Google Ads news

Welcome to the Google Ads newsletter.

In this newsletter, you read all the news about Google Ads from October.

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In this newsletter, I will dive deeper into the news items & share all the give-aways.

You will receive at least 4 newsletters every month with a deep dive. Join here.

Big update to the Google Ads Playbook!

This month, I have rolled out a new update with new scripts and e-books added to the playbook. These new resources are now available, and they’ve been uploaded for you to explore.

Don’t miss out—check it out here!

Create Pmax in search results recommendation

Yazid Benhlal discovered this new create a pmax get started recommendation from Google Ads in the search results.

Roll out Asset coverage reporting

Hana Kobzová posted that asset coverage reporting for Pmax started rolling out.

Ads Creative Studio

Aleksejus Podpruginas posted that Google has announced that Ads Creative Studio will be deprecated in Q1 2025 due to low adoption.

Google’s Reach Planner has introduced Efficient Reach!

This feature allows users to forecast the performance of an automated mix of video ad formats across YouTube. Found by Hana Kobzová.

LSA test without head photos

Anthony Higman discovered that LSA ads are now testing without personal/head photos!

Misconfigured deep links recommendation

Google now surfaces a recommendation to fix misconfigured deep links in your app if you have an app data stream, and your app has misconfigured App Links or Universal Links (i.e., the links are not successfully directing mobile users to the mobile app when they have the app installed).

To view the list of missing or misconfigured deep links and associated data, click the Download button and then open the CSV file.

To implement or fix deep links, work with your development team and refer to Android and iOS documentation as needed.

Elevate product photography with AI

Christoph Scherf posted that Google has a new open-source sulotion called BackgroundR built on GCP. Powered by the latest Imagen models, it can generate stunning backgrounds from text prompts or replace existing ones to highlight your products.

For more information check this link.

Shareable previews are now available for retail and travel goals!

Get Started AI Card

Thomas Eccel discovered that google has launched this get started Summary Card! Of course you can view your optimization score haha.

Certainity of lift

Thomas Eccel discovered this new metric called the certainity of lift. With this Metric Google is showing the likelihood that the uplift is generated by your campaigns and not due to luck.

Automatically link Merchant Center

From this week Google can automatically link your Merchant Center account. Keep an eye on your account.

Shipping method Merchant Center

Hana Kobzová discovered that you can now set and update shipping method names in Google Merchant Center Next!

September 2024 Market Index Report from ProfitMetrics.io

The latest market report compares key e-commerce metrics from September 2024 to September 2023, focusing on revenue, orders, ad spend, POAS, ROAS, and gross profit.

Key Insights:

Revenue: Increased by 14.9% YoY and 3.6% from last month, reflecting market growth.Gross Profit: Up 17.1% YoY and 6.1% from August 2024, showing greater efficiency and profitability.

Orders: Grown by 13.3% YoY and 2% from August 2024, indicating stable demand.

Ad Spend: Increased by 12.4% YoY, with POAS rising 4.1%.ROAS: Improved by 1.6% from last month and 1.9% YoY, demonstrating better advertising efficiency.

POAS: Reached an all-time high of 3x ad spend, generating 3 DKK in profit for every 1 DKK invested.

Overall, the e-commerce sector remains strong, with consistent growth in revenue and profitability, although comparisons are influenced by a weaker September 2023.

Microsoft Ads Consent Mode

30 July Microsoft announced that its consent mode becomes a requirement.

Now Usercentrics has released that they fully support Consent Mode for Microsoft Universal tracking!Support is activated by default and you do not have to activate anything manually.

Google Launched AI Overview Ads

Google has announced the launch of AI Overview Ads, which will now be shown to mobile users in the U.S.

These sponsored ads appear directly beneath AI-generated answers in the AI Overview, particularly for queries with a commercial angle.

The format resembles typical Shopping ads, and no additional action is required from advertisers using existing campaigns like Search, Shopping, or Performance Max.

However, Google will not provide segmented reporting on these ads, making it difficult for advertisers to gauge their effectiveness.

Shopping for lens

Google Lens will launch Shopping Ads this year, these ads will appear along with the Google Lens visual search results, which are also getting a new design.

Slide show test Google Ads

Khushal Bherwani & Barry Schwartz discovered this new slideshow test from Google Ads!

Think Lead Gen on Air

Think Lead Gen on Air is being held in 3 days, register here.

New export limits GA4

GA4 has increased the data export limits in Google Analytics to give you greater flexibility with your data.

With this update, you can now export up to:10,000,000 cells in TSV and CSV exports for unsampled explorations 100,000 rows of data when downloading reports as a CSV or Google Sheets

New YouTube updates

YouTube has announced several updates to YouTube Shorts, aimed at enhancing both creation and engagement for Shorts creators and viewers.

A summary of the key updates, which are set to roll out starting October 15, 2024:1. Longer Shorts: Up to 3 MinutesCreators can now upload Shorts up to 3 minutes long, allowing for more in-depth storytelling. This was a highly requested feature, and it applies to square or vertical videos. Shorts uploaded before October 15 will remain unaffected.

2. Improved Shorts PlayerThe Shorts player has been streamlined, placing more focus on creators’ content. It improves viewer engagement by making the content the main focal point.

3. New Templates for RemixingCreators can easily recreate popular Shorts with templates. By tapping “Remix” on a Short, users can select "Use this template" to customize their own version, using matching sounds and trends.

4. Remixing from All of YouTubeIn the coming months, creators will be able to remix content from across YouTube directly in their Shorts. This will include clips from regular videos, music videos, and more, even allowing users to combine multiple clips.

5. Integration with Google DeepMind’s VeoLater this year, Shorts creators will have access to Google DeepMind's Veo, enabling them to add advanced video backgrounds and unique, AI-generated clips to their Shorts.

6. Shorts Trends PageA new Shorts trends page is being introduced on mobile. It will allow users to discover and engage with trending Shorts in their region and stay up-to-date with what’s popular.

7. Comments Preview in the Shorts FeedUsers will soon be able to preview comments directly from the Shorts feed before diving into the comments section, giving viewers a quick glance at what people are saying.

8. Feed Customization: “Show Fewer Shorts”Viewers will have the option to show fewer Shorts in their Home feed. By selecting this option from the three-dot menu on any Shorts grid, users can temporarily reduce the number of Shorts shown in their feed.

These updates aim to give creators more creative flexibility and help fans discover and engage more effectively with Shorts content.

New Google search features

Google Unveils New AI-Powered Search Features, Enhancing How We Explore the WebGoogle has unveilied a series of updates powered by artificial intelligence.

From video and voice search to enhanced shopping capabilities, these new features are designed to provide users with faster, more versatile ways to discover information and explore the world around them.One of the most significant advancements is the integration of AI into Google Lens.

Users can now record videos, ask questions out loud, and receive instant AI-driven insights. For example, while visiting an aquarium, you can record fish swimming and ask, "Why are they swimming together?" AI will provide an overview along with helpful links.

This feature is available globally for Search Labs users on Android and iOS.In addition, Google Lens now supports voice input, enabling users to snap a photo and ask questions with their voice.It also offers an upgraded shopping experience, identifying products and providing detailed information like price comparisons and reviews — all through the power of AI.Another exciting development is the ability to instantly identify songs across various platforms, such as videos and websites, with the new "Circle to Search" feature.

Now available on over 150 million Android devices, this tool eliminates the need to switch apps to find that catchy tune you just heard.For those seeking broader search results, Google is also rolling out AI-organized search pages in the U.S., beginning with recipes.

This feature organizes content in a more intuitive and visually appealing way, pulling from articles, videos, and forums to deliver a richer, more diverse exploration experience.

These updates mark Google’s continued focus on expanding search capabilities beyond text input, making it easier to search using images, audio, and video.

Google Ads API v18

In the upcoming release of the Google Ads API, v18, a new resource called performance_max_placement_view will be introduced to query placement impression data for Performance Max campaigns. In a future release, the detail_placement_view will stop returning impression data for Performance Max campaigns.

Once the performance_max_placement_view is available, it should be used for Performance Max campaigns instead of the detail_placement_view.

New process for client transfers

Georgi Zayakov sent me that Google has a new process for client transfers!With this change, advertisers can now initiate this change directly within the Google Ads manager account themselves, without needing to reach out to the support team.

Opt-in video partners

Thomas Eccel discovered that Google will not automatically opt-in to video partners.

VRC goes away

Aleksejus Podpruginas posted that mid-October, the VRC 1.0 Checkbox will no longer be available in Google Ads and DV360. Advertisers won’t have the option to switch back to VRC 1.0 when setting up new campaigns.

But no need to worry! You’ll still be able to create In-Stream-only campaigns, such as Bumper only, Skip only, or a mix of both, by utilizing the campaign-level opt-in/opt-out settings.

New save segments GA4

Matteo Zambon discovered that you can now create and save segments directly within your GA4 property. He noticed that this feature is in a newly created property, so it might be a slow rollout.

Show Ads before reviews

Anthony Higman discovered that Google shows Ads after clicking on a GBP result even before the reviews 😂 .

Individual traffic report

Hana Kobzová posted that Google Merchant Center Next now provides individual traffic reports for each product.

You can view clicks, impressions, and CTR data for every product.

How to access it:

- Go to Products.

- Click on All Products.

- Select the product you want.

- Open the Traffic tab.

New sponsored label test

Brodie Clark & Gagan Ghotra posted that Google is testing with this new Sponsored label test.

New AI video generation rollout

Georgi Zayakov discovered that Google is rolling out AI Video Generation in Product Studio for US users.

Text assets = Customization

Thomas Eccel discovered that Text Asset is now called customization!

PPC Trends 2025

PPC trends 2025 is out now! Go check it on Search Engine Journal.

New Google Ads design test

Yazid Benhlal discovered this new white back ground in his Ads account. Looks like a new design test!

Google Support?

Natasha Kaurra discovered that Google Support is back but it now looks like they have more front desk workers that are answering the chat.

New GA4 page

Brais Calvo Vázquez discovered that GA4 is bringing back a taste of the classic Universal Analytics experience with this new real-time report!

The ability to see page-level traffic in real time, complete with Active Users and Views metrics, is a great addition for those who missed this functionality from Universal Analytics.

While it doesn’t allow for comparisons or additional metrics, it provides an immediate snapshot of user activity, which can be incredibly valuable for monitoring site performance, spotting trends, or reacting to live.

Daily token upgrade

Brais Calvo Vázquez discovered that Google has increased the daily token limit for unsampled scans on GA4 360 properties from 300 to 20,000 tokens.

New website verification process

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google Merchant Center (GMC) Next has simplified its website verification process with new methods.

In GMC Next, two new verification methods have been introduced:Email Code: Receive a code via your business email, ideal for non-technical users, with quick delivery for speedy verification.

E-commerce Platform Guides: Platform-specific, step-by-step guides help users navigate verification. This method supports eight platforms and includes a universal guide for others.

Financial policy update

Starting November 7, 2024, Google will enforce updated verification requirements for financial services advertisers in Ireland, New Zealand, South Korea, and Thailand. Advertisers must complete verification through Google’s compliance partner, G2, to continue running ads.

Agencies managing campaigns must also verify. Advertisers who don’t comply by the deadline won’t be able to display ads in these locations.

Categories affected include banking, credit, loans, investment, and insurance. Verification can begin with G2 on October 8, 2024. Visit Google’s Help Center for details.

New PMax experiment

Thom Langeveld just texted me that he now had access to the PMax experiment where he can test automatically assets!

Copy paste demand gen tool

Thomas Eccel discovered that the video action to demand gen copy paste upgrade tool is now live!

Required Google Business Profile for LSA

Google will require a Google Business Profile for Local Service Ads from Nov 21. This was spotted by Ben Fisher & Barry Schwartz.

New data retention policy

Georgi Zayakov just texted me that Google now has a new data retention policy for Google Ads. Historical data will now be retained for a period of 11 years.

Pmax Asset generation

Felix Mayo just discovered that you can now provide pages to improve the pmax asset generation!

Video examples

Thomas Eccel discovered that Google Ads added now also shows examples of how vertical and shorter videos will look!

GA4 & GTM - Label Diagnostic Tool

Brais Calvo Vázquez discovered that Google has added new functionalities to the label diagnostic tool

New Notices:

- Tag located too far down the page.

- No data has been received in the last 48 hours.

- No recent data.

Cloudflare GTM

Google has added a new option to deploy the Google tag in First-party mode through Cloudflare.

Looker Studio update

Looker studio has added a lot of new Cart conversions to the New Search Ads 360 connector.

New Ad Format test

Khushal Bherwani discovered that Google is testing with this new format!

New Google Ads section test

Khushal Bherwani found out that Google is now testing card ads with round logos!

Engaged audiences

Patrick Gehn & 🛰️ Yoann Ferrand discovered that Google is now showing a new audience called Google Engaged Audiences!

Google update

Aleksejus Podpruginas just announced that Google is including remarking in Shorts!

New penalties

Starting in November 2024, Google will introduce stricter penalties for third parties enabling significant or sustained policy violations.

These penalties include the loss of privileges, removal from programs like Google Partners, and account suspension.

The goal is to safeguard the integrity of Google’s advertising ecosystem by discouraging non-compliance among third-party ad tech providers and app developers.

Violators will face immediate and permanent bans from Google Ads, with no prior warning. The policy also targets apps involved in incentivizing ad clicks or similar activities, particularly in AdMob and AdSense.

This move underscores Google’s commitment to combating invalid ad practices and ensuring a trustworthy ad environment. Third parties must prioritize compliance to avoid severe repercussions.

Energy class update

Google Merchant Center Update: Emmanuel Flossie just posted that Google created new guidelines emphasize the requirement for energy efficiency labels on certain product groups in the EU, EFTA, or UK.

New shopping experience Google Ads

Google has revamped its Shopping platform using AI to enhance user experience, offering a more personalized and streamlined way to shop.

Now, over a billion daily users can access features like virtual try-ons, product searches through Google Lens, and AI-driven research tools.

The new Google Shopping, rolling out in the U.S., integrates 45 billion product listings with Gemini models to provide a customized shopping homepage.

The AI-enhanced Shopping experience offers tailored product suggestions and insights for specific needs. For example, searching for “Men’s winter jacket for Seattle” generates a brief with essential buying considerations and categorized product recommendations.

Users can also apply dynamic filters for preferences like size and location.

The platform’s new homepage includes a personalized feed with shoppable content, and a “Deals” page for finding the best prices.

Price comparison, insights, and tracking are integrated to assist deal-seekers. Shoppers can manage their personalized experience via the “Shopping preferences” menu.

Experimental AI-generated briefs may not always be perfect, and Google encourages feedback through the menu options on the briefs.

The new Google Shopping is accessible via the “Shopping Tab” in Google Search or shopping.google.com.

Expandable carousel

Khushal Bherwani discovered that Google is testing with an expandable carousel!

New Laws

Throughout January 2025, various privacy law provisions will take effect in Iowa, Delaware, New Jersey, Nebraska, and New Hampshire, namely the Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act, Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act, New Jersey Comprehensive Data Privacy Act, Nebraska Data Privacy Law, and New Hampshire Senate Bill 255.

Google will be supplementing the existing Google Ads Data Processing Terms and Google Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms.

No additional action is required to accept these terms if you have already agreed to the online data protection terms.

For U.S. state privacy laws, Google continues to provide a range of tools for publishers to manage product behavior.

Publishers can review relevant controls in our help center. If you are using Restricted Data Processing (RDP) at the account level, this account-level setting will additionally apply in Iowa, Delaware, New Jersey, Nebraska, and New Hampshire on or after November 15th, 2024.

If you have traffic in these states, you may see an increase in Restricted Data Processing traffic.

New call term

Anthony Higman discovered these new terms for informing callers, Google may automatically include a "whisper message" at the beginning of the call to notify participants that the call is being recorded.

New section

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google has begun displaying products below next to their video ad on the desktop!

Auto opt-in

Thomas Eccel discovered that Goole now has video enhancements opted-in by default for Demand Gen.

Image Ads Pmax

Looks like more people are now getting acces to images ads in Pmax because Conner Crowe just send me this screenshot!

New Column

Natasha Kaurra just sent me this picture looks like a new column.

New video experiments

You can now set up Video Consideration and Reach experiments in just a few clicks, gaining insights into how different creative variations affect your campaign performance. Measure the impact of adding or removing assets on key metrics like cost-per-view, cost-per-conversion, and Brand Lift, allowing you to make data-driven decisions to optimize your creative.

Experimenting with your ad creative helps you understand which ad resonates most with your audience, enabling you to optimize your ads for maximum impact.

Ads API 18

Google has released version 18 of its Ads API, bringing new tools and features aimed at enhancing campaign optimization and performance tracking for developers.

Key updates include:Optimized Budget Suggestions: A new GenerateRecommendations feature for Performance Max and Search campaigns.

Performance Max Insights: A new report for querying placement-specific data in Performance Max campaigns.

Flexible Search Settings: Enhanced search settings replace older summary options for more customization.

Enhanced Segmentation: New segmentation options for hotel and search campaign reports by specific destinations.

Travel Feed Support: New click and asset types specifically for Search Ads.

Partnership Ads: A feature to link Google Ads accounts to creator videos via DataLinkService.CreateDataLink.

Content Performance Metrics: A new content_criterion_view for Display, Demand Gen, and Video campaigns.

These updates provide advertisers with more granular control and insights, with a focus on improving performance tracking and cross-platform integration.

Updated client libraries and code examples for version 18 will be available next week, and developers will need to upgrade to access these new features.

Image editing update

New & found by Patrick Gehn the option to image edit in the library of Google Ads.

Leadership change Google Ads

Anthony Higman just posted that Google is undergoing a significant leadership change, as Prabhakar Raghavan, who has been overseeing Search, Ads, and other crucial segments, transitions to the role of Chief Technologist.

CEO Sundar Pichai announced this move, highlighting that Raghavan will now focus on guiding Google’s technical direction.

Raghavan, who joined Google over a decade ago and has been influential in areas like ads and commerce, will now work closely with Pichai to bolster the company's tech culture.

Nick Fox, previously part of Raghavan’s leadership team, will step into Raghavan’s former role, taking charge of Search, Ads, Geo, and Commerce.

Google is also reorganizing other areas, with the team behind the Gemini app moving under Google DeepMind, led by Demis Hassabis, and the Google Assistant team joining the platforms and devices division.

These changes reflect Google’s strategic shift towards AI development amid regulatory challenges, particularly as it faces potential antitrust actions from the U.S. government concerning its search business.

US elections update

Georgi Zayakov just sent to me that Google will pause ads relating to US elections from serving in the US after the last polls close on election day, November 5th, 2024.

This will include US Election Ads as well as ads that refer to US elections, and their processes or outcomes. This is a temporary measure, and Google will notify advertisers when this policy is lifted.

BREAKING NEWS

I just got this picture from Tiago Goncalves.

Starting October Google will gradually launch an update that will change how Pmax and standard shopping interact in action when they are in the same account targeting the same product.

Instead of Pmax being automatically prioritized over standard shopping normal auction dynamics will now apply. The campaign with the highest ad rank will show.

Request Competitive Quotes

Search Engine Land wrote that a “Request Competitive Quotes” button in Google Local Services Ads is causing uncertainty among advertisers about costs.

Here is how it works:

- Users click the “Request Competitive Quotes” button.

- They select multiple businesses for quotes.

- Users enter a message

- Google sends the request to all selected businesses.

The question is who pays and how much...

Saved segments launch

Arpan Banerjee just sent me that Saved segments are now officially announced by Google!

New! Shopify Audiences Update for Google Ads

Elmar Aga discovered that you can now directly transfer Existing Customers data from the Shopify Audiences app to Google Ads.

This allows you to create customer match audiences for lookalike audiences or exclusions. Previously, only the "Prospecting Seed" audience was available for Google Ads.

Pmax AdGrants

Jason King discovered that Pmax is now live in his AdGrants account. Looks like they are rolling it out.

CSS Dashboard

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google Merchant Center has launched a Comparison Shopping Services (CSS) Activity Dashboard for CSS users.

This dashboard allows users to view data from up to five CSSs over the past 30 days.

To access the dashboard:

- Go to Business info.

- Click the Comparison Shopping Services tab.

- Expand the CSS section.

Metrics are only available from CSSs that have opted to share their data.

Google Merchant Center Next now with new audience analytics

Igor Pecherskih discovered that he now has access to Audience Analytis.

Here's what you can learn:

Which regions are most interested in your products.

Users of which gender are more interested in your products.

Which age group has the greatest interest in your product categories.

This is a real breakthrough for those who want to better understand their audience and set up campaigns as efficiently as possible.

Rep making changes?

Thomas Eccel just posted this information from Andy Youngs which describes that a Google Ads Rep made changes without authorization on the account and sent an email, Crazy!

Travel assets report

Hana Kobzová discovered that you can now see travel assets if you run travel advertising in the report editor! Make sure to add click type and other metrics to get these insights.

More access reporting AI beta

Hana Kobzová just got access to the generate report beta! An interesting future from Google that I look forward to using.

Travel Feeds in Search Ads

Google has introduced Travel Feeds in Search Ads to enhance ad performance, particularly for hotel advertisers.

This feature allows advertisers to incorporate rich data from feeds, including prices, ratings, and images, directly into their ads. Initial trials have shown up to a 20% increase in click-through rates, indicating strong engagement from travelers.

The format is set to expand beyond hotels to include activities, car rentals, and events, offering advertisers more dynamic ways to showcase their offerings.

Advertisers with a linked travel feed in Google Ads can easily integrate this feature into their campaigns, ensuring that potential travelers receive the most relevant and up-to-date information during their searches.

New Feature test shopping

Google is testing a new feature in shopping ads that lets users watch product videos directly within search results. Spotted by Shraddha Dhiman.

Note that this isn’t Google’s first dive into video-enabled search ads, they did a similar test in 2018.

GTM GA4 App data

Matteo Zambon discovered that GTM Server-side is now able to get GA4 App data.

Shopping Membership Pricing

Emmanuel Flossie posted that Google shopping Membership pricing just removed the mention that it is only available in the US. Looks like they are expanding this future.

Product Carousel YouTube

Thomas Eccel spotted this new YouTube Ad with swipeable product carousel!

Google Ads has introduced new Performance Max features

These updates focus on improving asset performance, enhancing video ads, and increasing flexibility between Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.

Note that I have already written and spotted most updates so they should look familiar.

Key updates:

Asset Optimization: New experiments allow retailers to test adding images, text, and videos to product-feed-only campaigns and assess the impact of Final URL expansion.Generative

AI for Image Creation: Google is enhancing its image generation using the advanced Imagen 3 model to create high-performing visuals.

Video Ad Enhancements: AI-powered tools can now flip or shorten video ads, ensuring they fit different YouTube formats while maintaining key messaging.

Campaign Flexibility: Performance Max campaigns will no longer automatically take priority over Standard Shopping campaigns when targeting the same products; instead, Ad Rank will decide.

These features aim to boost campaign effectiveness as advertisers prepare for the year-end holiday rush.

Standard shopping change is live

Kirk Williams just posted that the new standard shopping PMax ad rank change is now live! For everybody that is running standard shopping & PMax in one account keep an eye on your account!

Full-screen image ads

Google keeps upgrading YouTube Ads, now Thomas Eccel spotted this full-screen YouTube Image Ad!

Google Ads sale

Sale from Google?! Spend 2400 in 60 days and get 2400 🤑 , instead of 1200 & 1200.

October 2024 update Display & Video 360 API

Google announced the October 2024 update to the Display & Video 360 API.

This update includes:

- Support for cost-per-view performance goals and targeting connected devices.

- The ability to generate and download Structured Data Files (SDFs) using SDF v8, which is currently in beta and available to limited partners.

Additional Adloox brand safety settings under third-party verifier targeting.

Additionally, SDF v5.5 has been officially deprecated following its sunset earlier this month.

Announcing budget PrefillsWith

Announcing Budget PrefillsWith version 18 of the Google Ads API, you can now use the Recommendations.

GenerateRecommendations method during campaign setup to retrieve optimized budget suggestions for Performance Max and Search campaigns.

By providing inputs like final URL and bidding strategy, Google’s machine learning models generate budget recommendations, along with projected impact metrics to assess potential effects on account performance.

The Recommendations API also offers features to improve campaign performance, such as adding new keywords or updating bidding strategies.

Users can subscribe to automatically apply specific recommendations using the RecommendationSubscriptionService or retrieve and process recommendations directly through reporting resources.

The following partner connectors have been added to the Looker Studio Connector Gallery:

- Heureka.sk Sortiment report by METRIXANA (no data sources required)

- Auth0 by Windsor.ai (data source: AUTH0)

- CJ Affiliate by Supermetrics (data source: CJ_AFFILIATE)

- WooCommerce by Supermetrics (data source: WOOCOMMERCE)

- TikTok Ads by Detrics (data source: TIKTOK_ADS)

Goodbye Call Ads

Dario Zannoni discovered that it looks like Google is phasing out “Call-Only Ads” in favor of Responsive Search Ads.

Key points:

- Adding Assets: Google suggests adding assets to current “Call-Only Ads” (a notification will prompt this in accounts).

- Creation Deadline: After an unspecified period, creating new “Call-Only Ads” will no longer be possible.

- No Automatic Upgrade: Existing “Call-Only Ads” won’t be automatically upgraded to Responsive Search Ads.

For more details check this page.

AI Chat

Thomas Eccel discovered this Google Ads chat AI pop-up in his ads account. Looks like they are testing this.

YouTube updates

Key features include:

Poll Stickers for Shorts: Creators can now add poll stickers to YouTube Shorts, allowing viewers to vote on options directly within the short-form video. This feature aims to boost engagement by making it easier for audiences to share opinions, with voting statistics visible to creators. The feature will be rolled out to all creators within a week.View Filters by

Content Type: YouTube has updated its "Views" display to break down view counts by content type, like Shorts, regular videos, or live streams. This update helps creators analyze and optimize their content strategy, especially as Shorts continue to drive substantial viewership.

Super Chat Goals: YouTube is testing a gamified “Super Chat” goal feature for live streams and Premieres, where creators set a target for Super Chat donations. When the goal is reached, a creator-defined reward and animations are triggered, encouraging viewer participation to boost engagement and revenue.

Ad Category Blocking for Channels: Creators now have the option to block specific ad categories directly within YouTube, rather than relying solely on AdSense settings. This update offers more control over ad content on channels, enhancing the user experience and aligning with channel preferences.

These updates reflect YouTube's focus on interactive features and monetization tools to support creators in building stronger audience connections and achieving growth on the platform.

Square button test

Anthony Higman discovered that Google is now testing with square buttons in Ads!

Picture test

Anthony Higman discovered that Google is testing with two different pictures that merge into one larger photo when you hover over it!

Google uses brand name for section in Ads

Anthony Higman discovered that Google is using his brand headline for the Ads headline in the ads box that is crazy 😂

Sneaky change

Anthony Higman discovered that Google is now allowing you to not put a headline Or call to action in YouTube Ads.

New fields BigQuery

Alex Ignatenko discovered that BigQuery export now supports additional traffic source fields, making session-scoped channel analysis even more powerful.

Benchmarking GA4

Arpan Banerjee just sent me that Google Analytics now officialy offers Benchmarks, which are reference metrics that let businesses compare their performance against similar companies within their industry.

These benchmarks, available in percentiles (median, 25th, and 75th), are based on a wide range of industry categories, providing insights into strengths and weaknesses. Peer groups for benchmarking are determined by a combination of the setup's industry category and additional signals, such as property URLs and app attributes.

Data used for benchmarking is encrypted and protected, with privacy safeguards in place. Benchmarks are only available when there is a sufficient number of properties with meaningful data in a peer group, ensuring accurate and privacy-conscious comparisons with industry standards.

Sexual Health & Wellness Policy (October 2024)

Starting November 11, 2024, Google will implement a new Sexual Health & Wellness policy, allowing the promotion of personal lubricants and prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) on the Google Display Network and YouTube, under certain conditions:

- Ads must not focus on sexual pleasure, enhancement, or use sexually suggestive themes.- Ads must target users aged 18 and older.

- Ads must comply with Google’s Healthcare and Medicines Ads policy, country-specific restrictions, and obtain healthcare product certification for prescription terms if needed.

- Ads must comply with local laws in targeted regions.

Promotions are limited to specific regions: personal lubricants may be advertised in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Portugal, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, while prescription drugs for ED and HSDD may only be advertised by certified advertisers in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.Violations of this policy will result in ad restrictions or disapprovals.Full enforcement of the policy will roll out over approximately 10 weeks.

Google aims to maintain a safe and inclusive advertising space, with potential future expansions to the permitted products and countries list.

New Traffic diversity feature - AUTOMATICALLY LOWERS tROAS 🚨

I have posted about this before but we now have more information on the new New Traffic diversity feature.Google has launched this tool called"Search Bidding Exploration," aimed at large advertisers using tROAS bidding in campaigns without budget limits.

Part of Google’s Smart Bidding suite, this AI tool helps find low-traffic but valuable search queries, automatically lower tROAS targets by up to 10%, and expands keyword reach beyond typical search terms.

Merchant Center Next x Google Sheets

Emmanuel Flossie just posted that Merchant Center next now works with connecting existing sheets!

Extra information raise budget

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google has enhanced its "Raise your budgets" recommendation in Google Ads by adding more detailed insights and tips. This update, now includes trending data and a growth graph.

Tinuiti Q3 2024 Digital Ads Benchmark Report:

Overall Trends:

- Digital ad growth is slowing across major platforms, though Amazon stands out with increased investment around Prime Day.

- Google and Meta have shown declines in ad spending and impressions compared to previous periods.

Social Media:- Meta (Facebook and Instagram) saw a modest 9% increase in ad spending. - Reels ads are gaining traction on both platforms.

- TikTok and Snapchat continue to grow in popularity, with ad spending up by more than 20%.

Search Advertising:

- Google search ads spending grew 11%, but growth is slowing due to rising cost-per-click.- Amazon temporarily reduced its presence in Google Shopping ads.

Commerce Media:

- Amazon Sponsored Products spending grew 15% during Prime Day, with a 29% increase on those specific days.

- Walmart ad spending is rising, with a 20% increase in Sponsored Products.

Video and Display:

- YouTube experienced a slowdown in ad spending growth to 11%, while ads on TV screens continued to perform well.

For the full report go to this page.

Alphabet's Q3

Alphabet’s third-quarter earnings beat expectations, with EPS at $2.12 and revenue of $88.27 billion, led by strong results in YouTube ads and Google Cloud.

Revenue grew 15% year-over-year, and the stock rose 3%!

Ad label political ads

Anthony Higman just discovered a new altered or synthetic content in political ads.

Home services local ads migrating

Anthony Higman shared that Home Services Local Services Ad Verticals are Migrating.

Google rep...

Note that Google has taken action against a Rep that just made changes without consent. If this ever happens to you reach out to Google or Ginny Marvin.

Google is scaling up an innovative ad experience in the U.S., introduced at GML2024, to simplify finding self-storage solutions.

In collaboration with companies like Extra Space Storage, Public Storage, and CubeSmart, Google offers a streamlined way to find storage units.

Here's how it works:

- Search for self-storage on Google via your phone.

- Upload photos of your rooms, and Google AI will analyze your belongings.

- Get recommendations for the best storage unit size, type, and necessary packing supplies based on your needs.

This new approach eliminates the guesswork of storage planning, making it easy to find exactly what you need!

WhatsApp assets available in the USA & Spain?

Raúl Salas Moreno discovered that the WhatsApp assets are already available for him in The USA and Spain!Although in the official documentation, it does not appear as such!

Make sure to check your account and thanks for sharing Raúl Salas Moreno.

New Update: Business Links for Google Search Ads

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google has launched Business links.The new Business Links update introduces an asset type for Google Search ads that enables targeting multiple user intents within a single ad.

This feature leverages Google AI to generate additional, optimized headlines and adapt content to various customer journeys, ultimately boosting ad relevance, engagement, and performance.

Currently in pilot, Business Links can be implemented at account, campaign, or ad group levels, though access remains limited. Key benefits include capturing varied user intents with multiple headlines and optimizing relevance in real-time through AI-generated enhancements.

How It WorksBusiness Links can be added at the account, campaign, or ad group level in Google Ads.

To add a Business Link:

- In Google Ads, go to the Campaigns icon.

- Click the Assets dropdown and select Assets.

- Click the Add button and choose Business Links.

- In the “Add to” dropdown, choose the desired level (Account, Campaign, or Ad Group).

Fill out the following fields:

- Business link text- Description

- Final URL

- Click Save.

Note: Only advertisers in the pilot can add Business Links to their Google Ads account. Business Links can serve with or separate from sitelinks.

Google Ads carousel

Sachin Patel & Barry Schwartz discovered this new sponsored shopping carousel.

New conversion report

Giοrgos Touloumis & Hana Kobzová discovered a new conversion report which are lead or sales-oriented!

Bidding Exploration Explained (Beta) extra information

Hana Kobzová discovered this new page about bidding explorations!Bidding Exploration is now in limited beta, available to select accounts, and designed to enhance Search campaigns using Smart Bidding by finding new, valuable traffic sources.Benefits

Bidding Exploration expands reach by targeting a 10% lower ROAS, boosting traffic diversity with increased bids to discover diverse traffic sources.

Some advertisers may adjust ROAS tolerance beyond 10%.

Best Practices

Eligibility: Campaigns using tROAS may enable Bidding Exploration.

Targeting: Broad match or Dynamic Search Ads are recommended.

Budget Uncapped: Avoid budget limits to ensure effective exploration.

ROAS Targets: Don’t increase ROAS to offset Exploration, as this limits traffic diversity.

Experimentation: Run campaign experiments to measure incremental impact.

Instructions to Enable

Where to find: In Google Ads, open Campaigns and select an eligible campaign.

In Settings, open Bidding Exploration, and check Allow Smart Bidding to explore new traffic.

Bidding Exploration lowers ROAS by up to 10% by default. Customize tolerance as needed.

Click Save. To disable it, uncheck the box.

Performance Measurement

Check the bid strategy report for timeline annotations on active Bidding Exploration and track unique search category impressions to evaluate traffic diversity.

Experiment Best Practices:

- Enable Experiment sync, keep other variables constant.

- Avoid concurrent tests on bidding strategies.

- Wait for performance parity, then activate Exploration.

FAQs

ROAS vs. Exploration: Lowering ROAS raises bids across queries, while Exploration focuses on discovering new traffic.

Duration: Enable for 2-6 weeks initially.

Broad Match/DSA Use: Recommended but not required.

Search Ads 360 Compatibility: Currently, only via Google Ads UI.

Filter change

Julius Fedorovicius discovered that you are now able to filter standard GA4 reports based on the Event Name, without workarounds. Note this was spotted in a demo account so should go live soon:)

Segment Pmax Asset Groups

Thomas Eccel discovered that you can now "Segment" your Pmax Asset Groups directly in the Table View.

You can segment by:

- Time- Click Type (always cross-network clicks)

- Conversions (the most exciting one!)

- Device

- Network (always "cross network")

- Top vs Others

October finished

That's all the news from October! If you want to read more news check my website.

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