According to Google Adwords, Automatic matching is:

"Automatic matching is an optional feature that helps your ads reach targeted traffic missed by your keyword lists. It works by analyzing the content of the landing pages, ads, and keywords in your ad group and shows your ads on search queries relevant to this information.

The automatic matching system continually monitors your ad performance and aims to show your ads only on queries that yield a comparable or better cost-per-click (CPC) than that of your current traffic. Automatic matching will only use your unspent budget and will never deliver more traffic than your budget allows for."

What this means to you is that you are giving away control over what keywords you bid on.  To me, it's like offering Google a blank check saying - spend my entire budget - regardless of whether or not I want to bid on your suggested keywords.

The SCARY Part is that they turned it on to my Adwords account AUTOMATICALLY.  They didn't send me an email or let me know that my ad spending might be changed.  They just turned it on.  So, do yourself a favor, check your adwords accounts now.

You need to check your Campaign Settings: 

The purple link below that says "Edit campaign settings" is the one you need to click to get into your campaign settings:

Then, check to see if the Automatic Matching checkbox is checked like it is below.  If it is, make a decision if you want Google to have permission to max out your budget on keywords THEY feel are appropriate.   Me, I removed the check mark and saved my campaign settings.  Make sure you do too.

I don't want to tell you how to spend your money.  If you want to test it out, be very careful and check your budget often.  For me, it just doesn't make sense to give away that much power to someone spending MY money.  Just wanted to warn you - just in case you haven't heard about this yet.

Take care and let me know your thoughts about this here.  Did Google turn this on YOUR accounts?

Talk soon.

Dan Buglio