What is the Google Ads Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool?

The Google Ads Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool is a feature within Google Ads that allows advertisers to preview their ads as they would appear in search results without accruing impressions. It also helps diagnose issues that may affect ad visibility. Here's an overview of what the Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool does and how to use it:

### Functions of the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool:

1. **Preview Ads:**
   - **Search Results:** View how your ads appear on Google Search results pages for specific queries and locations without affecting your ad performance metrics.
   - **Devices:** Preview ads across different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) to ensure they display correctly and are optimized for all platforms.

2. **Diagnose Ad Visibility:**
   - **Reasons for Non-Appearance:** Check if your ads are eligible to appear for specific keywords and locations.
   - **Issues Detection:** Identify common issues that may prevent ads from showing, such as budget constraints, ad rank issues, ad approval status, targeting settings, or policy violations.

3. **Test Ad Changes:**
   - Before making changes to your ads or keywords, use the tool to simulate how these changes would affect ad performance and visibility.

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

1. **Access the Tool:**
   - Sign in to your Google Ads account at ads.google.com.
   - Click on "Tools & Settings" (wrench icon) in the top right corner.

2. **Navigate to the Tool:**
   - Under "Planning," select "Ad Preview and Diagnosis."

3. **Set Parameters:**
   - Enter the search term or keyword for which you want to preview your ad.
   - Choose the location and language settings to simulate the search environment.

4. **View Results:**
   - The tool will display how your ad appears in Google Search results for the specified query, location, and device settings.
   - It will also indicate if there are any issues preventing your ad from showing, such as low ad rank, budget limitations, or policy violations.

5. **Diagnose Issues:**
   - If your ad is not appearing, review the diagnostics provided by the tool to understand why. Common issues include:
     - Ad rank is too low.
     - Budget is insufficient to compete effectively.
     - Ad scheduling or targeting settings may restrict ad visibility.
     - Ad disapproval due to policy violations.

6. **Make Adjustments:**
   - Based on the diagnosis, adjust your ad settings, bid strategy, or ad content to improve ad visibility and performance.

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

- **Prevent Unnecessary Clicks:** Avoid clicking on your own ads to check their appearance, which can skew performance data and waste ad spend.
 
- **Efficiency:** Quickly check ad appearance and diagnose issues in a controlled environment without impacting live campaigns.
 
- **Accuracy:** Ensure ads are displayed correctly across different devices and locations, optimizing ad delivery and user experience.

### Considerations:

- **Ad Testing:** Use the tool to test variations of your ads and analyze how different ad copies perform in search results.
 
- **Policy Compliance:** Verify that ads comply with Google Ads policies to prevent disapprovals and ensure continuous ad delivery.

By leveraging the Google Ads Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool, advertisers can effectively manage and optimize their ad campaigns, ensuring that ads are visible to their target audience and complying with Google's advertising policies and best practices.