Are you allowed to have 2 ads with the same exact keywords? Both ads go to different sites both owned by me. I need to know this Thanks Adwords Noob Here, -Ryan
If you mean can you have 2 ads showing for the same keyword, from the same account, then the answer is no.
Actually you can have 2 ads showing for the same keywords on the same account. They key is that you must restrict them so that the you never have 2 ads showing at the same time on the same account. I've done this in the past by having one set of campaigns in a given country, say canada, and another campaign restricted to usa. By using the geographic restrictions, you stay within the ToS, again making sure that you never have 2 ads showing at the same time. Even if you set up a 2nd account, unless you make use of some method to assure that both ads never display simultaneous, you risk a slapping by Google. Make sure that 2nd account is in no way, shape, or form, related to your other account!
But this isn't 2 ads being shown at the same time, which I understand what OP is asking about. You are having an ad shown for [widgets] in Canada and [widgets] shown in USA. This means they won't both show at the same time. So going back to what I say, no you can't have 2 ads showing for the same keyword (as in, the user searches for widgets and sees your ad in say, 1st AND 3rd. This cannot happen in the same account. If he started a 2nd account and as he says, used 2 different domains, then he may get away with it if he used a different card as this will mean a different website and different payment details.
If you just have separate campaigns or adgroups and there are duplicate keywords, google will allow both groups to run, but will only serve one of your ads at a time. So if you do it on accident or on purpose, you will still not get two of your ads to show which is what you are probably hoping for. But it could be useful for comparing different adgroups landing on different domains. You don't need to be paranoid about avoiding duplicate keywords in your account, but there is not going to be a big advantage to having duplicates. If you have a separate account running the same keywords is against TOS. If you want to do this you need to be careful to have everything be separate. Ideally own the other account in someone else's name and use different domains, address, billing, computer, etc. They are supposedly not sensitive to IP, but to be safe I'd change it up if you have a dynamic IP. You can get away with double serving in a My Client Center (MCC) account but it's against TOS if it's double serving for yourself. The idea is that you have two clients in the same industry and both of 'them' are using the same keyword.
Yes, but I wouldn't advise bidding on the same keyword from both accounts. I've spoke with Google in the past and they say, because there is a limit of 25(?) campaigns per account, you need to open another when you are up to your limit. A long winded way, I know, but that's how it currently is. Really, there shouldn't be a limit to how many campaigns you can have. I very much doubt Google are scratting for server space, what with all their billions.
If you have two adwords accounts and are double serving on keywords you may be banned. If you want to do this, it should be in MCC and you should not be promoting the same sites. (each adwords account should be promoting different websites. Also, if you have adsense on the destination sites, do not promote sites within the same adsense account with more than one adwords account.