Kudos! Deciding to cancel your Google Ads campaign is a bold move. Sometimes, it’s the smart choice to cut wasteful ad costs and protect your business.
But before you pull the plug, ask yourself—do you really need to cancel? You can evaluate this decision using our detailed checklist in this article.
Now, here’s the catch—you can’t completely cancel a Google Ads campaign. You can either pause it for a while or remove it entirely. The choice depends on your business goals.
Luckily, Google makes it super easy for beginners. Pausing or removing a campaign takes just a few clicks. Want to know how? Keep reading—we’ll walk you through it step by step!
How to Pause a Google Ads Campaign
When you pause a Google Ads campaign, it temporarily stops your ad. This means your ads won’t appear on Google search results, YouTube, or any partner sites. Yet, all your settings, data, and performance history will remain intact.
Here’s how you can pause a Google Ads campaign easily:
- First, log into your Google Ads account and head to your dashboard.
- Then, click the campaign icon.
- You’ll see a dropdown menu with the Campaigns option. Right-click on it.
- After that, you’ll notice a colored dot beside each of your campaigns. Hover the mouse on the Status icon and click on it.
- Finally, select Pause to stop the campaign temporarily.
That’s it! Your ads will stop running instantly, but you’ll still have access to all your data. This gives you the flexibility to resume later when you’re ready to go again.
How to Cancel a Google Ads Campaign [Equivalent to Removing It]
If you decide to stop your campaign permanently, you have to follow a slightly different approach. In a way, you’ll be able to cancel or remove the Google Ads campaign.
The process is almost similar to pausing a Google Ads campaign, only with a slight tweak at the end. Here’s how you can do it:
- First, log into your Google Ads account.
- Go to the “Campaigns”tab.
- Once you see the list of your campaigns, select the ones you want to cancel or remove permanently.
- Hit the Edit button, and you’ll see three options: Enable, Pause, and Remove.
- Now, click the Remove option and your ad campaign will stop running ads permanently.
Sounds super easy, right? Well, removing a campaign doesn’t always have to be a priority. You should cancel a Google Ads campaign only when there’s a desperate need.
When Should You Remove a Google Ads Campaign?
Check out the situations below when removing a Google Ads campaign becomes necessary.
Poor Performance and Low ROI
If your ads aren’t delivering the clicks, leads, or sales you expect, it’s time to reassess. Low click-through rates and high costs are warning signs.
For example, if you’ve been running a campaign for three months and the conversion rate is less than 1%, it may be time to cut your losses.
Continuing a campaign that drains your budget without returns can hurt your business. Removing a Google Ads campaign will minimize unnecessary expenses. As a result, you’ll be able to focus on more effective strategies.
Budget Exhaustion or Limitations
Is your advertising budget shrinking? Campaigns can drain funds quickly, especially if they aren’t performing.
Rather than letting your budget run dry, consider canceling underperforming campaigns. This way, you can redirect funds to more effective marketing strategies.
To clarify, let’s say you’ve allocated $5,000 for a quarter. Halfway through, you’ve spent $4,000 with little to no results. In this position, it might be wiser to cancel the campaign, especially if it’s a long-term project. You can reallocate those funds to other marketing channels.
Changes in Marketing Strategy
If your business goals have shifted, your Google Ads should follow. Sometimes, canceling outdated campaigns frees up space for new opportunities.
Suppose your campaign targeted a local audience, but you’re now expanding nationally. So, now that local campaign doesn’t align with your goals anymore. You can cancel it and create something that matches your new strategy.
Seasonal or Temporary Campaigns
Now, some campaigns are designed to be short-lived, like holiday sales or summer promotions. Once the season is over, keeping these ads running doesn’t make sense.
For instance, if you had a Google Ads campaign promoting your Fourth of July sale, running it in August isn’t helpful. In these cases, canceling the campaign immediately after the season ends ensures you’re not wasting money on irrelevant ads.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
So, canceling a Google Ads campaign seems straightforward, right?
However, beginners often encounter a few pitfalls. Avoiding these can save you time, money, and potential headaches.
- Not pausing before canceling: If you’re unsure about completely ending a campaign, pause it first. This allows you to keep your data intact and avoid starting from scratch if you change your mind.
- Forgetting to monitor after cancellation: Canceling a campaign doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Check your account to ensure no ads are still running or accumulating hidden costs.
- Ignoring valuable data: Before canceling, review your campaign performance. Even a poorly performing campaign can provide insights into what went wrong and how to improve next time.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll ensure that your Google Ads cancellation is smooth and strategic.
Key Takeaways
- Canceling or removing a Google Ads campaign is permanent and should only be done when necessary.
- Pausing a campaign is a great temporary alternative if you’re not ready to cancel but need a break.
- Remove a Google Ads campaign when your campaign isn’t delivering results or your marketing focus has shifted.
- Always review performance data and consider alternatives like adjusting the budget or optimizing targeting before canceling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Cancel My Google Ad Campaign at Any Time?
Yes, you can cancel your Google Ad campaign at any time. You can either pause it or remove it permanently whenever you want. The cancellation activates after 24 hours and all selected ad campaigns stop running.
Can You Reactivate a Canceled Google Ads Campaign?
No, you cannot reactivate a canceled Google Ads campaign. Once a campaign is canceled (removed), it is permanently stopped and cannot be resumed. However, you can still access the historical data. To continue advertising, you’ll need to create a new campaign with updated settings and targets.
Do Google Ads Expire?
No, Google Ads do not expire. Campaigns will continue running as long as they are active and within budget limits. However, you can pause, cancel, or set specific start and end dates. If you cancel a campaign, it cannot be reactivated, but the data remains available for review.
Conclusion
Finally, remember to carefully evaluate your ad performance and goals before making any decisions. Whether you need to tweak your strategy or start fresh, you must have a clear plan.
Need expert help to make the right call? At Ajala Digital, we specialize in helping businesses like yours get the most out of their Google Ads campaigns. Reach out today, and let’s turn your ad strategy into a success story!
