Ad Platform Guide
Performance Max ZIP code targeting
Exclusion lists are the only reliable geo lever in PMax.
ZIP targeting
Native
Import format
Same ZIP paste flow as standard Google Ads campaigns.
Practical limit
Effectively unlimited exclusions, but 10,000 total location targets per campaign.
Where to find it in the UI
Campaign → Settings → Locations → Excluded locations
Step-by-step: ZipFencer → Performance Max
- 1
Export your serviceable ZIP list from ZipFencer.
- 2
Export a second 'exclusion ring' (e.g. 50–200 mile donut) for the area you explicitly do NOT serve.
- 3
In Performance Max → Settings → Locations, add the inclusion list.
- 4
Open Excluded locations and paste the exclusion ring.
- 5
Re-check weekly — PMax expands targets if you don't keep the exclusion fresh.
Gotchas to avoid
- PMax ignores ZIP includes from your asset group — only campaign-level location settings carry weight.
- Google constantly tests fringe locations. Without exclusions, PMax will spend on adjacent ZIPs.
- Inclusion-only setups underperform: pair an inclusion list with a 'rest of country' exclusion for tight geo control.
Frequently asked questions
Other platforms
Build your Performance Max ZIP list in 60 seconds
Drop a pin, pick a radius, and export a CSV that drops right into Performance Max.
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