How it works
How to use JunkTerms, step by step
No coding and no technical skills needed. Create a free account, connect your search terms one of two ways, then approve the junk. Below are pictures of exactly where to click.
- Step 1: Create a free accountJust your email. No card, no password: we email you a link to sign in.
- Step 2: Connect your data, one of two waysPaste our script into Google Ads (about 2 minutes, recommended), or upload a file you download from Google Ads.
- Step 3: Approve the junk searchesEach one comes with a plain reason. With the script, the ones you approve are added to Google Ads for you.
- Never touches bids, budgets or adsJunkTerms only adds negative keywords. Everything else stays as you set it.
- Preview firstThe script starts in preview mode. It only reads until you switch it on.
- You approve everythingNothing is added to Google Ads until you say yes to it.
Step 2: pick one way to connect
Every account gets one free analysis: run the script or upload a CSV (up to 1,000 terms).
Way A · Recommended · about 2 minutes
Paste our script into Google Ads
A Google Ads script is a small set of instructions that runs inside your own Google Ads account. Ours reads your search terms, sends them to JunkTerms for review, and adds only the negatives you approve. You can read the whole script before you paste it.
Step 1: Copy your script from JunkTerms
After you sign in, open Script and click Copy. Your script is ready-made for your account, so there is nothing to fill in.
JunkTermsScriptCopy
JunkTerms · Scriptvar JUNKTERMS_ENDPOINT = 'https://junkterms.vercel.app'; var JUNKTERMS_TOKEN = '2f3a••••••••7107'; var SHARED_LIST_NAME = 'JunkTerms'; // First install only reads and posts. Set this to false after a Preview run looks right. var JUNKTERMS_DRY_RUN = true; var ANALYSIS_INTERVAL_MS = 6 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; var SEARCH_TERM_LIMIT = 5000;
Simplified drawing of JunkTerms, with sample data. Step 2: Open Scripts in Google Ads
In Google Ads, click the Tools icon in the left menu, open Bulk actions, then click Scripts.
ToolsBulk actionsScripts
Google's help on scripts ↗Google Ads · Northside Dental (sample)- Create
- Campaigns
- Goals
- ToolsClick
- Billing
- Admin
- Planning
- Bulk actions ▾
- All bulk actions
- Rules
- ScriptsClick
- Uploads
- Shared library
Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 3: Add a new script and paste
Click the blue plus button. Name it JunkTerms, delete the few lines already in the box, and paste your script.
Scripts+Paste
Google Ads · ScriptsScripts+ClickNameJunkTermsvar JUNKTERMS_ENDPOINT = 'https://junkterms.vercel.app'; var JUNKTERMS_TOKEN = '2f3a••••••••7107'; var SHARED_LIST_NAME = 'JunkTerms'; // First install only reads and posts. Set this to false after a Preview run looks right. var JUNKTERMS_DRY_RUN = true;
Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 4: Authorize it once
Google asks for permission the first time. Click Authorize, pick your Google account, and allow access.
AuthorizeAllow
Google Ads · Scripts · JunkTermsThis script needs your permission to access your Google Ads data.AuthorizeClickChoose your Google accountsam@acmedental.comAllowClickSimplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 5: Click Preview, then Save
Preview reads your search terms and sends them to JunkTerms. It never changes anything in Google Ads. Your first report shows up in JunkTerms shortly after.
PreviewSave
Google Ads · Scripts · JunkTermsPreview1Save2RunLogsJunkTerms running for 123-456-7890 (DRY-RUN, no negatives will be written)
Reads only. Nothing changes in Google Ads.Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 6: Set it to run hourly
On the Scripts page, click the pencil in the Frequency column and choose Hourly. It sends a new report about once a week and adds what you approved within the hour.
ScriptsFrequencyHourly
Google Ads · ScriptsNameFrequencyStatusJunkTermsHourly ClickEnabled- Once
- Hourly
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 7: Switch it on when you are ready
The script starts in preview mode, so it only reads. When your first report looks right, change one word near the top, true to false, and click Save. From then on it adds the negatives you approve.
Google Ads · Scripts · JunkTermsNear the top of the scriptvar JUNKTERMS_DRY_RUN = true;
var JUNKTERMS_DRY_RUN = falseEdit;SaveClickSimplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot.
Then, every week
We email you when a new review is ready. Open it, approve the junk searches, and the script adds them to Google Ads on its next hourly run. The weekly check and the automatic adds come with a paid plan; your first analysis is free.
Way B · No script · one-off check
Upload a search terms file from Google Ads
Google Ads can save a list of the searches that showed your ads as a CSV file, a plain spreadsheet file. You download it, upload it to JunkTerms, and add the negatives to Google Ads yourself.
Step 1: Open your search terms report
In Google Ads, click Campaigns in the left menu, open Insights and reports, then click Search terms.
CampaignsInsights and reportsSearch terms
Google's help on the search terms report ↗Google Ads · Northside Dental (sample)- Create
- CampaignsClick
- Goals
- Tools
- Billing
- Admin
- Campaigns
- Insights and reports ▾
- Insights
- Search termsClick
- When and where ads showed
- Audiences, keywords and content
Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 2: Download it as a CSV file
Pick a date range at the top, such as the last 30 days. Click the Download icon above the table and choose .csv. The file lands in your Downloads folder.
Date rangeDownload.csv
Google Ads · Search termsLast 30 days ▾12- .csv3
- .xlsx
- Google Sheets
Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot. Step 3: Upload the file to JunkTerms
Sign in, open Upload, and drop the file in. You don't need to tidy it: the title rows Google adds above the table are fine.
JunkTermsUploadChoose file
JunkTerms · UploadDrop your search terms file hereCSVsearch-terms-report.csvClickThe AI reads up to 1,000 terms, highest spend first.Simplified drawing of JunkTerms, with sample data. Step 4: Review the list and copy it
Each likely junk search has a reason. Check the list, then click Copy all negatives.
ReviewCopy all negatives
JunkTerms · Your results (sample)- dental assistant jobs austinJob seekers, not patients
- dentist receptionist hiringHiring query
- dental hygienist salary texasSalary research
- castle dental near meAnother clinic brand
Copy all negativesClickSimplified drawing of JunkTerms, with sample data. Step 5: Paste the negatives into Google Ads
In Google Ads, click Campaigns, open Audiences, keywords and content, then Search keywords. Go to the Negative search keywords tab, click the plus button, paste one per line, and save.
CampaignsAudiences, keywords and contentSearch keywordsNegative search keywords+
Google's help on adding negative keywords ↗Google Ads · Search keywordsSearch keywordsNegative search keywords1+2One per linedental assistant jobs austin dentist receptionist hiring dental hygienist salary texas
Save3Simplified drawing, not a Google Ads screenshot.
Just want a quick look first?
The free sample analysis needs no signup. It uses basic rules, so it catches the common junk. A free account gets the full AI analysis.
Free sample analysis
No signup- Upload a search terms file, no account needed
- Checked with basic built-in rules
- See how much junk it found, then enter your email to see the full list
Free account
Full AI analysis- Reads your searches like a person would, with your business in mind
- Every account gets one free analysis: run the script or upload a CSV (up to 1,000 terms).
- With the script, approved negatives are added for you
Questions
- Do I need to be technical?
- No. The script is copy and paste. The only edit is changing one word, true to false, when you want it to start adding negatives.
- Which way should I pick?
- The script, if you can. It checks your searches every week and adds what you approve for you. The file is a one-off check: handy to try JunkTerms, but you add the negatives yourself.
- What is a CSV file?
- A plain spreadsheet file. Google Ads makes one for you when you download a report and choose .csv. You don't need to open or edit it.
- What is free, and what is paid?
- Every account gets one free analysis: run the script or upload a CSV (up to 1,000 terms). After that, the weekly check and the automatic adds are on a paid plan, from $19 a month, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Can I stop the script?
- Yes, at any time, from the Scripts page in Google Ads. Negatives it already added stay until you remove them.