Key Takeaways

  • The top 10 most expensive Google Ads keywords include industries like insurance, loans, mortgages, legal services, and education.

  • High CPC keywords share a common factor: they target searches with urgent intent and high conversion value.

  • Factors influencing high CPC keywords include profit margins, urgency, location, and competition.

  • Google Ads can generate significant revenue, with CPC for top keywords exceeding $50, making it a lucrative platform for advertisers.

Alphabet, the company behind Google, generated almost $240 billion in ad revenue in 2023, with online ads responsible for 77% of their revenue. 

When we try to imagine the most expensive keywords on Google ads, we typically think of legal and medical terms. However, according to a new report issued by Wordstream, the top 10 most costly CPC keywords include keyword sets for insurance, loans, and mortgages. 

Google isn’t always transparent about its algorithms, and marketers must thoroughly understand how Google’s auction works to master strategic initiatives to achieve returns despite the risky nature of ranking for the highest-cost PPC keywords.

Below is a list of the most expensive keyword groups regarding their estimated overall revenue. This was calculated by looking at the 1,000 most costly keywords and categorizing them by core intent and how frequently keywords or keyword strings associated with an industry appeared in that list:

Top 10 Most Expensive PPC Keywords

  1. Insurance – $54.91 CPC
  2. Loans – $44.28 CPC
  3. Mortgage – $47.12 CPC
  4. Attorney – $47.07 CPC
  5. Credit – $36.06 CPC
  6. Lawyer – $42.51 CPC
  7. Donate – $42.02 CPC
  8. Degree – $40.61 CPC
  9. Hosting – $31.91 CPC
  10. Claim – $45.51 CPC
10 Most Expensive PPC Keywords

It’s important to note that the top-paid keywords mostly relate to the legal or financial industry—where companies deal with large sums of money. The fact that education is also among the top PPC keywords reminds us of the rising cost of education.

What Does This Mean?

So, what is the common factor in this list of the most expensive Google keywords? Most of these search terms are related to searches with urgent intent and a high value per conversion. 

When browsers need a service filled immediately, companies can pay a higher price and are willing to bid higher on Google Ads. Businesses with lower capital should recognize the differences between SEO and PPC keywords and their proper utilizations.

Why Are Some Keywords So Expensive?

The short answer is that competition is increasing yearly and marketers allocate a higher budget to their online marketing efforts. 

Other factors impact the Cost Per Click (CPC):

  • Profit margins: Some industries just have higher profit margins, and can afford to spend more on ads. This is especially true in the legal industry, where law firms might spend a lot of money per click but quickly make up for it if they settle a lawsuit.

  • Urgency: Some advertisers, like loan companies, may spend more on ads that promote ‘short-term loans’. If they can convert these leads quickly their cash flow can pay for more ad spend.

  • Location: Remember that the cost of high CPC keywords can vary depending on location. For example, a PPC campaign in major cities like Los Angeles or New York will likely be more expensive than targeting a smaller town or rural area, as the competition is higher.

Google Ads pricing depends on a few factors, like industry, market trends, keywords, and your quality score. Google can make over $50 per click from the top PPC keywords, so it’s a highly lucrative business. 

Should I Use Google Ads?

Google Search Dark Mode on a Mobile Device

If you are in a competitive industry and paying high prices for the top-paid keywords, you want to ensure you follow best practices.

  • Quality score: Make sure you have a high Google Ads Quality Score. It may lower your CPC and you will pay less for the top PPC keywords. Create targeted ads for specific keyword segments instead of focusing on large keyword lists.

     

  • Targeted keywords: Be specific with the keywords you want to target. Use Google Ads Keyword Planner to get great keyword ideas and include long tail keywords.

     

  • Optimized landing pages: A landing page optimized for conversions can bring down your PPC advertising costs and directly improve your Return On Investment (ROI).

Let’s Help You Optimize Your PPC Keyword Strategy

If you are marketing in a saturated industry with high-ticket products or services and need help with your PPC strategy, we can help. Fahrenheit Marketing has a wealth of expertise in marketing legal offices, financial institutions, and eCommerce businesses.

Want to chat? Schedule a consultation today, and let us revitalize your PPC strategy.