5 One-Click Google Ads Segments to Save Your Budget

Managing ad spend efficiently is one of the biggest challenges in any Google Ads campaign. Whether you’re working with a limited budget or running multiple campaigns at scale, refining your data into actionable segments is essential to avoid wasted spend. Thankfully, Google Ads provides a range of prebuilt and customizable segments that allow advertisers to quickly analyze performance and make fast adjustments.

In this guide, we explore 5 one-click Google Ads segments to save your budget by helping you quickly identify underperforming areas, spot optimization opportunities, and ensure every dollar spent delivers value.

Why Google Ads Segments Matter in Budget Control

Segmentation in Google Ads allows you to break down your data by specific dimensions like device, time of day, conversion type, or network. Instead of evaluating your ad campaigns in broad strokes, you get precise performance insights.

Without segmentation, you're likely to make decisions based on averaged data—leading to misinformed budget allocation. By leveraging built-in one-click segments, you can:

• Identify non-performing clicks or impressions

• Adjust bids or pause wasteful ad groups

• Improve campaign efficiency

• Align spending with profitable audience behavior

Now, let’s walk through the 5 one-click Google Ads segments that can immediately help you reduce budget waste and enhance ROI.

1. Device Segment – Spot Performance Differences Across Platforms

Why It Matters

Not every device performs equally for every business. Desktop, mobile, and tablet users often behave differently. Some may convert more frequently, while others generate high click costs with little return.

How to Use It

From your campaign or ad group view, click the “Segment” drop-down and choose “Device.” This instantly breaks down metrics by desktop, mobile, and tablet.

Look for patterns like:

• High CTR but low conversions on mobile

• Strong conversion rates on desktop

• Tablet traffic that’s burning budget but offering little return

Once you spot these trends, adjust your device bid modifiers accordingly. You can also exclude poorly performing devices altogether if they’re consistently inefficient.

Budget-Saving Outcome

Eliminating or reducing spend on underperforming devices ensures your ads appear where they’re most effective—helping you save money while improving overall performance.

2. Time Segment – Understand When to Show Ads

Why It Matters

Google Ads allows you to run campaigns 24/7, but not all hours are equally valuable. Showing ads during times when your audience isn’t engaged—or can’t convert—leads to waste.

How to Use It

Use the “Time” segment to break down campaign data by hour of day or day of week. Access this by choosing “Segment > Time.” Review conversion and cost-per-conversion metrics.

Common issues to watch for include:

• Ads running overnight with zero conversions

• Weekends consuming budget without performance

• Specific days where costs spike unexpectedly

Budget-Saving Outcome

Adjust your ad schedule to pause or reduce bidding during unprofitable times. This strategy redirects budget to hours or days with proven return, significantly lowering waste.

3. Network Segment – Separate Search from Display

Why It Matters

Campaigns set to appear on both the Google Search Network and Display Network often experience mixed results. Display ads can drive large volumes of impressions and clicks but are generally less targeted than Search ads.

How to Use It

From the Segment menu, choose “Network (with search partners).” This reveals how your ads perform across:

• Google Search

• Search Partners

• Display Network

You may discover your display placements are generating many clicks but very few conversions. Likewise, Search Partner traffic might inflate costs without reliable leads.

Budget-Saving Outcome

If non-Google networks are underperforming, consider running separate campaigns for each or disable them in settings. Keeping networks segmented allows better control and optimization of spend.

4. Conversion Segment – Qualify Leads by Type

Why It Matters

Not all conversions are equal. You might be tracking phone calls, contact form submissions, newsletter sign-ups, or purchases—but which one truly drives revenue?

How to Use It

Click “Segment > Conversions > Conversion action.” This splits your data by each type of conversion being tracked.

From here, you can:

• Determine which actions cost more per conversion

• Identify low-value conversions that inflate your numbers

• Allocate budget toward conversions that lead to real outcomes

For example, if phone calls convert into customers at a much higher rate than form fills, you may prioritize campaigns designed around click-to-call functionality.

Budget-Saving Outcome

Focusing spend on campaigns that deliver high-value actions helps ensure your budget contributes to meaningful business outcomes—not vanity metrics.

5. Search Terms Segment – Cut Unqualified Clicks

Why It Matters

Google Ads’ broad match and phrase match settings often attract irrelevant search traffic. If you don’t monitor search terms closely, you may be paying for clicks that have no intent to buy.

How to Use It

Navigate to the Search Terms Report and review the actual phrases users typed before clicking your ad. Filter by cost, CTR, or conversions to find problematic terms.

Look for terms that:

• Are unrelated to your product or service

• Have high spend and no conversions

• Attract accidental or informational clicks

Add these phrases as negative keywords to prevent future waste.

Budget-Saving Outcome

By refining your keyword strategy and eliminating mismatched intent, you prevent budget from going to irrelevant queries—while boosting the efficiency of your remaining spend.

How to Combine Segments for Even Deeper Insights

While each of the above one-click Google Ads segments is valuable on its own, they can be layered for deeper insight.

For example, you could:

• Segment by Device + Time of Day to find if mobile performs poorly during specific hours

• Combine Conversion Action + Network to see which platforms generate quality leads

• Review Search Terms + Conversions to identify hidden high-performing keywords

These multi-layered insights allow you to make smarter decisions and refine campaigns based on real performance—not assumptions.

Final Thoughts – Turn Segments into Strategy

Using segments isn’t just about analysis—it’s about turning data into action. The one-click segments outlined here give you immediate visibility into performance gaps and areas of budget leakage.

To recap, the 5 one-click Google Ads segments to save your budget are:

1. Device

2. Time

3. Network

4. Conversion Action

5. Search Terms

By making strategic changes based on these insights, you can stretch your budget further, improve your return on ad spend (ROAS), and ensure your campaigns operate efficiently.

Whether you're a small business owner or managing large-scale ad campaigns, taking a segmented approach to your Google Ads data helps you spend smarter—not more.