Writing Ads
Last Updated: October 01, 2009
Text Size: A A A

Save to My Help

Save this article to My Help for easy reference. You can visit the article at any time from any computer.

Replace an article

You have reached the maximum number of saved articles. Your oldest saved article will be replaced with the new one.

Yahoo! Search Marketing > Yahoo! Search Marketing Help > Sponsored Search > Managing Your Account

Learn about: Working with Ads The Ad Editorial Guidelines Creating Your Ad Ad Quality and Quality Index Insert Keyword, ALT Text / Default Text, Custom URLs Ad Testing and Optimization Related Resources




Insert Keyword, ALT Text / Default Text, Custom URLs

The insert keyword feature is designed to save you time and help increase the relevance and click-through rates of your ads. It uses a “keyword placeholder” to dynamically insert the user’s search query into your ad’s title and/or description when it is displayed. You can use insert keyword when you create an ad, or you can edit an ad so that it uses this feature.

Using insert keyword also provides you with the opportunity to specify alternate text that can display in your ad. Alternate text may be used to display text that is shorter than the actual keyword, create readable or grammatically correct text, display text with the correct capitalization, or substitute more descriptive text than the actual keyword.

The following is an example of how the insert keyword feature might alter your ad to a user’s specific search query:

User’s search query: “Brand A DVD player”

Without Insert Keyword

With Insert Keyword

Using this feature can make your ads more appealing to users and may increase your ads’ click-through rates.

Learn more about inserting keywords into ads and using default text.

If you use the Insert Keyword feature in an ad in this keyword's ad group, you can use alternate text to replace the keyword when the ad is displayed – as long as the alternate text doesn't cause the title or description to exceed the length allowed. If the alternate text causes the title or description to exceed the maximum length, the default text (which you specify when you use the Insert Keyword feature) is displayed.

Learn more about using alternate text.

Custom Destination URLs
You can associate individual keywords with custom pages on your site. Check the Use a custom destination URL for this keyword box in the Ads panel of the Keyword Details page, to display a box for entering a URL for that individual keyword. This URL will override any destination URL set at the ad group level for that keyword only. All other keywords in the ad group without a custom destination URL will use the URL specified when creating your ad.


Learn more about Custom URLs


Next: Writing Ads - Ad Testing and Optimization

Was this information helpful?   Yes    No

My Help

Forgot your ID or password?

Sign In

Sign in to see your account information saved articles and more.
  1. Recent Searches

  2. Saved Articles

    Sign in to see your account information saved articles and more.

Top Questions

Still Need Help?

More Help

What's New


Got Display?
Display advertising is graphical advertising that appears on content web pages, in IM applications, email, etc. Learn more here.
Smart Start
Our Smart Start Guide for new advertisers includes tips and best practices that can assist you with account management. Download it here.

Links