Running a Google Ads campaign can be frustrating when it shows as enabled but you’re not getting any impressions. I faced the same issue—my ads were running for several days with zero results. But after tweaking a few things, I went from 0 impressions to over 66,000 impressions and 6,460+ clicks.
If you’re struggling with this, don’t worry. I’ve broken it down into 4 main reasons why your Google Ads campaign might not be delivering impressions—and how to fix them.
- Wrong Bidding Strategy & Conversion Goal
One of the biggest mistakes advertisers make is choosing the wrong bidding strategy.
Here’s the deal:
If you’re just starting out with a new account and don’t have much data or conversion tracking set up, avoid choosing Conversions as your strategy.
Instead, start with Clicks. Getting clicks is easier, builds data, and helps Google’s algorithm learn about your audience.
Also, check your maximum bid amount.
If your bid is too low compared to the average cost per click (CPC) in your niche, your ad won’t show.
Use the Keyword Planner in Google Ads to see the average CPC for your target keywords, then set your bid slightly higher so your ad can compete.
Example: If competitors are bidding $1.50 per click, set your bid at $1.90 or $2.00 to make sure you rank higher.
- Your Budget Is Too Low
Another common reason is setting a budget that’s far below what’s required.
In some countries (like the U.S., Canada, or parts of Europe), CPCs are higher. A daily budget of $5 or $10 often won’t cut it.
I recommend at least $20/day for competitive markets.
Remember, your budget should allow for at least 10+ clicks per day based on your average CPC.
- Narrow or Wrong Location Targeting
Sometimes the issue is not your bid or budget—it’s your targeting.
If you choose a location with a small population (say a town with less than 100,000 people), your ad might barely show.
Instead, target a broader area (e.g., the whole country or multiple major cities).
Also double-check your language settings. If you limit your ad to a small language group, you might be shrinking your audience too much.
Pro Tip: Always make sure your ad is targeting the right audience in the right location.
- Poor Conversion Tracking or Wrong Campaign Objective
Finally, if your conversion tracking isn’t set up properly, Google Ads won’t optimize your campaigns effectively.
Make sure you set up Google Tag Manager or Google Analytics and link them with your Google Ads account.
If conversion tracking isn’t working, Google has no feedback loop to know who’s engaging with your ad, making it less likely to show.
Also check your campaign objective—if you set it incorrectly, it may be working against your actual goal.
If you haven’t set up conversion tracking yet, I’ve created a step-by-step video tutorial (linked in the comments of my YouTube video) that will guide you.
Final Thoughts
If your Google Ads are enabled but not showing impressions, don’t panic. The issue usually comes down to one of these four areas:
Bidding strategy & conversion goals
Budget too small
Narrow or wrong location targeting
Poor conversion tracking or wrong campaign objective
Fix these, and you’ll start seeing impressions, clicks, and real results from your campaigns.
My advice? Start simple. Optimize for clicks, set a reasonable bid, and choose a healthy daily budget. Once you build data and conversions, then move into advanced strategies.
