A competitor advertises on your brand name
BrandGuardUpdated
Record the ad before deciding how to respond. Separate an ordinary competing offer from misleading copy, a partner-policy issue or an ad worth testing against.
On this page
Capture the evidence
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Query, location, device and time | Defines the search you observed. |
| Ad text and position | Shows what appeared and whether it was above organic results. |
| Display and destination domains | Helps identify the advertiser; not proof of a commercial relationship. |
| Your organic position | Shows the unpaid alternative at that check. |
Query, location, device and time
- Why it matters
- Defines the search you observed.
Ad text and position
- Why it matters
- Shows what appeared and whether it was above organic results.
Display and destination domains
- Why it matters
- Helps identify the advertiser; not proof of a commercial relationship.
Your organic position
- Why it matters
- Shows the unpaid alternative at that check.
Use an ad preview or recorded search result. Do not repeatedly click a live ad to inspect it. A private browsing window is still one search context, not a representative view of all customers.
Choose a response
| What you find | Next step |
|---|---|
| Another business offers an alternative | Compare the cost and conversion effect of retaining your brand ads. |
| Possible trademark misuse | Review the wording, destination and applicable policy before reporting. |
| Possible affiliate or reseller | Confirm the relationship against your partner records. |
| No further appearances | Continue checks at the relevant times and locations; one absence is not proof of withdrawal. |
Another business offers an alternative
- Next step
- Compare the cost and conversion effect of retaining your brand ads.
Possible trademark misuse
- Next step
- Review the wording, destination and applicable policy before reporting.
Possible affiliate or reseller
- Next step
- Confirm the relationship against your partner records.
No further appearances
- Next step
- Continue checks at the relevant times and locations; one absence is not proof of withdrawal.
Measure the commercial effect
Compare total paid and organic conversions, revenue and margin—not just the paid campaign’s attributed return. BrandGuard records configured search checks and can control your chosen brand-term exclusions. It cannot force another advertiser to stop bidding.