Category: PPC

Boost Your Google Ads Visibility in AI Overviews with These Strategies

I’ve discovered that AI Overviews are changing the way Google Search displays paid ads. Nowadays, it seems like there’s more pressure to get my ads to appear in AI-generated responses, as direct search results provide fewer opportunities for clicks.

Google suggests that Shopping, Performance Max, and AI Max for Search campaigns are best suited for this evolution. However, just choosing the right campaign isn’t enough. I need to ensure the quality of my feeds, optimize my landing pages, and use effective audience signals and creative content strategies to boost my ads’ chances.

Enable Google-Recommended Campaigns for AI Overviews

I’ve found that Google is quite clear about which campaign types are most likely to appear in AI Overviews. Interestingly, these opportunities are often overlooked by experienced marketers due lack of full control.

Despite this, I’ve come to understand that combining control with data and an understanding of search intent will benefit both me, as an advertiser, and the searcher. This involves strategizing beyond picking the right campaign types, focusing instead on fully optimized feed data and content alignment.

To boost my visibility in AI Overviews, I’ve enabled Google’s recommended campaigns to sync with the feature, particularly Shopping, Performance Max, and AI Max for Search, utilizing broad match keywords and smart bidding with final URL expansion.

Shopping Campaigns

Learning that the original keywordless campaign relies heavily on my data feed quality, I’ve focused on creating a well-built and optimized product data feed, using high-quality images, and ensuring my titles and descriptions are thorough.

I’ve realized how crucial the product data feed is in determining ad visibility for specific queries. When high-intent questions are asked, the AI Overview can feature a product carousel, enhancing the prominence of shopping results.

Performance Max Campaigns

In Performance Max, I’ve seen how keywordless campaigns utilize page content, data feeds, and audience insights to decide ad display. These inputs are key in determining ad visibility for queries.

Enabling Final URL expansion has allowed my ads to appear in more searches by leveraging page content for user query relevance.

AI Max for Search Campaigns

By using existing keywords as a starting point, AI Max for Search expands beyond to determine ad delivery strategies. This means keywords signal intent rather than dictate ad display.

I’ve noticed that AI Max uses search term matching and asset optimization to target queries unaddressed by traditional keyword targeting.

6 Best Practices for Ad Campaigns

To improve my chances of being featured in an AI Overview, I’ve optimized my campaigns by focusing on creative, copy, schema, and link-building techniques to reinforce brand authority.

1. Diversify Your Assets

With campaigns like AI Max and Performance Max, I’ve realized the importance of using varied creative assets. Incorporating informative headlines, descriptions, and visuals in multiple formats allows for diverse ad placements.

2. Use a Conversational Tone

Understanding Google’s approach, I’ve shifted from generic sales pitches to a conversational tone in my Responsive Search Ads, using language that assists the user rather than typical sales jargon.

3. Be Clear and Informative

By answering key questions succinctly, my ads now have a better chance of being highlighted in AI Overviews. A focus on information-rich landing pages has proven essential.

4. Check Schema Markup and Links

I ensure my schema markup is thorough and aligned with my content. Linking to reputable sources builds authority, and collaborating with my SEO team has enhanced these practices.

5. Guide Automation with Audience Signals

I recognize the lack of control in these campaigns, so I’ve guided automation using strong audience signals, exclusions, and negative keywords to refine my targeting strategies.

6. Regularly Monitor Campaigns

Regular monitoring is crucial for brand safety and profitability. Reviewing search terms, landing pages, and ad assets ensures my message remains consistent and aligned.

Adapt Your Approach for AI Overviews

Adapting to conversational AI Overviews requires me to focus on maximizing visibility on the SERP. Emphasizing data feed quality, content alignment, and creative diversity turns this shift into an opportunity for growth.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 27, 2026
Google’s Real-Time Ad Policy Review: Quick Approval Process

I’m excited to share that Google has introduced a new feature designed to streamline the ad approval process called Real-Time Policy Reviews. During the creation of campaigns, this system offers instant feedback, making it faster and easier to get ads up and running.

The feature is currently tailored for Responsive Search Ads, but Google has plans to expand it to other campaign types within the year. This means as I create ads within Google Ads, I receive immediate policy feedback, eliminating the need to wait in a post-submission review queue.

The real magic happens in two phases. First, as I draft my ad, the system flags any editorial issues instantly, like typos or errors with destination links, allowing me to correct these before finalizing my ad.

Once I’ve saved the ad, Google provides a policy decision immediately. Ads that pass without any issues can go live almost instantly, whereas those with more complicated violations are redirected to a post-save review page, detailing the problem and outlining possible solutions.

I find this update crucial because it reduces campaign launch delays, especially during promotions or product launches that demand immediate action and can’t afford postponements.

Google has segmented policy issues into two main categories: ‘editable,’ which are simple problems I can fix on the spot like formatting errors, and ‘complex,’ which need further certifications or appeals.

This aligns with Google’s ongoing mission to make campaign management smoother by integrating it into our day-to-day tasks, especially essential for those rapid-response campaigns.

As Real-Time Policy Reviews become available across more campaign types, I anticipate a faster transition from creation to delivery. However, it also emphasizes the importance of addressing compliance throughout my creative process.

Check out more about the updates on Real-Time Policy Reviews.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 27, 2026
Prepare for Google Ads Data Deletion: Secure Your Historical Insights Now
Starting in June, Google Ads will implement a policy that deletes any reporting data older than 37 months, unless we take action to export and preserve it.

As someone who heavily relies on historical data for reporting and forecasting, I recognize the urgency to revamp my data management strategies before access to older records is lost.

What’s Changing. From June 1st, only data from periods shorter than a month—such as hourly, daily, and weekly reports—will be accessible for 37 months. For longer spans like monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, we will enjoy access for up to 11 years.

Once those retention periods lapse, the data will no longer be available in the Google Ads interface or through APIs.

Nitty-gritty Details. Metrics that measure reach and frequency will have even shorter retention limits, staying available for just three years. These metrics include:
- unique users,
- average impression frequency per user,
- 7-day and 30-day average impression frequency,
- and frequency distribution metrics.
The Larger Impact. The policy change means I need to export and securely store historical Google Ads data soon, or it’ll become permanently inaccessible.

I acknowledge that long-term trend analysis and benchmarking depend heavily on years of granular data, which may no longer be directly accessible in Google Ads.

Looking Ahead. If I rely on external BI tools or customized reporting systems, I need to set up automated data export pipelines to maintain continuity before the new retention limits take effect in 2026.

For More Information. Read more about Google’s data retention changes on their official support page.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 27, 2026
Discover the New Era of Google Display Ads in Demand Gen Campaigns

I’ve recently discovered that Google is reshaping our approach to Display Ads by integrating them into Demand Gen campaigns, providing us with wider reach and innovative AI-driven features.

What’s happening? Now, I can effortlessly manage my placements on the Google Display Network (GDN) through Demand Gen campaigns. Interestingly, I still have the option to keep my ads running exclusively on GDN if that’s more suitable for my needs.

Through Demand Gen campaigns, I’m able to extend my ad reach across YouTube, Discover, Gmail, Maps, and a vast array of Display Network sites, all within a more centralized system.

Why do I care? This strategic shift by Google is crucial because it centralizes more inventory, harnesses automation, and leverages AI for enhanced campaign optimization. It’s become an essential factor for my performance and discovery ad strategies.

As a Display advertiser, these adjustments mean I gain access to advanced AI features, greater cross-platform reach, and potentially increased efficiency. I see this as a shift towards less reliance on traditional standalone Display management over time.

The bigger picture. Google is steering Demand Gen to be the go-to campaign type for visual discovery advertising, merging creative social-style distribution with its powerful AI targeting capabilities.

Google claims an average ROI increase of 9.5% for those who’ve added GDN inventory to their Demand Gen campaigns, and I’m intrigued by the potential benefits.

Between the lines. These changes provide me with access to the latest Demand Gen features announced at Google Marketing Live, including enhanced channel controls and forward-looking AI campaign tools.

What to watch. With Google’s ongoing journey towards consolidating campaign management under AI-led products, I find myself reevaluating my strategies for upper-funnel discovery, Display, and performance-centric media purchasing.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 26, 2026
OpenAI’s Next Move: ChatGPT Ads for Boosting Conversions
As someone who’s always on the lookout for innovative marketing solutions, I’m thrilled to share that OpenAI is venturing deeper into the world of performance advertising. They’re gearing up to offer conversion-driven ads through ChatGPT, complete with tracking tools and a pay-for-success pricing model.

This shift brings OpenAI into the same competitive space as Google and Meta. By focusing on small to mid-sized businesses intent on generating leads, bookings, and sales, they are targeting a market that prioritizes tangible results over mere impressions.

What’s happening? From what I’ve gathered, OpenAI has been communicating with advertisers and ad tech companies about attracting smaller local businesses. This includes enterprises like dry cleaners, car washes, and those based on appointments.

Ad formats are being crafted to inspire direct actions such as:
- Purchases,
- Appointment bookings,
- And contact form submissions.
Those who test these ad formats will only incur costs when the desired actions occur. This aligns ChatGPT advertising more closely with traditional performance marketing models.

Why this matters to us. OpenAI is escalating beyond experimental AI ads, building a performance-focused advertising ecosystem that rivals Google and Meta. By incorporating conversion-based pricing, pixels, and API tracking, ChatGPT is poised to become a dynamic player in lead generation, bookings, and e-commerce advertising.

The infrastructure behind it. OpenAI is also developing the necessary framework to validate ad performance.

Advertisers, in order to test their campaigns, will need to implement OpenAI’s ad pixel on their websites. This will help track user interactions following ad engagement. Furthermore, advertisers are urged to connect their internal systems through OpenAI’s API, enabling continuous conversion and customer action data flow.

Such a setup mirrors the established ad-tech environments long utilized by platforms like Google and Meta.

The bigger picture. In pushing towards conversion-centered advertising, OpenAI marks a significant shift of AI platforms from being mere informational tools to becoming transactional ecosystems.

Should this venture prove successful, ChatGPT could evolve into more than a discovery platform, transforming into a lead generation and commerce hub actively competing for performance ad budgets.

What to keep an eye on. Measurement accuracy might soon arise as the biggest hurdle for OpenAI’s advertising trajectory. Given the current vulnerability of pixels to browser restrictions and ad blockers, API-driven conversion tracking could gain prominence for advertisers aiming to validate ROI within AI-driven ad experiences.

First seen. The conversation around this development started when Digital Marketer Glenn Gabe shared insights from The Information article, available on X.

Dig Deeper. For more detailed information, check out OpenAI Targets Smaller Advertisers With New ChatGPT Ads (subscription needed).

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 26, 2026

Spotting Early PPC Performance Signals: Your Competitive Edge

5 Early Signs of PPC Performance Declines & How to Spot Them

Have you ever felt blindsided by a drop in your PPC performance? I’ve been there, and the key to avoiding this situation is staying ahead by tracking your competitors. Let me guide you through five signals that can appear before your performance takes a hit and what actions you should take when you notice them.

Understand the Why Behind PPC Drops

I’ve realized that while Google Ads reports can highlight declining PPC performance, they often fail to pinpoint the cause. In a landscape that evolves as rapidly as paid search, waiting until performance actually drops to react is simply too late. Proactive identification of the signals leading to these changes is essential to mitigate impacts before they affect your results.

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"alt": "Split image showing reactive and proactive PPC monitoring. Left side shows declining metrics. Right side shows rising metrics with timely changes.",
"caption": "Transform your PPC strategy from reactive to proactive. Witness the shift from declining to thriving metrics with timely interventions.",
"description": "This image depicts a side-by-side comparison of reactive versus proactive PPC monitoring. On the left, a PPC manager observes decreasing metrics like CTR and CPC, labeled as 'too late'. On the right, proactive monitoring shows rising metrics with alerts such as 'competitor enters' and 'changes made in time', indicating positive growth. The scene uses vibrant graphics to illustrate the contrasting effects of different monitoring approaches. Keywords: PPC, monitoring, proactive, reactive, digital marketing."
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```

Key Competitor Behaviors to Watch

Changes in your competitors’ bids on core keywords, new entrants into branded searches, or the launch of stronger offers that dominate the SERP are all factors that can alter auction dynamics. These changes often precede visible impacts by days or even weeks.

The Importance of Competitor Monitoring

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"caption": "Delve into the art of staying ahead with competitive insights. Spot trends like bid spikes and messaging changes to act swiftly.",
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```

By consistently monitoring competitor activity, I’ve found it provides critical context for unexpected shifts, allowing me to address issues before they become costly. Without this vigilance, areas like CPC, ad positions, and conversion rates can start slipping.

Cost per click: An increase due to rising auction pressure.
Ad positions and visibility: Diminished visibility if competitors boost their impression share or campaign coverage.
Conversion rate and revenue: Loss of relevance due to stronger competitor offers or CTAs.

5 Competitor Signals You Should Never Ignore

Every spike in CPC or drop in conversions usually indicates a competitor’s strategic move. Let’s delve into the five key signals you need to pay attention to:

Signal	What it affects	What to do
Competitor activity spike	CPC, impression share	Track keywords & review bidding strategy
New players in branded SERP	Brand traffic, CAC	Monitor activity & protect brand terms
Messaging changes	CTR, conversion rate	Test new offers
Increased ad frequency	Visibility, ROI	Detect pressure early
SERP takeover (extensions, shopping)	Click share, attention	Expand ad formats

Reacting to Competitor Signals

Upon recognizing these signals, I take proactive steps to mitigate impact. For instance, a sudden increase in competitor activity on priority keywords usually signals more aggressive bidding, driving up CPCs and reducing my campaign’s impression share.

Steps to Take:

Identify key players driving auction pressure.
Adjust bids and strengthen branded campaigns.
Track competitors’ ads and implement counter strategies.

Competitor monitoring and strategic analysis really make a difference, connecting market behavior shifts with performance changes, allowing you to act before your KPIs begin to suffer.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 26, 2026

OpenAI Enhances Ads Manager with Fresh Budget and Geo Features
The latest updates to ChatGPT Ads are empowering me as an advertiser with greater control over how I manage my campaigns, especially when it comes to pacing, location targeting, and engaging with ads more effectively.

OpenAI’s recent rollout of updates to the Ads Manager Beta is expanding my capabilities in the realm of campaign pacing, targeting, and reporting. They’re also quietly testing intriguing new ad experiences within ChatGPT.

With these ongoing enhancements, OpenAI is clearly investing in building a robust advertising platform. This makes ChatGPT an increasingly attractive channel for both performance and brand advertising.

What’s new in Ads Manager Beta:

Daily Budgets are Here. Now, I have the option to choose between a daily or a lifetime budget when setting up new campaigns.

Currently, daily budgets apply only to newly launched campaigns. This change provides me with the flexibility to better manage pacing and spending, especially for ongoing campaigns or those requiring tighter control.

Enhanced Geo Targeting. OpenAI is introducing more detailed location targeting options across the U.S.

Now, I’m able to target campaigns by state, designated market area (DMA), and zip code, allowing for more precise audience targeting.

These targeting settings can be applied either during campaign setup or modified later within campaign settings. This update aligns ChatGPT’s ad tools more closely with familiar location controls on platforms like Google and Meta.

Aggregate Totals in Reporting Views. Now, the Ads Manager table views display aggregate totals for essential metrics such as impressions, clicks, and spending.

Having these totals available across campaign, ad group, and ad-level reporting views helps me quickly assess performance without the need for data exports.

Testing New ChatGPT Ad Experiences. In tandem with the Ads Manager updates, OpenAI has begun testing new ad experiences within ChatGPT.

Some ads now feature dynamic calls-to-action (CTAs) such as:
- “Shop Now”
- “Book Now”
- “Sign Up”
- “Learn More”
OpenAI indicates that CTAs are automatically chosen based on ad creative and destination experience, with the possibility of advertiser controls for CTA selection in the future.

OpenAI describes this feature as a lightweight enhancement aimed at improving user understanding and engagement with ads seen in ChatGPT.

Why I Care. Essentially, these updates show that OpenAI is committed to developing a sophisticated, performance-driven ad platform within ChatGPT.

With features like daily budgets and detailed geo-targeting, I’m armed with greater spend and target audience control. These tools are indispensable for mature advertising platforms.

The introduction of dynamic CTAs indicates that OpenAI is optimizing ads for higher engagement and conversion, paving the way for performance-centric ad formats in the future. For brands like ours dipping our toes into AI-native advertising, these updates signal that we’re moving beyond initial testing phases to establish ChatGPT as a viable media channel.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 22, 2026
Boost Your Funnel: Tackle Signal Decay & Maximize Performance
Have you ever wondered why those campaigns designed to introduce customers to your brand seem to get the least credit when it comes to driving revenue? Let me walk you through how to reclaim those lost conversion signals.

In today’s digital world, conversion signals are fading from our marketing data. Personally, I’ve noticed it’s costing businesses money.

Factors like ad blockers, strict privacy laws, and the decline of cookies are hiding crucial conversion data. According to a Deloitte study, this can cost businesses as much as $203 million annually. That’s a staggering figure!

For most brands, the journey from discovery to purchase is obscured, and this isn’t just an irritating data issue. If left unaddressed, it can prevent new customers from discovering your brand.

It surprised me how many marketers don’t realize they’re basing decisions on incomplete data. They see top-of-funnel campaigns underperforming and shift budgets elsewhere, unaware that this could trigger a negative cycle.

When traffic diminishes further due to algorithmic reactions, ad investments dwindle, and new customer acquisition slows, it results in a downward spiral that’s tough to reverse.

To avoid this, rather than focusing solely on creative strategies or bigger budgets, I believe prioritizing data hygiene will offer a competitive edge by 2026. Feeding better data to Google’s algorithm can transform those top-of-funnel activities into effective customer acquisition channels.

Why Signal Loss Hurts Discovery Channels First

YouTube usually sits at the top of the funnel, where attribution is weakest. Unfortunately, this makes it an easy target for budget cuts because of incomplete performance data, despite its crucial role in product discovery and brand research.

According to Google research, “YouTube is the No. 1 platform viewers turn to for brand or product research.”
- “YouTube is the No. 1 platform viewers turn to when they want to research, vet, or make a decision about a brand or product.”
Yet, the decay of conversion signals detrimentally impacts YouTube’s performance as a marketing channel. It often acts as the initial touchpoint, with users making purchases off-platform, disrupting the signal flow.

Haus Research found that Google’s advertising tools underreport YouTube’s true impact by 70% or more. With improved measurement setups, advertisers can capture those missing signals, allowing for a more accurate assessment of YouTube and similar platforms.

Closing the Cross-Device Gap with Enhanced Conversions

Think about how often you watch TV while holding your phone. You might see a commercial, Google it on your phone, and complete the purchase on desktop days later. This cross-device journey complicates tracking with standard cookie-based tagging methods.

Enhanced conversions tackle this issue by adding a layer of hashed first-party data, like an email, which Google uses to connect conversions to ad interactions securely.

Incorporating enhanced conversions into analytics provides insights into purchase paths that begin on YouTube and conclude off-platform, highlighting YouTube’s effectiveness in driving conversions that might otherwise be missed.

Training the Algorithm with Offline Conversions

Consider viewing a YouTube ad for an expensive item—something you’re not comfortable purchasing online. You close the ad only to call the seller later. Cookie-based tagging often fails to track such valuable conversions back to their origin.

This tracking gap extends to lead generation campaigns too. Offline conversions connect CRM and call data back to Google, training the algorithm to follow which leads convert rather than just form completions, enabling smart bidding to optimize for actual revenue outcomes.

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Defining New Top-of-Funnel Signals with Micro Conversions

Enhanced conversions and offline tracking can retrieve lost signals, but sometimes, top-of-funnel campaigns like YouTube lack sufficient conversion data for the algorithm. That’s where micro conversions come in, feeding necessary data for ad optimization.

Micro conversions provide early signals—like video views, adding items to a cart, or time spent on a page—allowing campaigns that lack purchase-level data to still improve performance. Depending on the campaign’s position in the funnel, you might prioritize engagement signals or actions like cart additions.

Without these intermediate signals, distinguishing effective upper-funnel activities from wasted efforts becomes challenging. Micro conversions empower you to treat top-of-funnel actions like any other campaign, enabling data-driven decisions on what’s working.

Recovering Lost Signals with Google Tag Gateway

The final piece in maintaining data hygiene is recovering blocked conversion signals before they reach Google. Browsers like Safari and Firefox restrict third-party tracking, contributing to massive signal decay during online purchases.

Google introduced Google Tag Gateway (GTG) to help reclaim lost data. GTG uses server-side technology to load tracking tags from your site’s domain instead of Google’s, bypassing some blockers.

Google reports an 11% signal uplift for GTG users compared to advertisers not using the tech. GTG also benefits advertisers with faster page speeds, enhancing Google’s landing page experience score and reducing click costs.

Setting up GTG is straightforward, especially if you’re on a content delivery network like Cloudflare, and it can significantly enhance your data infrastructure.

Your Data Infrastructure is Your Competitive Advantage

Conversion signal decay affects every brand selling online, but recognizing the real underlying problem is crucial: signal distortion from cross-device behavior, offline conversions, ad blockers, and low top-of-funnel signal volume distorts actual purchase behavior.

Armed with inaccurate data, many opt to tweak creatives, cut budgets, or inadvertently drop channels like YouTube, which secretly contribute to discovery. This leads to a detrimental downward spiral.

In 2026, those excelling won’t merely skirt around issues but will implement advanced data hygiene methods to feed lost data back into Google’s algorithm, gaining an edge over competitors.

To run more successful ads, prioritizing data improvements is key. Everything else tends to fall into place thereafter.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 21, 2026
Mastering Multi-Channel Marketing: Stop Juggling, Start Thriving

Every Monday, I dive into my role as a paid media manager knowing the chaos that awaits. From Google Ads to TikTok and Reddit, my task is to pull the data from each platform, put it into a comprehensible spreadsheet, and report to my boss by 10 a.m. Amidst all this, I try to decipher what worked last week and why. It’s a frenetic start to the week, to say the least.

Remembering when managing multi-channel campaigns meant juggling just Google Ads and a Facebook campaign feels almost nostalgic now. Today, it’s a tangled web of 12 channels, each with their peculiarities in terms of attribution logic and campaign structures. The disarray is real and mostly ignored, to the detriment of performance marketers like me.

I realize that this Monday morning ritual is less about campaign management and more about tedious chores like data entry and reformatting. Managing campaigns across numerous networks involves reopening platforms repeatedly just to align disparate data points.

The prevailing problem isn’t just the time I lose, but the lag it introduces to my operations. When my performance data is scattered across various platforms, delays in identifying key insights can lead to wasted budgets. The inconsistency in strategies across channels further exacerbates the issue.

I’ve come to understand that relying on native dashboards from Google, Meta, and others won’t rescue us from this inefficiency. These platforms prefer keeping us tethered to their interfaces, contributing to the fragmentation. But a paradigm shift is on the horizon: AI-native management tools that promise seamless cross-platform synchronization without the need for multiple dashboards.

The change is happening right now, reimagining how campaigns are managed with AI. It means planning campaigns with simple briefs and automatically syncing creative adjustments across all channels. This reorientation is not just an incremental improvement but a transformational leap that alleviates the operational burdens we’ve carried for too long.

For agencies like mine, AI brings another boon: automated and branded client reports that compile multi-network performance data without the Sunday-night grind.

What actions can we take this week? First, I’ll track where my hours truly go throughout a week — seeing is believing when it comes to confronting administrative bloat. Second, standardizing naming conventions across accounts is surprisingly effective in smoothing out cross-platform wrinkles. Third, I’ll delve into evaluating current AI-native tools, as I suspect many teams are operating on outdated assumptions about their capabilities.

Achieving an operational edge in paid media transcends budget size. It’s about faster data-action cycles, unified cross-network performance views, and liberating our teams from the laborious chains of manual processing. This operational edge could mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving in a competitive landscape.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 21, 2026
Explore GML 2026: AI Innovations Transforming Search & Ads
When I attended Google Marketing Live 2026, I witnessed firsthand how Gemini is reshaping the world of Search, advertising, commerce, and measurement. The event highlighted the move towards a more conversational, AI-driven ecosystem.

This year, the focus was on agentic AI, conversational Search, automated creative production, and AI-assisted shopping. Google rolled out tools across Search, YouTube, Merchant Center, and Analytics aimed at making campaigns more autonomous, predictive, and interconnected.

Let me take you through the biggest announcements from Google Marketing Live 2026.

Google Introduces a New Generation of AI-Powered Search Ads

Google rolled out new Gemini-powered ad formats that enhance AI Mode and conversational Search experiences.

The updates include:
- Conversational Discovery ads
- Highlighted Answers
- AI-powered Shopping ads
- Business Agent for Leads
These innovative formats are crafted to be more contextual and interactive by embedding AI-generated explanations and conversational experiences directly into Search journeys.

Plus, Google expanded its Direct Offers pilot with AI-generated bundles, native checkout, and travel promotions seamlessly integrated into AI-assisted Search experiences.

Full story: Google tests new conversational ad formats in AI Mode and Search

Google Launches Ask Advisor Across Ads, Analytics, and Merchant Center

At the event, Google introduced Ask Advisor, a Gemini-powered AI collaborator that bridges Google Ads, Analytics, Merchant Center, and the Google Marketing Platform.

It functions as a unified assistant to help marketers:
- Build campaigns
- Analyze performance
- Receive recommendations
- Automate operational tasks
Google assures that Ask Advisor expedites the process from planning to optimization by pulling insights across platforms.

Full story: Google launches Ask Advisor across Ads, Analytics, and Merchant Center

Google Expands Universal Commerce Protocol and AI Shopping Experiences

Major updates to the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), Universal Cart, and AI-powered checkout experiences were announced by Google.

New capabilities include:
- AI-assisted checkout flows
- Buy-now-pay-later integrations with Klarna and Affirm
- Cross-retailer shopping experiences
- AI-powered travel and food ordering integrations
The expansion includes UCP integrations into Demand Gen campaigns, YouTube Shopping ads, and AI Mode experiences.

Full story: Google expands Universal Commerce Protocol and launches new agentic shopping tools

Asset Studio Gets Gemini-Powered Creative and Video Tools

Asset Studio received an upgrade with multimodal Gemini-powered creative generation capabilities.

Advertisers can now use natural language prompts to generate:
- Images
- Video assets
- Text variations
- Creative themes
Gemini Omni was integrated into Asset Studio for video workflows, and 1-Click Creative Testing was introduced for asset optimization.

Full story: Google upgrades Asset Studio with Gemini-powered creative generation and video tools

Demand Gen Expands with Creator Tools, Maps Inventory, and AI Optimization

Google announced updates to Demand Gen focusing on YouTube creators, AI-assisted optimization, and cross-platform discovery.

The updates include:
- Creator partnership tools
- Google Maps inventory
- Dynamic product video distribution
- AI-assisted campaign setup
- Expanded measurement integrations
Advertisers with large product feeds continue to witness stronger conversion performance in Demand Gen campaigns.

Full story: Google expands Demand Gen with YouTube creator tools

Google Upgrades Measurement with Meridian and Predictive AI Tools

Google announced new tools for measurement and forecasting within Google Analytics 360.

Meridian, an open-source marketing mix model, is being integrated directly into Analytics 360, along with Qualified Future Conversions (QFCs), a predictive reporting metric powered by Gemini.

These tools will assist advertisers in:
- Improving media mix modeling
- Forecasting campaign outcomes
- Measuring incrementality
- Linking current ad activity with future revenue signals
Full story: Google brings Meridian marketing mix modeling into Analytics 360

Merchant Center Gets AI Visibility and Conversational Commerce Updates

Google unveiled new Merchant Center features to enhance retailers’ discoverability in AI-powered shopping environments.

New tools include:
- AI Performance Insights
- Conversational Attributes
- Merchant Center integrations with Ask Advisor
The goal is to help retailers optimize their product feeds and descriptions for conversational shopping across Search, Gemini, and AI Mode.

Full story: Google expands Direct Offers with AI-generated bundles, native checkout, and travel deals

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 20, 2026