Take Control of Your Microsoft Ads: Excluding Unwanted Search Partners (2024 Update)
Are you running Microsoft Ads and concerned about where your ads are showing up? When managing your Microsoft Ads campaigns, it’s crucial to ensure your ads appear on relevant and high-quality websites. If you find your ads being displayed on less desirable sites within the Microsoft Search Partner Network, you have the option to exclude these URLs to improve your campaign performance.
The Search Partner Network (SPN) expands your reach beyond Bing and includes other websites. While this can be beneficial, some websites within the SPN might not be the ideal fit for your campaign. This guide will walk you through the steps to exclude specific websites at the campaign level, as well as provide a list of common URLs you might want to consider excluding in 2024.
This article will guide you through two methods to exclude specific websites from the Search Partner Network in Microsoft Ads, focusing on a list of common websites using “2024” in their title (as of July 2024).
Why Exclude Websites?
There are several reasons you might want to exclude specific websites:
- Low-quality traffic: Some websites might not attract relevant users or generate valuable clicks for your campaign.
- Brand safety: You may want to avoid websites with content that conflicts with your brand image.
- Fraudulent clicks: Certain websites might generate fake clicks that waste your advertising budget.
Method 1: Excluding Websites at the Campaign Level
- Log in to your Microsoft Advertising dashboard.
- Navigate to the “Campaigns” tab and select the campaign you want to edit.
- Click on “Settings” from the top menu.
- Scroll down to the “Website exclusions” section.
- In the text box provided, enter the website URL you want to exclude. (Here’s where the 2024 list comes in handy!)
Here’s the list of website URLs to consider excluding for campaigns running in 2024:
- exclaim.com
- softy.org
- dealtruck.net
- crowdsearch.net
- bargainboom.com
- stints.com
- futurenews.com
- boxcar.net
- amazingfact.org
- extensively.net
- vibescaster.com
- mustpik.com
- yoursearchhelp.com
- clevershopper.com
- itmget.com
- chopstick.co
Pro Tip: You can add multiple website URLs by separating them with commas.
- Click “Save” to apply the exclusion list to your campaign.
You can exclude these URLs at the ad group level as well. Here’s how:
- Navigate to Ad Group Settings:
- Log in to your Microsoft Advertising account.
- Go to the specific ad group where you want to exclude URLs.
- Exclude Websites:
- In the ad group settings, find the “Website” section.
- Click on “Add websites to exclude” at the ad group level.
- Add the list of common URLs you want to exclude (using “2024” in the title if needed).
- Account-Level Exclusions:
- Remember that any account-level website exclusion lists will also apply to this ad group.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your ad group avoids clicks from the specified URLs.
Method 2: Opting Out of Search Partners Entirely
This option removes your ads from all websites within the Search Partner Network and focuses them solely on Microsoft properties (Bing, MSN, Outlook.com).
Opting Out of Search Partners at the Ad Group Level
To opt out of the Search Partner Network for a specific ad group:
- Log in to your Microsoft Advertising dashboard.
- Navigate to the “Ad Groups” tab and select the ad group you want to edit.
- Click on “Settings” from the side menu.
- Scroll down to “Other Setttings” and click on “Ad distribution”.
- Choose “Microsoft sites and select traffic” from the dropdown menu. This option includes Microsoft sites and select partner traffic with performance and conversion rates similar to Microsoft Bing’s.
Important note: While you can exclude specific websites from the Search Partner Network at the campaign level, opting out entirely must be done at the ad group level. Excluding websites at the campaign level takes priority over any account-level website exclusions. Remember that any account-level website exclusion lists will also be applied to this campaign. If you’ve set up exclusions at the account level, they’ll automatically apply here.
Monitor and Refine:
It’s important to monitor the performance of your campaigns after excluding websites.
- Run “Website URL reports” to see where your ads are showing and adjust your exclusion list as needed.
- Consider testing different exclusion strategies to find the best fit for your campaign goals.
By implementing these strategies, you can exert greater control over where your Microsoft Ads appear, ensuring your budget reaches the most relevant audience.