Google has a system to manage advertisement policy compliance known as the ‘three-strikes system.’ In my experience, your Google Ads account can face suspension after accumulating three policy violations within 90 days. Let me guide you through understanding this process and how you can maintain the smooth sailing of your campaigns.
Every year, Google suspends millions of accounts because of advertising policy violations. One misunderstood policy that often trips up advertisers like myself is Google’s three-strikes system.
In essence, if your account is caught repeatedly violating any of Google’s 15 specific advertising policies, it risks suspension. Understanding this system can help you ensure that a single mistake doesn’t lead to your account being shut down.
Over the years, I’ve assisted many advertisers in navigating Google’s policies. A recent case involved a business that sells ceremonial swords, which interestingly was flagged by Google’s ‘Other Weapons’ policy. Although ceremonial swords are allowed, the misinterpretation led to a warning, and later a strike.
Despite this misunderstanding, the journey taught me the importance of patience and persistence in appealing against wrongful strikes. Hard work paid off when the business could continue without any further policy issues, proving that even if strikes occur incorrectly, they can be resolved.
Successfully navigating Google’s three-strikes system begins with recognizing what each step involves. The first step is always a warning – a chance to rectify issues without penalties yet.
Once you receive a warning, take it seriously! Make sure to address and correct the violation immediately or appeal if you believe Google is mistaken.
If a violation is believed to persist, a first strike follows, temporarily pausing your ads for three days. Here, the choice is to acknowledge the strike and remove any violations, or appeal if you’re certain you’ve complied with policies.
The second strike sees ads paused for seven days, indicating another violation or unresolved first strike, leaving the same choices for action.
If a third strike occurs, your account faces suspension, and appeals become your sole recourse, though challenging and often uncertain.
Remember, even if you appeal successfully, Google might not reset the 90-day clock, so monitor it closely and take proactive steps to avoid potential infractions.
Keep your account strike-free by understanding the policies, addressing issues promptly, and adding disclaimers to your site to clarify compliance.
Ultimately, knowing Google’s policies inside out and being prepared to address any concerns quickly are crucial steps to ensure a healthy Google Ads account.
I’ve recently discovered some thrilling news from Google — they’ve globally launched VRC Non-Skip ads, a fantastic way for advertisers to achieve AI-optimized, non-skippable reach on YouTube’s connected TV screens. This development is truly exciting!
Google is broadening its horizons with VRC Non-Skip ads, enabling brands to effectively connect with TV audiences on YouTube. As someone passionate about advertising strategies, I’m keen to explore how brands can leverage this opportunity.
What’s happening? VRC (Video Reach Campaign) Non-Skip ads are now accessible globally through Google Ads and Display & Video 360. Crafted specifically for the living room experience, these ads ensure seamless, non-skippable placements designed for connected TV (CTV) screens.
Why we care. Considering that YouTube has been the top streaming platform in the U.S. for three years straight, the TV screen is now a pivotal arena for brand investments. With non-skippable ad delivery, advertisers can make certain their complete message is absorbed in a premium, laid-back viewing environment.
AI in the mix. Google AI is here to dynamically optimize across various formats such as 6-second bumper ads, 15-second standard spots, and 30-second CTV-exclusive non-skippable formats. Instead of manually adjusting budgets per format, I’m finding it fascinating that brands can trust AI to allocate impressions optimally for maximum reach and efficiency.
The bottom line. For advertisers like myself seeking guaranteed full-message delivery on the largest screen in the home, AI now offers a simplified path. Utilizing AI-driven solutions ensures maximum reach and efficiency across non-skippable formats without the hassle of manual management.
I’ve got exciting news for certified online pharmacies in the U.S. Google has expanded its recurring billing policy, which now allows us to promote prescription drugs through subscription plans and bundled services.
The update means that certified merchants, like us, can now offer:
Prescription drug subscriptions — we’re talking recurring billing for prescription medications.
Prescription drug bundles — this allows us to combine drugs with other services, such as coaching or treatment programs, as long as the medication remains the primary product.
Prescription drug consultation services — recurring consultations to assess prescription eligibility, offered standalone or with medications.
Eligibility Requirements. To participate, we need to maintain our certified status, accurately submit subscription costs using the [subscription_cost] attribute in Merchant Center, and ensure our landing pages feature transparent terms and fees. We must also comply with existing Healthcare & Medicine policies. Accounts previously disapproved can ask for a review once they meet these requirements.
Why this Matters. This change presents new revenue possibilities for online pharmacies, as it allows us to harness the power of recurring billing models and bundled services while adhering to Google’s compliance standards.
The Bottom Line. Certified U.S. online pharmacies now have more flexibility to reach patients via recurring prescriptions and bundled offers, providing an opportunity to expand subscription-based services.
I’ve learned that not overseeing branded search campaigns means letting potential revenue slip through my fingers, leaving my reputation in the hands of competitors and review sites.
Utilizing PPC for brand protection is more than just bidding on my name. It involves a comprehensive strategy of defensive bidding, query monitoring, ad testing, and managing my brand’s reputation throughout the customer journey.
Why Brand Search Needs More Than Basic Defense
Many assume that brand campaigns require minimal effort. I know it takes more than setting up a simple bid on my brand name—it demands attention across all customer touchpoints.
Think about the various ways potential customers are searching for my brand. They’re not simply typing in my brand’s name; they’re investigating different aspects, validating choices, comparing alternatives, and researching features.
If I limit my targeting to exact brand matches, I miss out on numerous relevant searches, leaving room for competitors to attract high-intent users.
Review sites and affiliates bid aggressively on my brand terms, diverting traffic to competitive pages where other brands pay for top positioning.
The true cost is profound: my brand equity, customer trust, and diminished conversion rates.
Four Must-Cover Branded Search Categories
By analyzing user intent and competitive gaps, I can categorize branded searches into four strategies, each requiring distinct ad tactics and tailored landing pages.
Brand Trust and Reputation Queries
These users are seeking validation through queries like, “Is [Brand] good?” They need assurance and social proof before committing.
Review sites posing competitive threats make the need for targeted PPC ads crucial here.
PPC Strategy:
Bid assertively for these high-intent users nearing conversion.
Use review extensions and star ratings in ads.
Highlight trust factors, like awards and years in business.
Send traffic to testimonial-focused landing pages rather than my homepage.
Test callout extensions with specific points of proof.
Product Feature Queries
Users seeking this information want to ensure my product aligns with their needs, and competitors often step in with rival feature claims.
PPC Strategy:
Create feature-specific ad groups with corresponding ad text.
Direct users to targeted feature pages through sitelink extensions.
Address specific features in headlines, saving space by omitting my brand name.
Include feature demonstrations or videos on landing pages.
Evaluate if these queries need higher bids than core brand terms.
Comparison Queries
User searches like “Alternatives to [Brand]” indicate active comparison, making this a competitive battlefield.
I came across an interesting update from Google, which released a new help page that explains its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). This guidance provides merchants with detailed directions on how checkout processes work across Google’s platforms, powered by AI-driven enhancements.
Why It Matters. Google’s documentation illuminates how UCP and its associated checkout feature enable a native “Buy” button, which takes the transaction straight onto Google’s surfaces while still letting merchants stay as the seller of record. To leverage this feature, merchants need to implement the native_commerce attribute in the Merchant Center.
Transactions flow through stored Google Wallet credentials, and payment processors are required to support Google Pay tokens. This seamless integration is designed to enhance the user experience.
The Value for Merchants. Initially part of Google’s push for agentic shopping, UCP was later confirmed as a live feature in Merchant Center, promising to streamline the path from product discovery to purchase. By embedding checkout directly on Google surfaces, it could potentially uplift conversion rates, particularly in AI-enhanced experiences like Gemini and AI Mode.
Additionally, the new documentation provides clarity on what’s needed for implementation, aiding merchants to adjust their feeds and payment systems to perfectly align with Google’s evolving commerce ecosystem driven by AI.
The Larger Context. By centralizing the checkout process while maintaining merchants’ positions as the sellers of record, Google is making it easier for shoppers navigating AI-powered commerce. This strategic move by Google also tightens its grip over the transaction layer.
Key Takeaway. With this fresh documentation, the concept of UCP transitions to an actionable playbook, marking a significant step for AI-driven, on-Google checkout as an integral element of Google’s commerce approach.
Initial Discovery. This helpful document first came to light thanks to Hana Kobzova, founder of PPC News Feed.
I often find myself pondering the vital question every marketing leader should consider: How robust are our customer relationships? Not just the campaigns or channels but the genuine connections we forge with our customers.
This question is more challenging than it seems. Over the past two decades, we’ve focused on building around specific channels.
Every channel like email, social media, or ecommerce had its own team, its own metrics, and its own measure of success. From our perspective, it appeared as progress—after all, each team reached its goals.
Yet, customers felt like they were dealing with multiple companies under one logo. Imagine receiving a heartfelt ‘We miss you!’ email the day after a frustrating customer support experience. Sales might not realize a demo had already been seen. In-store purchases could go unnoticed by the ecommerce team. There’s simply no unified memory or relationship there.
On March 11, 2026, top minds in marketing, customer experience, and engagement, including those from BMW, Essity, and Sinch, will converge at Engage with SAP Online. This free, virtual event is essential for leaders ready to shift from isolated channel optimization to holistic customer relationship building.
Who’s Speaking and Why It Matters
The event kicks off with Sara Richter of SAP Engagement Cloud sharing insights from the SAP Engagement Index, a global study. But the real highlight is the presentations that follow.
Mark Ritson, known for his no-nonsense marketing approach, will deliver the keynote on the trends reshaping customer experience. Expect a sharp analysis on the fast-changing customer behaviors and why loyalty needs to transcend marketing.
Following Ritson, Jutta Richter from BMW will discuss modern customer journeys and brand relevance. Daniele Tedesco from Essity and Venky Naravulu from Sinch will share practical lessons on AI and connected systems.
The discussions will focus on what’s effective, what’s not, and actionable steps to enhance engagement.
The Backdrop: Why This Conversation is Urgent
This event is critical as there’s a growing disconnect between customer expectations and organizational delivery capabilities, as highlighted by the SAP Engagement Index.
SAP calls this the Engagement Divide, a widening gap that underscores the urgent need for a new operational model focused more on relationship management rather than isolated channel success.
As businesses navigate this challenging terrain, the speakers at Engage with SAP Online are set to provide the strategies needed to organize around customer relationships effectively.
As an advertiser using Microsoft Advertising, I’m thrilled to share that we now have the freedom to create and manage negative keyword lists on our own! This long-awaited feature allows us to take greater control without needing to involve support tickets.
What’s happening? Now, we can directly build and handle shared negative keyword lists in the User Interface. These lists can hold up to 5,000 keywords, with one keyword per line, and can be applied at either the campaign or account level. The match types work just as they do in Performance Max and traditional Search campaigns.
Lists can be edited, exported as CSV files, or removed from campaigns whenever necessary.
Microsoft highlights the need for proper match type formatting using brackets for exact matches and quotation marks for phrase matches—not hyphens.
Why is this important to us? Negative keywords are vital for filtering out irrelevant traffic and protecting our budgets. This new self-serve capability streamlines our workflow, minimizes dependency on support tickets, and gives us faster control over search query exclusions.
The bottom line? Microsoft is handing more control back to us, eliminating friction in one of the most critical areas for improving campaign efficiency.
I recently discovered that Google has released a new guidance document for passkeys in Google Ads. This move couldn’t have come at a better time, considering how frequent account hacks have become.
Understanding how passkeys work within Google Ads is crucial, particularly with the uptick in phishing attempts targeting advertisers like us.
What’s Happening. According to the new help page, passkeys offer a password-free and phishing-resistant login method in Google Ads. Google outlines when these keys are essential, such as during user access changes and account linking updates.
The document guides us through the necessary device requirements, setup steps, and other security considerations to ensure we’re fully protected.
Why We Care. In today’s digital age, our ad accounts are prime targets for cyber attackers. These threats can lead to budget theft, disruptions in campaigns, and even data loss. Having clear guidance from Google is incredibly valuable, offering us a straightforward path to fortify our account security just when it’s needed the most.
The Bottom Line. With the increasing frequency of account takeovers, learning how to effectively use security tools like passkeys is a smart move. It’s all about securing our access and minimizing risks.
Discover how vibe coding empowers me to create custom PPC tools quickly using intuitive AI prompts instead of traditional coding techniques.
I now find myself able to generate custom PPC tools using plain English, thanks to GPT-5. It’s a game-changer, giving a competitive edge to those who embrace AI-assisted automation.
Frederick Vallaeys, who has built tools in mere minutes instead of months, is leading the way with AI. He has ten years of experience at Google creating invaluable tools like the Google Ads Editor and another decade at Optmyzr as CEO.
Vallaeys has witnessed the evolution of automation firsthand, and vibe coding is the next giant leap. At SMX Next 2025, he shared his personal journey with vibe coding.
If you’re involved in PPC, automation is crucially important. Initially, I relied heavily on Google Ads scripts because there was always more work than could be done in a day.
The problem arises when Vallaeys questions who truly writes their scripts. Only a few people raise their hands, as most often copy and paste due to lack of coding skills.
This results in limitations, confining you to what others have crafted instead of adding your personal flair.
GPT revolutionized scriptwriting for those without coding skills.
The best part lies in large language models being multimodal. Now, a simple photo of my campaign decision flowchart can be deciphered by AI to generate a complete Google Ads script.
Instead of viewing client meetings as additional work, I’ve embraced them as opportunities for prompt-engineering sessions.
Changing my mindset allowed me to treat these meetings as prompt instructions for AI, simplifying task execution.
Instead of delving into code, I merely describe my desired outcome, and AI takes care of the technical side. That’s vibe coding for you!
Imagine needing software to perform functions X, Y, and Z. Detail your needs to a coding tool, and watch as it constructs the software. Vallaeys describes this process as mind-blowing.
Scripts have become outdated; vibe coding is the way forward.
Vallaeys demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by requesting a persona scorer for an ad tailored to various audiences from Lovable. The result was rapid and precise.
Working collaboratively with it, akin to a human developer, you describe needed changes without ever touching code.
The automation framework traditionally targeted tasks ranging from frequent, quick activities to extensive, periodic ones. Vallaeys recommends not limiting automation to what’s already being done, but rather considering what you wish to do more often, making time-consuming tasks manageable.
The old method was slow, taking at least a month to launch anything.
I used to spend days compiling specifications, waiting for engineers to build, finding bugs, organizing meetings, and repeating the cycle.
Traditional code was deterministic, relying purely on if/then logic. While reliable, it struggles with nuanced actions, like identifying competitor terms. Encompassing every variation of competitor keywords was virtually impossible.
Sam Altman’s launch of GPT-5 heralded a new era of on-demand software generation, transitioning beyond software-as-a-service.
Tapping into this new approach takes just minutes, from writing a spec to letting AI build and refine it. Within an hour, you have a functional automation tool.
This code isn’t just deterministic; it’s also flexible. Large language models handle nuanced queries with impressive accuracy.
Vibe coding allows machines to create anything I can articulate clearly, from landing pages adhering to brand guidelines to unique audience tools.
This paradigm shift means even tasks taking 90 minutes by hand are candidates for automation, creating disposable software to save time today, unaffected by future failures.
Vibe coding enables building a range of online solutions — from landing pages to browser extensions — all through simple directives.
Begin with tools you may already use, such as Claude or ChatGPT, for data analysis or visualization tasks.
For more complex applications with databases or user logins, tools like Lovable, V0.dev, Replit, or Bolt simplify the process.
If you have technical skills, Codex, Bolt.new, or Cursor offer robust capabilities, but simpler tools are often sufficient.
I challenged someone in my team with no coding background to create a seasonality analysis tool using Claude.
The process involved gathering materials, crafting a prompt, and testing via a browser without requiring installation.
The team quickly iterated, enhancing features. The AI efficiently added helpful guidance and streamlined interfaces, leveraging its extensive training.
I envisioned a tool sequence for expert review of blog posts, synthesizing feedback through a consolidated summary. This was easily vibe-coded in V0.dev.
A Chrome extension for demos needing to blur sensitive numbers was swiftly constructed via simple prompts, addressing specific visibility needs.
Effective prompting involves specifying the exact use case, allowing AI to generate relevant options and suggest innovative methods.
Engage with questions to uncover insights such as process approaches or data storage solutions, furthering learning opportunities.
Utilizing chat mode for alternative exploration is advantageous, allowing detailed direction without altering code initially.
You can experiment with my team’s audience analyzer, adapting it with ease to suit specific needs like logo integration or functional adjustments.
It’s clear from Vallaeys: the competition isn’t against AI but against individuals harnessing its capabilities more effectively.
Dive into vibe coding today. Select a tool, issue a simple prompt, and witness the remarkable outcomes firsthand. My first attempt left me in awe.
By integrating this newfound knowledge, improving AI skills becomes attainable, ensuring a competitive edge.
I’m thrilled to share the exciting news about Google’s latest innovation, Nano Banana 2. This powerhouse merges pro-level image quality with lightning-fast speed, enabling me to create stunning, production-ready images faster than ever.
Google DeepMind has introduced Nano Banana 2, officially known as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image. This new model seamlessly blends the intelligence of Nano Banana Pro with the swift performance of Gemini Flash.
What’s new. Here are some standout features of Nano Banana 2:
Advanced world knowledge: It elevates how I render subjects by integrating Gemini’s real-time web grounding, making it easier to create infographics and data visualizations.
Precision text rendering and translation: The model delivers cleaner, more readable text in images, even providing localization options if needed.
Stronger instruction adherence: It’s great to finally have a tool that handles complex, multi-layered prompts with ease.
Subject consistency: I can maintain up to five characters and 14 objects within a single workflow, enhancing my creative projects.
Production-ready outputs: With support for resolutions from 512px to 4K, I can generate content suitable for any project specification.
Enhanced visual fidelity: Enjoy sharper details, richer textures, and more dynamic lighting — all at incredible speeds.
Why I care. Nano Banana 2 revolutionizes how I generate high-quality images, slashing the time and cost usually associated with creative development. This innovation means that I can quickly produce campaign assets and localized variations, saving me days of work.
Fully integrated into Google Ads and Gemini, it streamlines the creative production process by accelerating testing and iteration cycles, allowing me to focus more on creativity and less on logistics.
The rollout. Nano Banana 2 is now available within Google’s ecosystem, including Google Ads, Gemini app, Search AI Mode, Lens, and more — making it more accessible than ever.
Between the lines. Google is raising the bar by making high-end image generation a standard feature. This shift suggests that premium creative control is now the norm, not an expensive upgrade.
The bottom line. With Nano Banana 2, Google is predicting that creators like me desire fewer compromises — offering fast generation, robust reasoning, and production-ready visuals all within a single, streamlined model.
