether you want to target a different audience, experiment with new settings, or simply replicate a successful campaign, duplicating campaigns in Google Ads saves you time and ensures consistency.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to duplicate a campaign in Google Ads and provide some tips for optimizing the process.
Why Duplicate a Campaign in Google Ads?
Duplicating a campaign can be a strategic move for several reasons:
- Scaling Efforts: If you have a successful campaign, duplicating it can allow you to reach more audiences without redoing all the work.
- Testing Variations: You can duplicate a campaign and then make slight changes to test different strategies (e.g., targeting, bidding, or ads).
- Targeting New Audiences: If you want to run the same ads but target a new geographical region or audience demographic, duplicating the campaign is an efficient way to do this.
By replicating your campaigns, you save time while maintaining the integrity of your original settings and ad creative.
Steps to Duplicate a Campaign in Google Ads
Duplicating a campaign in Google Ads is a simple process. Follow these easy steps to get started:
1. Sign In to Your Google Ads Account
Start by logging into your Google Ads account at https://ads.google.com.
2. Navigate to the Campaigns Tab
Once you’re logged in, click on the “Campaigns” tab on the left-hand side of the dashboard. This will bring up a list of all your active and paused campaigns.
3. Select the Campaign You Want to Duplicate
Find the campaign you want to duplicate from your campaign list. Click the checkbox next to the campaign name to select it.
4. Click on the “Edit” Button
After selecting the campaign, look for the “Edit” button at the top of the page. This is where you’ll find the option to duplicate your campaign.
5. Choose “Copy”
In the “Edit” dropdown menu, click on “Copy”. This will copy all of the campaign’s settings, including ads, keywords, ad groups, and targeting options.
6. Create a New Campaign
Now that your campaign is copied, click on the “+” button (typically located on the top left) to create a new campaign.
7. Paste the Copied Campaign
After clicking the “+” button, you will be taken to a new campaign setup page. In this page, click “Paste” to add the copied campaign settings to the new campaign. This step replicates the original campaign, making the process quick and simple.
8. Adjust Campaign Settings
While the campaign is duplicated, you’ll likely need to adjust a few settings to make sure the new campaign aligns with your current goals. Some things to consider:
- Change the campaign name: You may want to give the new campaign a unique name to avoid confusion.
- Adjust the budget: Modify the daily or lifetime budget to fit your new objectives.
- Update targeting: Depending on your goals, you may want to change geographic targeting, audience segments, or device preferences.
- Review keywords and ads: Ensure your keywords and ad creatives are still relevant, or make changes if necessary.
9. Review and Launch
Once you’ve made your adjustments, review your campaign settings to ensure everything looks good. Click “Save and Continue” to launch the new campaign. Your duplicated campaign is now live and ready to drive traffic!
Alternative Method: Using Google Ads Editor
If you’re managing multiple campaigns or need to make bulk changes, Google Ads Editor is a powerful tool that lets you manage campaigns offline. Here’s how to duplicate a campaign using Google Ads Editor:
- Download Google Ads Editor: Install Google Ads Editor on your computer.
- Download Campaign Data: Open Google Ads Editor and download the account data.
- Select and Copy the Campaign: Find the campaign you want to duplicate, right-click on it, and select “Copy”.
- Paste the Campaign: Right-click in the campaign section and choose “Paste” to create a duplicate.
- Make Edits: You can bulk edit your campaign settings in Google Ads Editor, making it a great option for handling large campaigns.
Once you’re done editing, upload the changes back to your Google Ads account.
Best Practices When Duplicating a Campaign
Duplicating campaigns can be an efficient way to scale your advertising, but it’s important to follow best practices to ensure the new campaign performs well:
- Adjust Targeting: Always make sure that the new campaign targets the right audience. If you’re expanding into a new region or audience segment, modify your geographic and demographic targeting accordingly.
- Update Keywords: Ensure your keyword strategy aligns with the new goals of your campaign. You may need to adjust your keyword list based on performance data or shift your focus to different terms.
- Test New Ads: Don’t just copy the same ads—test new ad creatives, headlines, or calls to action to see which resonate best with your audience. A/B testing can help optimize the duplicated campaign.
- Monitor Performance: Keep a close eye on the performance of your duplicated campaign. Adjust bids, budgets, and targeting based on the results you’re seeing.
When Should You Duplicate a Campaign?
There are a few scenarios where duplicating a campaign makes a lot of sense:
- Replicating Successful Campaigns: If you’ve found a formula that works well for your business, duplicating that campaign and targeting different segments or regions can help you scale faster.
- Experimenting with New Strategies: If you want to test new keywords, ads, or bidding strategies, duplicating your campaign is a good way to keep the original intact while experimenting with different approaches.
- Targeting Multiple Locations or Audiences: When you want to run the same campaign in multiple locations or for different audience segments, duplicating the campaign and adjusting targeting settings is an efficient way to go.
Conclusion
Duplicating a campaign in Google Ads is a simple and effective way to expand your reach, test new strategies, and optimize your ad performance. By following the steps above and ensuring that your new campaign aligns with your goals, you can scale your efforts quickly while maintaining the consistency and quality of your ads.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned advertiser, understanding how to duplicate and adjust campaigns is a key skill for running successful Google Ads campaigns. Start using this feature today and watch your business grow!