How to fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic
You may notice that your campaigns don’t serve as many impressions as you’d like or that they don’t use much of your set daily budget. This article explains why your ads may not serve and how to troubleshoot in Google Ads.
On this page
- Prepare for success: What to expect when a campaign is created
- Keep in mind
- 11 common reasons why your ads don't run or get low traffic
Prepare for success: What to expect when a campaign is created
If you recently created your campaign, it can take time for your campaign to serve impressions. This delay may occur since:
- Campaigns that use Smart Bidding strategies need time to optimize. You may notice performance fluctuations or frequent changes in spend while Google Ads learns how to optimize for your set goals.
- It takes 1–2 days for newly created or edited ads to be reviewed to ensure that they meet all policy requirements.
- It takes Google Ads some time to adjust serving if you make frequent changes to your campaign settings.
- If your ad doesn't receive any impressions after 3 business days, review the common reasons listed below.
Keep in mind
Recommendations help highlight opportunities to improve performance when your campaign isn't running or gets low traffic. For example, you can search for the following example recommendation types when troubleshooting these issues.
Common recommendation types to fix campaigns not running:
- Campaign hasn’t started or has ended
- Create or unpause an ad group
- Account budget exhausted
- All ads disapproved
Common recommendation types to fix low traffic:
- Adjust your CPA targets
- Adjust your budgets
If your ad doesn't receive any impressions after 3 business days, review the common reasons listed below.
11 common reasons why your ads don't run or get low traffic
1. Account issues
If your account has been suspended or had a billing issue, you won’t be able to run your ads until the problem is resolved. If your account has been suspended, you’ll receive a notification in your Google Ads account. You’ll also receive an email notification on why your account has been suspended.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Account issues.
2. Date ranges and campaign start and end dates
Google Ads shows your performance data for the date range that you’ve selected. Your campaign will show no impressions outside of the date range your campaign has been active.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Date ranges and campaign start and end dates.
3. Ad groups, assets, or ads aren't active or have policy issues
Even if your campaign is active, you still need to ensure that you have active ad groups, assets, or ads within your campaign. You can view this in the Campaigns "Status" column.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Ad groups, assets, or ads aren't active or have policy issues.
4. Low creative asset coverage and diversity (Ad Strength)
If you’re running an asset-based campaign, such as Responsive Search Ads, Responsive Display Ads, App Campaigns, and Performance Max, it’s important to ensure you have a unique set of creatives across ad formats.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Low creative asset coverage and diversity (Ad Strength).
5. Low bid targets and optimization goals
While it may be possible to serve ads with a very low bid, your campaign isn't likely to enter or win as many auctions and your ads may not have any impressions.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Low bid targets and optimization goals.
6. Low budget
When you have a low budget, your ads may not serve as often while Google Ads ensures your campaign doesn't spend more than your spending limit.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Low budget.
7. Targeting is too narrow
While targeting settings help you find the right set of users most interested in your business, each time you add targeting or if you have issues with your remarketing lists, you narrow the potential reach of your ads.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Targeting is too narrow.
8. Targeting overlaps with other campaigns or ad groups
You may have multiple campaigns or ad groups in your account that are eligible to enter overlapping auctions due to similar keywords or other targeting.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Targeting overlaps with other campaigns or ad groups.
9. Conversion tracking issues
If your campaign is using Smart Bidding to optimize towards conversions, but isn’t getting sufficient conversion data or your conversion tracking isn’t set up correctly, your ad may have limited serving.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Conversion tracking issues.
10. Auction dynamics
Other advertisers who are participating in the same auctions as you can affect your campaign’s ability to serve.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: Auction dynamics.
11. Certain features used in campaigns
Your campaign may be paused if:
- You’re using certain features
- Your account doesn’t have a good history of policy compliance and positive user engagement.
Learn more about how to Fix Demand Gen campaigns not running or low traffic: certain features used in ad campaigns.