How to Stop Google Ads from Showing on Spammy Websites (And Save Your Budget)

"I never dreamed about success. I worked for it."- Estée Lauder

Are Your Google Ads Showing Up on Spammy Websites? Here’s What You Need to Know

Running Google Ads can be an incredible way to grow your business. It has the ability to reach over 90% of internet users worldwide, the platform offers unmatched potential to get your ads in front of your ideal audience.

But here’s something many business owners don’t realize: That kind of reach comes with a caveat.

Google can place your ads on a massive range of websites through its Display Network. That includes blogs, news sites, mobile apps, YouTube videos, and more. While this can be powerful, it can also lead to your ads showing up in places that are totally irrelevant—or even spammy.

And unfortunately, that’s a fast way to waste your ad budget.

How do I know?

Not long ago, I worked with a client who was feeling defeated. Their ads were live, their targeting looked solid, but their cost-per-click was high and conversions were non-existent.

So I took a deeper look.

One of the first areas I checked was the “Where ads showed” report inside their Google Ads account—a section that’s often overlooked. It lists all the websites, apps, and placements where your ads have appeared.

And what I found made everything clear.

Their ads were being shown on dozens of low-quality websites that had nothing to do with their industry, their ideal clients, or their brand values. In fact, some were obvious click farms or parked domains—designed to eat up ad dollars without delivering real traffic or engagement.

Why Is This Is Important?

When your ads show up in the wrong places, you're not just wasting money—you’re also losing visibility with the people who actually need what you offer.

And the frustrating part? Google doesn’t always filter these placements out automatically. That’s why it’s so important to manually review where your ads are being shown—especially if you're noticing a spike in cost-per-click or a drop in conversions.

So Here’s What You Can Do:

Here’s a step-by-step to protect your ad spend:

1. Check the "Where Ads Showed" Report
   In your Google Ads dashboard, go to your campaign > Insights and Reports > Where Ads Showed.
   
   

2. Look for Red Flags
   Are your ads showing on sites unrelated to your industry? Apps or games? Strange domain names? Those might be hurting performance.
   
   

3. Add Exclusions
   You can manually block specific websites or categories. (Bonus tip: exclude mobile apps if they’re not relevant to your audience.)
   
   

4. Set Content Exclusions
   In your campaign settings, limit sensitive or low-quality content placements.
   
   

If You Aren’t Sure How To Do This- Let’s Talk: 

Google Ads can absolutely work for your business—but sometimes, you just need someone who knows what to look for.

If you're running your ads yourself and aren’t sure what’s working, I’d love to support you.
Book a Google Ads audit or Let’s talk about what hands-on management could look like.

You're doing amazing work—and your marketing should reflect that. Let’s make sure your ads are working as hard as you are.