Google Ads newsletter - week 45

Welcome to the Google Ads newsletter. In this newsletter, you will read all the news about Google Ads from week 44.

Sponsored Partnership - Plug-n-play server-side conversion tracking

What could hinder scaling ad spend and cause a 20-30% performance loss?

• Faulty, inaccurate conversion tracking.

You might track 80 out of 100 orders - and see that your ads run unprofitable - when the reality is different.

You feel hesitant to scale ad spend, and clients are skeptical about how you justify distributing ad spend across marketing channels.

However, the solution to this problem isn’t complicated—and it doesn’t involve developer headaches and server environments.

At ProfitMetrics, we offer no-code, plug-n-play, truly accurate server-side tracking.

Read more about the ProfitMetrics server-side tracking tool, Conversion Booster, and book a demo with our account managers to get started.

Paid newsletters

I have launched a new newsletter.

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!

Google Ads news

Demand Gen for DV360

Emirhan Bayutmuş discovered that he now has access to Demand Gen for DV360!

E-barometer

October 2024 Market Index Report from ProfitMetricsThe latest report from ProfitMetrics.io is out and this compares key e-commerce metrics from October 2024 to October 2023, including revenue, orders, ad spend, POAS, ROAS, and gross profit.

Highlights:

Revenue: Increased by 4.7% year-over-year and 5% from last month, reflecting steady market growth.

Gross Profit: Up 3.7% year-over-year and 7.4% from September, showing improved business efficiency.Orders: Grew by 2.7% year-over-year and 4.7% from last month, indicating stable consumer demand.

Ad Spend: Rose 8.7% year-over-year, negatively impacting ROAS and POAS.

ROAS: Declined 5.2% from last month and 3.7% year-over-year, pointing to less efficient ad spend.

POAS: Dropped 3% from last month and 4.7% year-over-year.

Overall: Despite increasing acquisition costs, the e-commerce sector shows strong revenue and profit growth.

This analysis, based on over 24.7 million orders, offers actionable insights for the industry.

New Pmax feature

Google announced this future during Google Marketing live in May, but Dario Zannoni discovered that it is now live.

With these settings, you can configure the following at the campaign level:

- Business Name

- Logo

- Custom Colors

- Font: Optional

Switch to exact recommendation?

Google just mailed me this week with the recommendation to switch to exact match. I have never seen this before normally they always want you to go broader.

Google AdMob

Google AdMob is launching a new app-level setting for high-engagement ads, giving developers more control over ad performance and user experience.

The setting, enabled by default, includes skippable interstitial ads after 15 seconds, 60-second reward periods for rewarded ads, and a multi-step exit process.

While the update aims to boost ad performance, it may impact user experience. Google plans to optimize these ads with a focus on transparency and user needs.

No Ad Label

Anthony Higman posted that Google has introduced a new, subtler way to disclose ads on its Local Business Finder map.

Instead of placing an "Ad" label directly on the listings, as has been the standard, the ad disclosure is now only shown on the photo or the listing inside the map.

This change applies across all business categories and makes it less likely that users will notice the ad disclosure in its new location.

Ad Manager changes

Georgi Zayakov discovered that Google Ad Manager is introducing curation capabilities to help agencies more efficiently discover and activate high-quality inventory and target audiences for their clients.

This feature simplifies workflows, enhances forecasting, and facilitates direct deals with publishers while removing complications like separate payments for data providers and inventory curators. Key partners include Audigent, IAS, LiveRamp, Lotame, and others.

Personalized Ads Policy Update

Personalized Ads Policy Update (November 2024)Starting December 4, 2024, Google Ads will allow personalized ads for social casino game App campaigns, with full access for all advertisers by March 2025.

The "Gambling" sensitive interest category will be updated to exclude these social casino ads, which can be personalized under specific guidelines.

Note: Gambling-related ads in other categories still cannot be personalized. Account suspensions for policy violations will come with at least 7 days' prior warning.

Microsoft updates

Microsoft has expanded its Copilot AI-powered advertising capabilities, introducing several new features to enhance efficiency and personalization for advertisers.

Key updates include a streamlined ad experience within Copilot, a performance snapshot tool for campaign insights, expanded video ad tools with new bid strategies, audience targeting options, and the ability to import Google Ads video campaigns.

Shopping campaigns have also been improved with a simplified setup and enhanced product group management.

These updates aim to optimize workflows, reach audiences more effectively, and improve ad spend management.

New Shopping Label

Barry Schwartz discovered that Google is now promoting the new Google Shopping by placing a "new" label on the Shopping tab link at the top of the Google Search interface.

Search Ad in Display?

Mohd Shahid and Zeeshan Ali observed that a display ad appeared on a third-party website resembling search ads!

Shopping Bag Icon

Barry Schwartz discovered that Google is now testing with a shopping bag icon in shopping.

Positive Google Ads UI Change

Anthony Higman discovered that you can now find automated asset settings way easier. Just go to account-level assets and you will find it:)Before it was really hidden...

Communication Preferences

You can now adjust your communication preferences for Google Ads reps!

Test dynamic ad placement

Google keeps testing with dynamic ad placement! This mean that you can find ads in the middle of an organic page.

Demand Gen Signals?

Thomas Eccel discovered that Google’s Demand Generation campaigns shifted from using fixed “audiences” to “signals.” This change allows for more flexible audience discovery and broader reach in campaigns…

Seller and product rating together

Hana Kobzová discovered that Google can show Seller and product ratings together!

NEW Sale Events

🚨 Dario Zannoni discovered Sale events! Sale events are a new feature on Google, allowing you to promote store-wide sales on non-product-centric surfaces without mapping to specific products.

Unlike promotions, events let you use broader discount ranges, like "Up to 40% off."

How It Works

Sale events appear on various Google platforms but not in product listings. Events can showcase general sales, like "Black Friday - up to 70% off" or "Spring furniture sale - 10% off on dining tables," and require basic details: title, start/end dates, destination URL, and category tags.

Setting Up:

- Submit events via the promotions tab in Merchant Center or with a promotion feed:

- Choose “Show in free listings” only.

- Provide an event-specific URL.

- Add optional promotional images and select applicable product categories.

Google reviews events to ensure policy compliance, including URL and image checks.

For more information read this page.

Note* currently limited to Free Listings in the USA.

LSA app

Barry Schwartz posted that Google will stop supporting the Google Local Service Ads app starting on January 6, 2024!

Conversion Linker update

The conversion linker now stores ad click information in browser local storage also!

GA4 Update

You can view a quota log report in the Google Analytics interface. The quota log report shows who has been consuming API quota on a given property. This allows you to audit problematic users and potentially shut them off.

Wrong mail?

Jack Felstead received an email from Google addressing him as "Mathew" and offering a consultation for a completely random account he never heard of or been connected to....

This is pretty serious. Imagine if Google gave a complete stranger access to your Google Ads account and they went in and made changes without you ever knowing....

Political content update

On November 11, 2024, Google will update the Political Content policy to lift the temporary restrictions on ads with political content relating the US elections.

New Brand Report!

Patrick Gehn discovered that in the Insight section, there is now a new tab called the Brand Report.

NEW Pmax experiments

Patrick Gehn discovered that more PMax experiments are now available! Make sure to share this news and test.

Blue assets test

Wow Google is now testing these blue call out assets under headlines, found by Anthony Higman!

Google Ads Editor Version 2.8: New Features and Updates

Google has announced Ads Editor 2.8

The latest version is available for download, and older versions (2.5 and below) will no longer be supported.

Key New Features:

AI-Generated Images: Create images from text prompts and integrate them directly into your Ads account.

Export to Google Sheets: CSV exports can now be saved as Google Sheets, simplifying data handling.

Resizable Error Pane: The error pane below the main grid is now adjustable for better user experience.

Brand Guidelines: Performance Max campaigns now support brand-specific guidelines at the campaign level, including business name, logo, colors, and fonts.

Image Cropping: Crop images directly within the asset library; cropped images are stored in the library for future use.

Video Enhancements: Users can selectively opt out of generated short or vertical videos via individual checkboxes.

Third-Party Measurement in Performance Max/Demand Gen: Measurement options, initially for video campaigns, are now available for Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns.

Strict Age and Gender Targeting: In Demand Gen campaigns, “Strict age and gender targeting” ensures that age and gender criteria are precisely followed.

Vertical Video for Demand Gen Ads: The "Generate vertical videos" feature is now available for Demand Gen video ads.

Final URL Suffix in ACe Campaigns: The final URL suffix can now be edited in App campaigns for Engagement (ACe).

Inventory Controls for VVC Campaigns: “Inventory control” is extended to Video Standard campaigns with Target CPV bidding.

Help Center Revamp: Editor errors are now consolidated into a single page for easier troubleshooting.

Deprecated Features

Demand Gen Product Feeds Campaigns: The Demand Gen Product Feeds (DG DPA) subtype is now deprecated; all existing campaigns have been converted to Demand Gen, and new ones cannot be created.

Ad Credit Change

Anthony Higman discovered that Google is changing its free ad credit promotions for new clients. Ad credits will no longer be applied automatically; instead, you'll need to manually choose from one of three available credit options to activate them.

Week 45 finished

That's all the news from week 45! If you want to read all the news check my website.