What is the ad preview and diagnosis tool?

The ad preview and diagnosis tool in Google Ads is a valuable feature that allows advertisers to preview how their ads appear on Google search results without affecting the ad's performance metrics. It also provides insights into why ads may not be showing for certain queries. Here's an overview of what the tool offers and how to use it effectively:

### Key Features of the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool:

1. **Preview Ads**:
   - Advertisers can enter a specific keyword, location, language, and device to see how their ads would appear on Google search results pages.
   - This preview is not counted as an actual impression, so it doesn't affect ad performance data.

2. **Check Ad Status**:
   - The tool provides information on whether ads are eligible to appear for a given search query based on various factors such as bidding, quality score, ad rank, and targeting settings.
   - It also indicates if ads are not showing and provides reasons why (e.g., low bids, budget constraints, ad disapproval, targeting restrictions).

3. **Location-Specific Preview**:
   - Advertisers can simulate search results in different locations to understand how ad visibility varies across different geographic regions.

4. **Language and Device Options**:
   - It allows testing of ad appearances based on language preferences and different device types (desktop, mobile, tablet).

5. **Ad Extensions Preview**:
   - Advertisers can also see if their ad extensions (like sitelink extensions, callout extensions, structured snippets) are displaying correctly alongside the main ad copy.

### How to Use the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool:

1. **Access the Tool**:
   - Sign in to your Google Ads account at [ads.google.com](https://ads.google.com).
   - Navigate to the campaign or ad group where you want to preview ads.
   - Click on "Tools & settings" in the upper right corner, then under "Planning", click on "Ad Preview and Diagnosis".

2. **Enter Search Criteria**:
   - In the tool, enter the search term (keyword), choose the location, language, and device options.
   - You can also specify the Google domain (e.g., google.com, google.co.uk) for different countries.

3. **Review Search Results**:
   - The tool will simulate Google search results based on the criteria entered, showing how ads would appear to users.
   - It will indicate whether your ads are showing and provide reasons if they are not (e.g., "Your ad is not showing right now").

4. **Troubleshoot Issues**:
   - If your ads are not showing, review the status message to understand possible reasons (e.g., low ad rank, budget constraints).
   - Use the information to adjust bidding strategies, improve ad quality, or address any other issues preventing ad visibility.

5. **Repeat for Different Scenarios**:
   - Test various combinations of search terms, locations, languages, and devices to gain insights into ad performance across different scenarios.

6. **Take Action**:
   - Based on the preview results and diagnosis, make adjustments to your campaigns to optimize ad visibility and performance.

### Benefits of Using the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool:

- **Non-Impactful Testing**: Allows advertisers to test ad appearance without impacting actual performance metrics.
 
- **Insightful Troubleshooting**: Provides actionable insights into why ads may not be showing and how to address issues.
 
- **Localized Insights**: Helps understand regional variations in ad visibility and performance.
 
- **Efficient Campaign Management**: Facilitates quick adjustments to improve ad targeting and effectiveness.

By leveraging the ad preview and diagnosis tool effectively, advertisers can ensure their ads are optimized for visibility and performance on Google search, leading to better overall campaign results.