How to Intercept Your Competitors' Traffic Using Google Ads (5 Minutes!)
🔥 Want to learn how to intercept your competitors' traffic using Google Ads and turn it into leads?
👉https://www.skool.com/theconversioncl
In this video, I show you how to intercept your competitors' traffic using Google Ads. I walk through a simple Google Ads strategy that uses a search ads campaign to target high-intent competitor keywords without wasting budget.
You will see how I set a small test budget, choose a target audience, and build a Google Ads campaign that spies on where competitors are bidding, then turns those clicks into conversions on a landing page. I also show you how to refine your ad copy, avoid trademark issues, and use competitive research tools like Google Ads Transparency Center and SEMrush to uncover what other ad campaigns are running in your space.
By the end, you will know how to run a clean Google Ads competitor campaign that slots into your wider paid ad and SEO setup.
⏩ Skip to Section
0:00 Welcome back to The Conversion Clinic
0:02 What “intercepting competitors’ traffic” means with Google Ads
0:07 Trademark caution and avoiding risky competitor ad copy
0:18 monday.com vs Asana example of competitor interception ads
0:35 Planning budget by pulling spend from existing campaigns
1:02 Starting a new campaign in Google Ads
1:08 Creating a new Search campaign for leads (website visits)
1:27 Naming the campaign (interception or competitor campaign)
1:54 Setting location targeting for local competitor traffic
2:26 Building your competitor ad group and choosing brand keywords
2:57 Adding competitor brand terms as phrase match keywords
3:33 Writing and pinning “switch” focused ad headlines
4:10 Finalising settings and publishing the campaign
4:43 Rules and tips: no dynamic keyword insertion on competitor campaigns
5:13 Wrap up and where to ask questions
📺More videos from The Conversion Clinic
How to Use Click Share in Google Ads (4 Ways to Tell If Competitors Are Beating You): • How to Use Click Share in Google Ads (4 Wa...
How I write high-converting Google Ads: • How To Write Google Ads Headlines — That S...
How to effectively run Google Search Ads: • Google Ads Crash Course 2023 — How to Setu...
📚 Related resources
How To See Competitors’ Google Ads in 3 Simple Steps: https://josiahroche.co/blog/how-to-se...
How To Target Competitors’ Audience On Google Ads (Step-by-Step): https://josiahroche.co/blog/how-to-ta...
5 Ways to Use Auction Insights in Google Ads to Crush Competitors: https://josiahroche.co/blog/5-ways-to...
SEO vs Google Ads — 7 Surprising Differences [2025]: https://josiahroche.co/blog/seo-vs-go...
❓FAQs
Q: What does intercepting competitors' traffic in Google Ads actually mean?
It means your Search ad shows when someone types a rival brand name, so you catch high intent traffic that is already close to buying.
Q: Is it OK to bid on competitors' brand keywords?
Often yes, but your ad text and landing page must clearly be about your business and avoid using their trademark in a misleading way.
Q: How much budget should I start with for a competitor interception campaign?
Start small by moving a bit of spend from existing Search campaigns. Only increase it when your cost per lead looks healthy.
Q: Which match types work best for competitor interception?
Phrase match is a solid starting point. Add exact match for your highest value competitor terms once you know what converts.
Q: Why should I avoid dynamic keyword insertion on these ads?
DKI can drop the competitor name into your headline, which can trigger trademark problems and disapprovals. Stick to manual headlines.
Q: Does this work for local service businesses too?
Yes, if you target people in or regularly in your service area and add negatives to cut out irrelevant searches.
📞 Need help getting your marketing off the ground? Book a call: https://josiahroche.co/book-meeting/
👍 Subscribe to The Conversion Clinic: / @theconversionclinic
🌐 Connect with me
☑ Website -- https://josiahroche.co/
☑ LinkedIn -- / josiahroche
☑ Instagram -- / josiahroche.co
☑ Podcast -- https://open.spotify.com/show/2S4f67H...
☑ TikTok -- / jrrmarketing
#GoogleAds #GoogleAdsCompetitorAnalysis #InterceptionCampaign