#Google’s auto-pause for idle keywords: overreach or overdue?
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Google’s plan to automatically pause keywords in advertisers’ accounts after 13 months of no engagement has been met with mixed reactions.
The big picture. Google’s plans to automatically pause long-idle ad keywords have sparked debate among marketers – some see it as overreach, while others say it’s overdue account maintenance.
What’s happening? Google will start automatically pausing search ad keywords and ad groups that have gone 13+ months without any impressions or activity. The change, initially met with mixed reactions, aims to streamline the management of stale entities.
The concerns. Some advertisers believe leaving dormant keywords maintains account history and relevance signals. Others fear prematurely pausing viable terms that see sporadic bursts of traffic.
The data. The Optmyzr study of over 9,400 Google Ads accounts found:
- 84% of accounts had 50%+ keywords with zero impressions in 13+ months.
- Pausing those terms likely won’t hurt performance for most.
- Only 145 large accounts (1.5%) risk potential performance loss.
Why we care. While most small account advertisers may welcome the account clean-up, larger brands with established keyword-level control may face challenges adapting to increasingly automated, opaque Google Ads management
The upside. Most accounts stand to gain streamlined structures and simpler budgeting after the pauses, aligning with Google’s push for automation over manual management.
What they’re saying. “Google continues to blur the lines between platform and ad partner” by making organizational calls like this, marketing consultant Kirk Williams, owner of ZATO, told Optmyzr.
Bottom line. While valid fears exist around losing viable keywords, most advertisers likely have little to lose – and may see gains – once long-dormant terms get automatically parked.
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
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