Free Google Ads Keyword Research & Campaign Templates for 2026

Building Google Ads campaigns from scratch takes time — but it shouldn't take as long as most PPC managers spend on it. The right templates eliminate repetitive setup work and enforce best practices from the start.

We've created three free, ready-to-use templates that work with Google Keyword Planner, Google Ads Editor, and Keyword Architect. Download them below and save hours on your next campaign build.

Template 1: Google Keyword Planner CSV Template

This template mirrors the exact format Google Keyword Planner uses for exports. Use it to organize your keyword research before uploading to Keyword Architect for AI clustering.

Columns included:

• Keyword
• Avg. monthly searches
• Competition
• Top of page bid (low range)
• Top of page bid (high range)

The template comes pre-filled with sample data from a running shoes campaign so you can see the expected format. Replace the sample data with your own keywords.

📥 Download Google Keyword Planner CSV Template

Template 2: Campaign Structure Template

Already have your keywords organized? This template provides the campaign → ad group → keyword → match type hierarchy that Google Ads Editor expects. Perfect for building or auditing campaign structures.

Columns included:

• Campaign name
• Ad Group name
• Keyword
• Match Type (Exact, Phrase, Broad)
• Max CPC bid

The sample data demonstrates proper naming conventions, match type mixing, and bid tiering. Use it as a reference for how well-structured campaigns should look.

📥 Download Campaign Structure Template

Template 3: Starter Negative Keywords Library

Negative keywords are the most overlooked element of campaign setup. Without them, you'll pay for irrelevant clicks from people searching for free resources, jobs, tutorials, and other non-converting queries.

Our starter library includes 25+ universal negative keywords organized into categories:

• Budget filters — "free", "cheap"
• Intent filters — "diy", "how to", "what is", "review"
• Platform filters — "reddit", "youtube", "ebay", "craigslist"
• Condition filters — "used", "second hand", "refurbished"
• Career filters — "job", "jobs", "career", "salary", "intern"
• Education filters — "training", "course", "tutorial", "certification"
• Format filters — "pdf", "download", "torrent"

Add these to every new campaign as a starting point, then supplement with industry-specific negatives based on your search term reports.

📥 Download Starter Negative Keywords Library

How to Use These Templates with Keyword Architect

1. Start with Template 1 — Fill in your keyword research data in the GKP CSV format
2. Upload to Keyword Architect — The tool auto-detects all columns and imports your keywords
3. Build Structure — AI clusters your keywords into intent-based campaigns and ad groups
4. Export — The output follows the same format as Template 2, ready for Google Ads Editor
5. Add negatives — Import Template 3 as your starting negative keyword list

Template Best Practices

Naming Conventions

Use clear, consistent naming for campaigns and ad groups:

• Campaign: [Product/Service] - [Intent/Theme] — e.g., "Running Shoes - Brand"
• Ad Group: [Specific Theme] — e.g., "Nike Running"

Match Type Strategy

Don't use a single match type for everything. Mix them based on intent:

• Exact match for high-value, high-intent keywords where precision matters
• Phrase match for medium-intent keywords where some variation is acceptable
• Broad match only in dedicated discovery campaigns with tight negatives

Bid Strategy

Set initial bids based on the keyword's "Top of page bid" from Google Keyword Planner. Start at the low range and increase if needed for impression share.

Beyond Templates: Automate the Entire Workflow

Templates save time on formatting. But Keyword Architect automates the entire workflow — from raw keyword list to launch-ready campaigns with AI-generated ad groups, match types, negatives, ad copy, and budget estimates.

Try it free with 250 keywords or upgrade to Premium for unlimited access.