📰 PPC News (Week 40)

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PPC News

[Oct 2 - Oct 8, 2023]

Measurement

Google Analytics 4

Better control over Google Signals data: Google Analytics now offers the option to exclude Google Signals data from reports. This feature is handy for users aiming to dodge data thresholding while still collecting valuable demographic and interest data for audience targeting and Google Ads optimisation. [source]

Data redaction: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) allows you to configure web data streams to redact email addresses and user-defined URL Query Parameters. This feature helps protect against collecting sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) while providing a valuable tool for data privacy compliance. [source]

Looker Studio

BigQuery in Looker Studio: Looker Studio now supports native integration of BigQuery inside it and supports more BigQuery features. This feature currently in preview opens a path for new monitoring features and better query performance. [source]

Self-service upgrade to Looker Studio Pro: Looker has introduced an upgrade to Looker Studio Pro, offering not just the existing features of Looker Studio but also enhanced enterprise capabilities and direct access to technical support from Google Cloud Customer Care through a self-service upgrade tool. [source]

Dimension Control: Looker Studio has rolled out a new feature, Dimension Control, that allows report viewers to change dimensions on charts within a report without needing to edit it. This feature enhances report interactivity and eliminates the need for separate charts when showing data at different levels of granularity. [source]

Add Asset Group Name: Looker Studio now allows to add Asset Group Name field when the user connects Google Ads as a source through Google Ads Connector. Using this, marketers are powered with enhanced customization and data organization capabilities. [source]

Google Merchant Center

Auto Add Products to Google Merchant Center: Google Merchant Center lets users automatically add products from their online store, ensuring that any changes made to their product catalogue are reflected on Google in real-time. Merchants can use structured data markup, and website crawls to enhance their product listings on Google. Additionally, Google allows users to take full control and remove the automatically added products. [source]

Merchant Center Next Update on Performance Metrics: Google Merchant Center has expanded the data in the Performance -> Product Report to include traffic from Product Images and Website Links leading to the Product Detail Page. This could inflate your performance numbers if you're unaware of the update. ( Thomas Eccel )

New Customer Support Details: Google Merchant Center Next has introduced the ability for merchants to display their preferred customer support methods, including options for live chat and chatbot support. While yet to be seen in ads or free listings, the update will likely appear in shopping listings as merchants adopt the feature. [source] ( Emmanuel Flossie )

Search Console

New Spam Update Rolled Out: Google Search is rolling out an update to enhance spam detection in multiple languages, addressing issues reported by users in Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, Chinese, and others. This update aims to reduce visible spam in search results, including cloaking, hacked, auto-generated, and scraped spam, with an expected rollout over the next few weeks. [source]

Paid Search

Google Ads

Keyword Planner’s Keyword Forecast Sunsets: Google Ads is considering removing the keyword forecasting option in the keyword planner. There is no official statement from Google, but the Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin has posted about it in her official X (former Twitter) profile. [source]

Ginny Marvin’s reply to a query on Twitter.

Demand Gen Campaigns Replace Discovery Ads: Google Ads has rolled out Demand Gen campaigns to all accounts, effectively phasing out Discovery Ads. ( Emirhan Bayutmuş )

Google Ads Policy Update to HealthCare and Medicines: Google Ads is implementing two important Healthcare and Medicines policy updates in October 2023. Firstly, the Prescription drug sale policy will be renamed to Prescription drug services with a clarified scope. Secondly, LegitScript-certified telemedicine providers will be permitted to promote their services in France starting October 10, 2023. [source]

Local service ads

New Direct Messaging: Google now allows advertisers to send message leads directly to a specific phone number via Local Services Ads via text messaging. This eliminates the need for clients to regularly check their Gmail account to manage leads. ( Anthony Higman )

Resource: Switching your primary conversion actions can affect your Smart Bidding strategies. To mitigate disruptions, Sergey Gordeev recommends following specific best practices. [read more]

Microsoft Ads

October Updates from Microsoft Ads: Microsoft Advertising has rolled out several updates for Audience Ads like Maximize Conversions and Target CPA, expansion into 58 new markets, and more engaging ad placements across Microsoft properties and games.

Hotel Campaigns have also been renamed "Lodging Campaigns" to better align with evolving travel and accommodation options.

Finally, Microsoft released Video and CTV Ads, which allow brands to reach large-scale and high-value audiences across Microsoft properties and publisher partners in online video and CTV placements. [source]

Amazon Ads

Feature Rotator Ads for Fire TV: Amazon Advertising has launched Feature Rotator ads, an obvious carousel ad format on the Fire TV home screen, accessible to self-service entertainment advertisers in 11 marketplaces. The new ad format allows initial static imagery to transition into an autoplay video, offering an interactive and engaging user experience. [source]

Amazon Simplifies International Video Ads with Free Localization: Amazon Ads now provides free localization of Sponsored brand videos, allowing advertisers to run linguistically tailored campaigns across different international marketplaces. The service initially covers translations from English to German, French, Italian, and Spanish, with a turnaround time of up to 72 hours. ( Johannes Ander )

Rest Of Search Placement Bid Adjustment: Amazon's Rest of Search placement bid adjustment, initially introduced through the API and Bulkfiles, is now accessible directly through the user interface (UI). Advertisers can now conveniently modify bids within placement or campaign settings, providing enhanced control over bidding for each placement. (Himanshu Verma / Yogesh Kumar )

Multi-country Reporting Now Available: Advertisers can access reports that include all applicable countries, view them in a preferred currency and language, and easily switch between advertising accounts in different countries while maintaining their language preferences. (Himanshu Verma)

Hourly Budget Rules: Amazon has rolled out a new feature allowing you to set a start and end time for rule-based budget increases in your advertising campaigns. Designed explicitly for schedule-type budget rules, this addition aims to enhance Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) by tailoring budget allocation to campaign performance during different hours of the day. (Himanshu Verma)

Off-Amazon Metrics Added to Placement Report: Amazon has expanded its sponsored ads to appear on premium third-party platforms like Pinterest, BuzzFeed, and Hearst Newspapers. While these off-Amazon metrics are now included in the placement report, note that advertisers currently lack manual control to modify or opt out of these specific placements. (Himanshu Verma)

New delivery metrics - Delivery Rate and Budget at Risk, for its Demand-Side Platform (DSP) campaigns, which provide advertisers with early indicators of potential under-delivery issues and quantify the budget that could remain unspent. (Himanshu Verma)

If you'd like to go deeper, you will enjoy reading the Tech Updates - September 2023 from Jeffrey Cohen .

Programmatic

Display & Video 360

v3 beta for Display & Video 360 API launched: Google announced the public beta release of Display & Video 360 API v3, which brings with it - enhanced proximity location list management, simplified optimised targeting, mandatory billing configuration for advertisers, and resource renaming for improved usability. The enum value for LineItemWarningMessage with the value DEPRECATED_FIRST_PARTY_AUDIENCE_EXCLUSION has been removed. [source]

Paid Social

Meta Ads

Gen-AI in Meta Ads: Meta is rolling out generative AI-powered features for ad creatives in Ads Manager, with a global rollout planned for next year. These features include Background Generation, Image Expansion, and Text Variations, which aim to enhance advertisers' productivity, personalisation, and performance.[source]

Placement Controls for Advantage+ Shopping: 'Placement Controls' allows advertisers to exclude specific placements where their ads may appear. This marks a departure from the previous setup, where placement options were not customizable. ( Bram Van der Hallen )

TikTok

No More Ads On TikTok Paid Plans: TikTok is reportedly planning to launch a trial of its ad-free subscription service, allowing users to access content without interruptions from ads for $4.99 per month. While influencer marketing campaigns will still appear on the paid version of the app, ads served by TikTok will be excluded. [source]

Organic Social

YouTube

Enhanced Audience Insights On YouTube: YouTube has updated its analytics platform to provide creators with enhanced audience insights. The new features include analysing membership cancellation data and comparing new and returning viewer data. [source]

Reddit

New Audience Matching Options Rolled Out on Reddit: Reddit has introduced updates to its ad targeting options, including improved topic suggestions, expanded audience targeting based on interests, and more efficient ad management options. [source]

Marketing Industry

GDPR, Users Protection & Privacy Laws

Meta Negotiating for Ad-Free Subscription Model: Meta is reportedly discussing with the EU’s data protection regulators to introduce a $ 14-a-month ad-free subscription model. This move comes as the company seeks to align its ad practices with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) after facing legal challenges for tracking and profiling users without valid consent. [source]

German authority nods to Google's data control measures: The German antitrust regulator, Bundeskartellamt, has concluded its proceedings against Google, with the tech giant agreeing to offer users more control over their data. [source]

Amazon's Secret Algorithm, Project Nessie: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against Amazon, alleging antitrust violations and hinting at Project Nessie's existence. The allegations are that the algorithm under Project Nessie reportedly boosted Amazon's profits by artificially inflating prices across various categories until it was discontinued in 2019. [source]

€ 5.8 Million Fine Against Grindr Upheld: The Norwegian Privacy Appeals Board confirms a €5.8 million fine against Grindr for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation. This decision strongly conveys the implications of unauthorized data sharing in surveillance-based advertising. [source]

U.S. vs. Plaintiff States v. Google LLC Trial Documents: Delve deeper into the ongoing antitrust trial against Google, focusing on critical aspects such as the generalized second price auction (GSP). These downloadable PDF documents offer a thorough analysis of the case. [pdf 1 - pdf 2]

Advertising News

AI To Assist Shoppers in Amazon: Amazon is undergoing a significant transformation in its e-commerce experience with Project Nile, a highly confidential initiative to enhance the shopping journey using generative AI. This initiative, led by former Microsoft executive Joseph Sirosh, seeks to provide a more conversational, personalised, and in-depth search experience akin to an in-store salesperson who understands individual preferences. [source]

Assistant with Bard: Google's Next Innovation for Personal Help: Google announced that Bard, its generative AI technology, will be integrated into Google Assistant. This new iteration will be available on iOS and Android in the coming months. [source]

Android 14 With Meta-Like Multiple Profiles: Google’s Android 14 introduces significant improvements that now let users have a separate Work Profile, a vital tool for businesses seeking to protect company data and maintain employee privacy while promoting work-life balance. [source]

We hope you enjoy this content.

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