How do I run search-only ads?

The answer is yes, but you have to manually exclude all the malware sites they partner with. It's the single greatest drawback to using microsoft ads. Why they dont just have a simple option and checkboxes for each search provider is beyond me. Also, they dont publish all their partners so you cant possibly exclude them all... oh. i guess the answer is no, then.

excluding these will help:
microsoftcasualgames.com

ntp.msn.com

superapp.msn.com

windows.msn.com

zone.msn.com

note: Avoid the long winded 3 paragraph answers. that over complicate a simple question.

You can choose to run only search ads by selecting Search campaigns and using search ad types such as Responsive Search ads, Dynamic Search ads, Multimedia ads, Product ads, Vertical ads, and App Install ads. These ads appear with search results on sites like Microsoft Bing, AOL, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and other partners. However, search campaigns may also be extended to audience placements, and to opt out of Audience ads, it is recommended to use website exclusions. Complete exclusion from all audience placements is not guaranteed, but you can minimize display ad exposure by focusing on search ad types and using exclusions.

Our support teams are happy to discuss your account in more detail via phone, chat or email to provide review assistance, please see our support page to reach out! 

I hope the information provided here will at least partly answer your question.  If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support. I have also sent you a private message asking for further details. You are more than welcome to respond to me if you want to discuss things further.

Kind regards, 

Vahid | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689

So is it possible to run search ads only - yes or no?

Hello MVentures,

Thank you for using our Microsoft Advertising Learn Q&A Platform! 

I understand that you are only interested in search ads. I hope the response and resources provided here can be of use to you.

With Search ads, you can reach potential customers who are actively searching for your products and services. These ads can appear with search results on sites like Microsoft Bing, AOL, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, etc. Search campaigns may also be extended to audience placements to help you engage your ideal audience and achieve your advertising goals. This includes sites like MSN, Microsoft Start, Microsoft Edge, Outlook.com, and publisher partners based on our unique knowledge about your potential customers. Note: To opt out of Audience ads, we recommend using website exclusions.

The benefits of using Search ads

• Drive sales and maximize ad spend. Search ads are optimized to increase engagement with potential customers who are interested in your products and services. This helps ensure you maximize ROI (return on investment) and meet your performance goals.
• Reach customers who are ready to buy. Connect with customers who have shown a high intent to make purchases based on their web searches.
• Advertise across the entire Microsoft Advertising Network. All Search ads are eligible to appear across the entire Microsoft Advertising Network, so you don't miss out on any potential customers.

To run search ads only, you need to ensure that your ad campaigns are set up specifically for search ads. You can do this by selecting the appropriate campaign type when creating your ads. With Search campaigns, you create your ad groups and provide the keywords and assets (images and text) for your ads. We'll use them to deliver your ads at the right time using keyword matching, ensuring that your ads are optimally matched with potential customers' search queries. With Search campaigns, you create your ad groups and provide the keywords and assets (images and text) for your ads. We'll use them to deliver your ads at the right time using keyword matching, ensuring that your ads are optimally matched with potential customers' search queries.

Ad distribution options

You can choose to show your ads on the following:

• The entire Microsoft Advertising Network (recommended). This option includes:
  • Microsoft sites (Microsoft Bing, MSN, and Outlook.com).
    • Select partner traffic with ad performance and conversion rates similar to Microsoft Bing's. Learn more about Microsoft Bing Network traffic. Note: Because these sites are reported in aggregate, you cannot see individual reports for each domain.
      • Additional partner traffic (including Microsoft Bing and Yahoo search partners, such as Ask.com, Forbes, and others) for extended reach and lower cost per click. Learn more about Microsoft Bing Network traffic.
      Note: We recommend this option because it can extend your ad reach, drive conversions, and provide a lower cost per click. You can also see which syndicated partners extend your campaign's reach by running your Website URL (publisher) report (available on the Reports page). You can then use the Exclusions feature to exclude specific sites that you don't want your ads to run on. To learn more, see How to prevent your ads from showing to certain people.
• Microsoft sites and select traffic. This option includes:
• Microsoft sites (Bing, MSN, and Outlook.com).
  • Select partner traffic with ad performance and conversion rates similar to Microsoft Bing's. Learn more about Microsoft Bing Network traffic. Note: Because these sites are reported in aggregate, you cannot see individual reports for each domain.

Please see the following help pages for further details:

What are Search ads?

Ad distribution settings

Create a new ad group

Our support teams are happy to discuss your account in more detail via phone, chat or email to provide review assistance, please see our support page to reach out! 

I hope the information provided here will at least partly answer your question.  If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support. I have also sent you a private message asking for further details. You are more than welcome to respond to me if you want to discuss things further.

Kind regards, 

Vahid | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689 

To run search-only ads on Bing, you need to ensure that your ad campaigns are set up specifically for search ads. You can do this by selecting the appropriate campaign type when creating your ads. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Choose the Right Campaign Type: When setting up your campaign, select a campaign type that focuses on search ads. Avoid selecting options that include display ads.
2. Set Ad Group Type: Ensure that your ad group type is set to "SearchStandard". This setting will allow you to create ads that only appear in search results and not on display networks.
3. Use Keywords: Focus on using relevant keywords that will trigger your ads to appear in search results. This will help ensure that your ads are shown only when users are searching for terms related to your business.
4. Review Settings: Double-check your campaign settings to ensure that no display options are enabled. You can manage this within the campaign settings in your Microsoft Advertising account.

By following these steps, you can effectively run search-only ads on Bing without including display ads in your campaign.