Video Insights

Corey Reacts to Grow My Ads: Negative Keywords & Bidding Updates

Source: 🤔 Corey Reacts To GROW MY ADS's Videos! · Published 2026-08-24 · By VEONIB

In this video

Corey reacts to Grow My Ads' content, reviewing two key videos: one on removing negative keywords for mature accounts and another on Google's August 17th bidding update that eliminates overperformance in budget-limited campaigns. He provides his own expert perspective on when these strategies work and warns of risks.

VEONIB's Perspective

Our take on this video

A short editorial from the VEONIB team on why this content matters.

Summary

Corey's reaction provides a balanced critique of Grow My Ads' aggressive strategies, emphasizing that removing negative keywords is a high-risk last resort and that Google's bidding update is a clear money grab.

Insight

Unlike many reaction videos, Corey drills into niche-specific applicability and the hidden costs of learning mode. SEONIB reinforces that data-driven testing and foundational optimization must precede any radical PPC tactic.

Recommendation

PPC managers and business owners should watch this to avoid costly mistakes, then audit their own accounts for maturity level before attempting negative keyword removal or adjusting budgets for the upcoming Google change.

Key Insights

Key Terms

#Negative Keywords

Search terms you exclude from triggering your ads to avoid irrelevant traffic.

#Broad Match

A keyword match type that shows your ads for any related searches, maximizing reach.

#Smart Bidding

Automated bid strategies using machine learning to optimize for conversions or conversion value.

#Target CPA

A smart bidding strategy that sets bids to achieve a target cost per acquisition.

#Learning Mode

A period after campaign changes when Google's algorithm adjusts, often causing performance fluctuations.

#AI Max

A Google Ads campaign type (Performance Max) that uses AI to optimize across all inventory.

#Conversion Volume

The number of conversions (e.g., purchases, leads) a campaign generates within a given time.

#Budget-Limited Campaign

A campaign that regularly exhausts its daily budget, preventing full ad delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I remove negative keywords from my Google Ads campaign?

Only when your campaign has high conversion volume, uses broad match successfully, and smart bidding is stable. Test removal as a last resort after optimizing offers and landing pages.

What is the risk of removing all negative keywords?

You may enter learning mode, causing temporary ROI drops that can last weeks. Testing can cost tens of thousands in wasted spend, especially in niches with high browse intent.

Does removing negative keywords work for every niche?

No. It works best in low-browse niches (e.g., replacement parts) where generic searches indicate buying intent. It fails in high-browse niches (e.g., pool supplies).

What is Google's August 17th bidding update?

Google will stop allowing campaigns limited by budget to overperform your target CPA or ROAS. Starting Aug 17, they will bid exactly to your target, raising costs if you were underperforming.

How will the August 17th change affect small advertisers?

Small advertisers on tight budgets will lose the efficiency gains from budget limitations, likely seeing higher CPA and lower ROI unless they increase spend.

Is the August 17th update a money grab by Google?

Corey believes yes. It forces advertisers to spend more to maintain performance, benefiting Google's revenue.

Can I use AI like Claude to replace PPC expertise?

Risky. AI lacks access to Google's proprietary data, and non-experts cannot verify its suggestions. It's safer to hire a PPC pro for foundational work.

What should I do before testing negative keyword removal?

Ensure your offers, ad copy, and landing pages are optimized. Remove negatives only after you've scaled with broad match and other strategies.

How long does it take to see results from removing negative keywords?

Plan for a 90-day test due to learning mode, conversion lag, and bidding adjustments. ROI may dip before potentially improving.

Should I remove negative keywords from all campaigns at once?

No. Test on one campaign first, preferably during an off-season, to minimize risk and isolate impact.

Recommended Reading

Turn Any Product URL into a Stunning Video Ad

Paste a product link. AI extracts images, features, and selling points to create a high-converting video in minutes.

Generate from URL
No credit card required · Free tier available