Tag: Google Ads

  • Unlock Google Data Manager API for Enhanced Ad Performance

    Unlock Google Data Manager API for Enhanced Ad Performance

    I’ve just discovered a game-changer from Google that could simplify our advertising efforts significantly. Their new Data Manager API offers a streamlined way for us to feed our valuable first-party data directly into Google’s sophisticated AI systems.

    As an advertiser, utilizing the Data Manager API means I can seamlessly connect our first-party data with Google’s AI-driven ad tools. This connection is poised to elevate our measurement, targeting, and overall performance, eliminating the hassle of managing multiple systems.

    Why I care. By leveraging the Data Manager API, I’m able to inject high-quality data into Google’s AI, which optimizes targeting, measurement, and bidding processes. It replaces the need for various APIs, reducing our engineering workload and accelerating insights into our campaigns. With the decline of cookies, this API is crucial for maximizing the data we already have.

    Driving the news. This API serves as a single integration point, unifying multiple Google platform APIs. It’s designed for advertisers, agencies, and developers, making our lives a lot easier.

    Here’s what I can do with it:

    • Upload and refresh audience lists
    • Send offline conversions for improved measurement
    • Enhance bidding performance by providing Google AI with richer signals

    This API expands upon Google’s existing codeless Data Manager tool, which is already in use by thousands of advertisers to activate first-party data.

    Partnership push. To speed up adoption, Google is integrating with several partners, including AdSwerve, Customerlabs, Data Hash, and others.

    State of play. Starting today, the API is available across Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Display & Video 360, with more integrations to follow.

    The bottom line. Adopting the Data Manager API empowers us by enhancing Google’s AI capabilities, improving measurement, reducing technical complexities, and driving better ad performance, all while gearing up for a future that prioritizes privacy.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Ignoring Google’s Warnings: A Costly Lesson in PPC Management

    Ignoring Google’s Warnings: A Costly Lesson in PPC Management

    I recently had a thought-provoking conversation with Nils Rooijmans, a respected figure in the world of Google Ads and a top PPC influencer. He shared with me a critical experience that highlights the importance of not overlooking Google’s consent mode warnings.

    On episode 333 of PPC Live The Podcast, Nils revealed how a seemingly small oversight led to a significant drop in conversions and traffic for one of his managed accounts. This experience serves as a stark lesson for all of us in the paid search industry.

    The story began with a rushed account onboarding after Nils’ existing client acquired another company involved in airport parking services. The client sought to avoid additional fees for a proper onboarding process, setting the stage for future challenges.

    Nils agreed to transition the account into their existing setup gradually. However, this compromise led them to neglect the new account, which soon proved to be an expensive mistake.

    After six weeks of minimal oversight, clicks and conversions plummeted. Upon investigation, Nils found that Google had been sending warnings about incorrect consent management implementation, threatening to halt conversion tracking if unresolved.

    Ignoring these emails, originally thought to be routine noise, allowed the issue to escalate. As Nils admitted, this oversight stopped Google from processing conversion data, leading their smart bidding algorithm to adjust bids, reducing traffic further.

    The root cause was identified as a bypassed onboarding process. Without this critical step, the account missed essential safeguards, including monitoring scripts and regular health checks.

    Breaking this news to the client was complicated, especially since the financial implications were severe. The CFO demanded compensation despite actual bookings continuing, demonstrating further complications from the original oversight.

    Technically resolving the issue was also challenging. Although Google support was contacted multiple times, they couldn’t fix the flagged domain problem, necessitating a workaround.

    This story taught several key lessons: never skip onboarding, monitor conversion tracking meticulously, and pay close attention to Google’s communications. These steps can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.

    In the broader picture, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities strengthens team dynamics and enhances PPC strategies. Nils’ experience is a testament to the value of maintaining vigilance and the power of systematic approaches in digital marketing.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Unlock Regional Shopping Deals with Google’s New Ad Feature

    Unlock Regional Shopping Deals with Google’s New Ad Feature

    I’ve recently discovered that Google is testing an intriguing beta feature in Shopping ads, which allows merchants to offer region-specific loyalty prices. This innovation can help retailers tailor their promotions to local audiences more efficiently.

    Personally, I find this feature fascinating because it provides a fresh opportunity for merchants to customize pricing based on regional markets. By highlighting loyalty benefits directly within the ads, there’s potential for increased conversions and more sign-ups.

    Here’s how it works: Merchants need to participate in Google’s loyalty add-on, define regional settings within the Merchant Center, and incorporate loyalty_program attributes — such as program label, tier, and price — into their regional inventory feeds.

    As someone who’s been following this development, it’s important to note that when a shopper clicks on an ad, Google adds a region ID to the URL. Consequently, the merchant’s landing page must dynamically showcase the appropriate member price.

    However, the caveat is that this feature is still in beta, with limited visibility, and is only accessible in markets supporting both RAAP (regional availability and pricing) and loyalty programs.

    In my opinion, enabling regional member pricing empowers retailers to localize incentives and distinguish value across various markets without needing to create separate promotions for each region. It seems to be a clever strategy for reaching customers at a local level.

    If you’re interested, you can find out more about how to set up regional member pricing from Google’s official announcement.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Master Ecommerce PPC: Boost Campaign Performance

    Master Ecommerce PPC: Boost Campaign Performance

    I’ve delved deep into four key areas that shape how ecommerce PPC campaigns perform: mastering the essentials of Performance Max, leveraging Amazon’s conversion power, building social audiences, and crafting insightful dashboards.

    PPC in ecommerce differs vastly from PPC for lead generation or SaaS. The mechanics of campaigns, the conversion data volume, and each platform’s unique role demand a specialized approach.

    Entering the ecommerce realm helped me identify which fundamentals truly matter. Let’s look at how the core differences between ecommerce and non-ecommerce models influence PPC strategy and how to play to each platform’s strengths.

    1. Performance Max is Built for Ecommerce

    Google Ads is essential for ecommerce, primarily because of Performance Max campaigns, or PMax. It’s tailored for ecommerce, where data flows from high sales volumes and lower ticket sizes, allowing rapid learning and improvement.

    To maximize PMax’s potential, optimizing your feed, segmenting your campaigns, and ensuring conversion tracking are crucial steps.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Interface showing Google Ads labels with 'Source Market' and 'Custom labels'.",
  "caption": "A glimpse into organizing data with Google Ads labels—where Source Market and Custom labels streamline categorization.",
  "description": "The image displays the 'Labels' section of Google's interface, featuring 'Source Market' with a label 'au' and 'Custom label 1' marked 'stranded'. Other custom labels are yet to be filled, providing a flexible setup for organizing and filtering data within Google Ads. These labels assist in categorizing and managing marketing campaigns more effectively."
}
```

    Feed Optimization

    Optimizing your feed can dramatically enhance PMax performance. Ensure your product titles and descriptions are well-structured, utilize character limits, and incorporate keywords effectively.

    Campaign Segmentation

    By categorizing your feeds effectively, you can segment campaigns for better results. Utilize default and custom labels in Google Merchant Center to achieve precise targeting and higher ROAS.

    Conversion Tracking

    Accurate conversion tracking is critical. Integrating with tools like Shopify to sync data with Google Ads enables automated bidding strategies and campaign experiments for enhanced ROI.

    2. Amazon Excels in Ecommerce Advertising

    Amazon is an advertising powerhouse for ecommerce, offering transparency and deeper insights through its platform, which results in higher conversion rates compared to competitors.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "A table displaying search query data with metrics like volume, impressions, and clicks.",
  "caption": "Dive into detailed search query metrics—explore volume, impressions, click through rates, and brand shares to fine-tune your strategy.",
  "description": "The image presents a detailed table of search query analytics divided into columns such as Search Query Score, Volume, and two funnels: Impressions and Clicks. Each funnel includes Total Count, Brand Count, and Brand Share with respective numerical values. This visualization offers insights into online search performances, crucial for data-driven marketing strategies, and highlights metrics like click-through rates. Ideal for SEO analysis and performance optimization."
}
```

    Transparency

    Amazon provides detailed reporting, enabling clear insights into conversion performance at both the keyword and market level, setting it apart from platforms like Google and Meta.

    Higher Conversion Rates

    Amazon’s unified platform leads to seamless transactions, resulting in higher average conversion rates and more reliable attribution data, minimizing guesswork.

    Rankings Philosophy

    Amazon’s approach to linking ads and organic rankings provides clarity and allows advertisers to precisely strategize on improving offers and performance based on conversion metrics.

    3. Social Media: Not the Conversion Leader

    While social platforms are crucial for brand awareness and audience building, they typically aren’t optimal for direct conversions, making them secondary to platforms like Amazon Ads and PMax.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Table showing search funnel data for cart adds and purchases including total count, rates, brand counts, shares, and shipping speed.",
  "caption": "Unveiling e-commerce insights: A table showcasing the search funnel metrics from cart adds to purchases, revealing customer behavior patterns and brand impact.",
  "description": "This image displays a detailed table of e-commerce search funnel data, illustrating metrics from cart adds to purchases. Columns include Total Count, Cart Add Rate, Brand Count, Brand Share, and Same Day Shipping Speed for both stages. This data helps in understanding user interaction and conversion through the sales funnel, highlighting conversion rates and brand influence in online shopping. Keywords: e-commerce, customer behavior, sales funnel, conversion rates, brand impact."
}
```

    Building Customer Lists

    Using social channels to host giveaways can substantially grow your customer lists, which are invaluable for targeted marketing efforts such as promotions and cross-selling.

    Awareness

    Utilize social media to build brand visibility with cost-effective campaigns, focusing on awareness over immediate sales for new-to-market products.

    Remarketing

    Social media excels in creating remarketing funnels that engage customers more deeply, enhancing overall campaign effectiveness.

    4. Dashboarding for Clarity and Success

    Effective dashboarding is vital for maintaining clarity across multiple platforms. A good dashboard distills complex data into actionable insights, critical for profitability and strategy alignment.

    With tools like Sellerboard, you can connect revenue and costs down to the SKU, providing clarity and revealing which platforms and strategies are truly driving success.

    Guide to Next Steps in Ecommerce PPC

    Recognizing the nuances of ecommerce PPC is crucial for making informed decisions that result in campaign success. These insights continue to guide my strategy and I hope they do the same for you.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Mastering Paid Media Budgets in an AI-Driven World

    Mastering Paid Media Budgets in an AI-Driven World

    As someone deeply involved in PPC marketing, planning and managing budgets across various paid media channels has become a vital skill in my toolkit.

    I’m perpetually tasked with determining how to allocate spending across channels, handling significant budget fluctuations, and deciding whether to set total or daily budgets.

    In the world of AI-driven ad platforms, campaign budgets are one of the few areas I still have full control over, and so they demand thoughtful attention.

    Depending on my business model, I may have varying degrees of input into the overall paid media budget, but I usually have the reins when it comes to distributing that budget across channels and campaigns.

    My strategy begins with assessing the total budget available. It’s unwise to spread a modest budget across too many campaigns, as this limits the platforms’ capacity to gather data and drive effective results.

    However, with a larger budget, exploring new testing channels or campaign styles becomes feasible.

    Dig deeper: PPC budget planning: Aligning business goals, ad spend, and performance

    For instance, if my efforts in paid search are maxed out and additional budget is available, I might allocate some to Google Demand Gen or social channels to see how they perform.

    Considering the brand’s current awareness level is crucial. If building credibility is still ongoing, focusing on social prospecting could enhance visibility and audience building for future retargeting.

    Another factor is my ability to support campaigns requiring creative assets. If getting creative approved is challenging, keeping budget in paid search might be more pragmatic, with plans to expand to other channels once assets are ready.

    When making budget decisions, I ensure not to view individual channels or campaign types in isolation. It’s important to understand how they might affect each other and leverage data to guide these decisions.

    For instance, if I launch a YouTube campaign that raises product awareness, I might notice improved conversion rates in search, with video viewer remarketing audiences performing well.

    Even if direct conversions from YouTube are minimal, data might show improved overall conversion efficiency, justifying an ongoing budget for both YouTube and search.

    When mapping out annual budgets, aligning them with peak buying times or potential slumps specific to the industry at hand is vital.

    Ecommerce brands may raise budgets around holiday seasons, while B2B brands might choose to invest earlier in the year.

    Historical data can be a guide, and tools like Google Trends offer insights into monthly trends for relevant keywords.

    Unexpected budget shifts are common, whether due to financial constraints or last-minute fiscal year decisions. I’m prepared to adapt by pausing campaigns or reallocating budgets where they’ve proven efficient.

    Opportunities to increase budgets prompt a focus on campaigns that are currently capped and performing efficiently. However, I avoid increasing budgets too rapidly, to prevent inefficiencies.

    Dig deeper: How to manage a paid media budget: Allocation, risk and scaling

    Finally, selecting between total or daily budget types is a frequent consideration. Short campaigns or ones with strict budget limits benefit from a total budget, while ongoing campaigns are better suited to daily budgets.

    I’m mindful of spending spikes and aim to avoid overspending, especially when adjusting budgets mid-month.

    Dig deeper: How to optimize B2B PPC spend when budgets and confidence are low

    Having a budget strategy that’s adaptable to ongoing and exploratory efforts, while considering the unique nuances of each platform, is key to successful paid media campaign management.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • How AI Revolutionizes Ad Rankings: Winning the Top Spot

    How AI Revolutionizes Ad Rankings: Winning the Top Spot

    The position of ads is more crucial than ever. I’ve recently come across new data that underscores how Google AI Overviews are reshaping paid search visibility and click-through rates (CTR).

    In my experience, Google’s AI Overviews have dramatically altered the search landscape almost overnight. As someone deeply invested in paid search, I’ve noticed the battle for visibility isn’t just about ad rank anymore—it’s about appearing above the AI results.

    This change is part of a rapid surge in AI Overviews, which I discovered in Adthena’s earlier study. My analysis found that AI Overviews are now trespassing into short, high-volume commercial searches.

    The underlying mechanism causing this is pretty clear to me: AI Overviews intercept user attention, slash CTRs, and push both organic and paid listings lower down the page. As a result, clicks and revenue take a hit.

    From what I’ve seen in Adthena’s latest research, it accurately identifies how often advertisers secure top ad positions above AI Overviews across seven major industries, device types, and query categories. The research highlights clear leaders and provides actionable strategies for the rest of us in paid search.

    The topline reality: Ad position visibility is lost 25% of the time

    The industry benchmark table below reveals how fierce the fight is for the top spot. It shows us the percentage of ads that appear either above or below AI Overviews across seven industries.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Industry performance chart showing percentage above and below average for Automotive, Energy, Financial Services, Gaming, Healthcare, Retail, and Travel sectors.",
  "caption": "Discover how different industries stack up in performance, with percentages showing which sectors lead and lag relative to the average.",
  "description": "This image is a chart detailing the performance of various industries, measuring percentages above and below average. It covers sectors such as Automotive, Energy, Financial Services, Gaming, Healthcare, Retail, and Travel. Automotive (62.3% above), Energy (76.9% above), and others are analyzed, with variables like Healthcare showing 35.4% above and 64.6% below. The chart is branded by Adthena for marketing and analysis insights."
}
```

    Strategic implications from the topline data

    • The leaders: Industries like Travel, Energy, Financial Services, and Retail consistently land above the AI Overviews in more than 75% of cases. However, I’ve noticed that even in these sectors, 1 in 4 paid ads are still affected. When keywords drive major revenue, that 20% to 30% exposure is a direct threat to ROI.
    • The runners-up (the risk of being hidden): Healthcare is a major outlier. Ads in this field often appear below AI Overviews 64.6% of the time, given the high-stakes nature and research-heavy aspect of healthcare searches. Google’s AI prioritizes “expert” information first, meaning healthcare ads see significantly less visibility.
    • The volatility: The gaming sector shows a clear 50/50 split. Visibility feels like flipping a coin, demonstrating to me the need for agile bidding strategies.

    The device divide: Why mobile is your biggest threat

    From what I’ve gathered, device-specific data indicates that ads are more likely to be displaced by AI Overviews in a mobile setting due to limited screen space.

    Strategic implications on device differences

    • Automotive’s Mobile Problem: Although Automotive shows strong “Above %” placement overall, daily trends are worrying. On mobile, ads are frequently buried by AI Overviews, making them invisible without extensive scrolling. This leads to diminishing visibility and CTR for us marketers.
    • The “double whammy”: In healthcare, desktop ads generally appear below AI Overviews, although mobile sometimes performs slightly better. It seems the AI Overviews box might be designed for mobile screens, occasionally allowing one or two ad slots to remain visible. However, desktop visibility still suffers greatly.
    • Actionable insight: Mobile is where AI Overviews present the greatest challenge. For industries like healthcare and gaming, where this is a significant problem, securing top ad positions is vital for survival.

    The query intent test: Where does AI Overviews win and lose?

    Generally, I’ve observed that long queries tend to be more informational and thus more likely to activate AI Overviews, while shorter ones are typically transactional. The table below unfolds a surprising industry pattern related to this.

    This table reveals the connection between query complexity (or user intent) and AI Overviews’ dominance, spread over query lengths from one to ten words.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Heatmap showing percent above and below benchmarks for various industries and devices from 11/11/2025 to 11/17/2025.",
  "caption": "Explore industry trends with this heatmap displaying percentage data across devices from November 11 to 17, 2025, illustrating performance benchmarks.",
  "description": "This heatmap visualizes percentage data for industries like Automotive, Energy, and Gaming across desktop and mobile devices. It spans from November 11 to 17, 2025, showing percentages above and below benchmarks. Each cell is color-coded to reflect performance, providing a clear view of industry trends. Created by Adthena, this chart is useful for analyzing market variations and device-specific engagement with specific focus on sectors such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail, and Travel."
}
```

    Strategic implications on query intent

    1. AI Overviews dominance on the fringes:
      • Healthcare shows that as queries get longer (up to 10 words), ad positions above AI Overviews drop to 0%. Google clearly prioritizes complex health questions, relegating commercial interests lower.
      • Gaming reveals the opposite: short terms (1-2 words) have 0% visibility above AI, suggesting organic results or features claim the top spot. However, for longer terms (7-9 words), ads dominate above AI Overviews, a golden opportunity to engage users deeply researching.
    2. The unexpected paid search opportunity (Automotive & Travel):
      • Automotive and Travel ads excel with longer informational queries rather than short, high-volume ones. For example, Automotive’s “Ad Above AI Overviews” rate leaps from 21.9% (one word) to over 74% (four words).
      • Strategic implication: This upends conventional PPC strategy, suggesting we should be bidding eagerly on mid-to-upper-funnel terms where AI Overviews are present, intercepting the user’s journey before their final decisions.

    Next steps for paid search marketers

    Adthena’s research highlights that the threat of Google AI Overviews is fragmentary. Precision is key: know when and where your ads can outrank AI Overviews, adjust your bids and content accordingly.

    From my ongoing observations, as the frequency of AI Overviews rises, these ad position percentages might swing. I advise regularly auditing profitable keywords to effectively handle changes in the AI-driven search landscape.

    Here are three game-changing steps we can take:

    1. Have you explored testing a device-specific strategy?

    I’ve realized that mobile often amplifies visibility loss from AI Overviews, notably in sectors like automotive.

    I recommend considering a device-specific strategy, especially for campaigns severely impacted by AI Overviews.

    2. Have you identified quick wins in keyword coverage?

    Data on word counts reveals unexpected possibilities. Industries like Gaming and Automotive often see robust ad placements with long-tail queries (four words or more) above AI Overviews.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Heatmap table showing word count in search queries across industries like Automotive, Energy, and Retail.",
  "caption": "Explore the trends in search query word counts across industries such as Automotive and Healthcare. This heatmap reveals insights into percentage distributions above and below average.",
  "description": "This image is a heatmap table illustrating the word count distribution in search queries for various industries, including Automotive, Energy, Financial Services, Gaming, Healthcare, Retail, and Travel. Each industry's search query percentages are categorized as above or below the average, with varying word counts from 1 to 10. Darker shades indicate higher percentages. This data is presented by Adthena and provides insights into how different industries perform in search result metrics."
}
```

    This signals high-visibility traffic in mid- to upper-funnel searches that our competitors may be ignoring.

    3. Have you reviewed your ad copy against the AI answer?

    AI Overviews can miss out on brand nuances and emotional resonance.

    To captivate users, ads must deliver what AI can’t: a strong, compelling reason to choose you over Google’s summary. Using messaging that includes trust, guarantees, or urgency can clearly differentiate from AI’s generic style.

    Convey transactional incentives like deals, free shipping, or scarcity (“Limited stock, grab yours!”), and use emotional elements like customer testimonials to build trust and convey your unique brand narrative.

    The search landscape has evolved. Adthena’s data suggests that marketers who rapidly analyze and adjust their ad strategies in response to AI Overviews will thrive.

    Ready to see where your ads sit today?

    Adthena gives you the precise data on ad appearances in relation to AI Overviews, helping you adapt to changes in AI search performance. Book a demo to see where your ads rank today.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Unlocking Black Friday 2025: Costs Rise but Engagement Thrives

    Unlocking Black Friday 2025: Costs Rise but Engagement Thrives

    I found Black Friday 2025 to be a puzzling experience. Although advertising costs went up, impressions decreased. Yet, clicks and engagement didn’t falter, which feels like both a challenge and an opportunity.

    Here’s what I’ve gathered from the data so far:

    I’ve been analyzing data from over 5,000 e-commerce and 16,000 lead generation advertisers who were active this year and last. While we’re still waiting on final numbers for conversion value and ROAS, the early insights are telling.

    The insights:

    Visibility Costs Increased Significantly.

    It’s clear to me that spending rose by about 17% for both e-commerce and lead generation, even as impressions saw a reduction. Essentially, advertisers like us are paying more to reach a similar audience.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Table shows eCommerce performance metrics year-over-year, with increases in spend, clicks, CTR, and CPA, and decreases in impressions, ROAS, and conversion rate.",
  "caption": "Ecommerce metrics reveal an upward trend in spend, clicks, and CPA for 2025, despite declines in ROAS and conversion rate compared to 2024.",
  "description": "This image presents a table of year-over-year eCommerce performance metrics from Optmyzr, comparing 2025 to 2024. Key metrics include a 17.8% increase in spend, 8.84% rise in clicks, and 50.4% growth in CPA. However, impressions fell by 3.79%, ROAS dropped by 32.55%, and the conversion rate decreased by 27.92%. The table provides insight into advertising performance, with early reads for ROAS, CPA, and conversion rates that may shift as data stabilizes. Keywords: eCommerce, year-over-year, metrics, performance, Optmyzr."
}
```

    Engagement Metrics Held Strong.

    Despite the rise in costs, clicks and CTR improved across various sectors. Lead generation, in particular, enjoyed lower CPCs and an uptick in clicks, showing that people are still actively responding to ads.

    Implications for the Future:

    Expect High Costs Ahead. Given the heightened competition during Black Friday, I anticipate this trend of higher costs per reach to continue into Q1 2026.

    Clicks Are Not the Final Goal. The real challenge now lies in what happens after the click. Returns, conversions, and overall efficiency will be crucial, rather than just focusing on traffic volume.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Lead generation performance chart showing year-over-year changes in metrics for 2025 vs 2024, including spend, impressions, clicks, and conversion rates.",
  "caption": "Year-over-year lead generation insights reveal increased spend and clicks, alongside a decrease in conversion rates and impressions for 2025 vs 2024.",
  "description": "This image displays a table of lead generation performance metrics comparing year-over-year changes from 2024 to 2025. Key metrics include a 17.33% increase in spend, an 11.61% decrease in impressions, a 22.81% rise in clicks, and a 40.45% drop in conversion rates. The chart notes that ROAS, CPA, and conversion rate are preliminary reads and may adjust. The table is set on a green background, indicating a market trend analysis by Optmyzr."
}
```

    Enhance Post-Click Strategy. I believe that improving landing pages, offers, checkout processes, and lead follow-up mechanisms will be key in turning clicks into conversions.

    Here’s Why This Matters: Black Friday 2025 indicates that while getting attention is still feasible, turning that attention into results demands enhanced strategies post-click. The cost of ignoring these shifts is high – you might spend more while yielding lower returns.

    Bottom Line: Staying visible during Black Friday 2025 came with a higher price, but engagement remains robust. The task ahead is not just driving traffic, but converting that traffic efficiently into results.

    Dig Deeper: Explore the Black Friday year on year PPC performance snapshot for more insights.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Unlock Lifecycle Success with Google’s New Audience Tools

    Unlock Lifecycle Success with Google’s New Audience Tools

    I’ve been exploring the latest updates from Google, and it seems they’ve taken a big step into lifecycle marketing by allowing advertisers, like you and me, to directly target high-value and lapsed customers through Google Analytics.

    Recently, Google has expanded its customer lifecycle capabilities in Analytics by launching fresh audience templates and dynamic remarketing features, aimed at making high-value targeting and re-engagement much simpler for us advertisers.

    Driving the news. Google’s introducing two new suggested audience templates to help us easily create lifecycle segments:

    • High-Value Purchasers — This is based on purchase count or lifetime value, with a new LTV percentile field to single out our top-tier customers.
    • Disengaged Purchasers — These are classified by days since their last purchase, offering a built-in method for brands to re-engage lapsed buyers.

    Google crafted these templates to seamlessly integrate with Google Ads’ lifecycle goals, including high-value customer acquisition and re-engagement strategies.

    Google’s next move: dynamic remarketing inside GA. Another exciting addition is that Google is embedding display dynamic remarketing directly in Analytics. This means we can show product-based personalized ads to past site visitors without needing to craft remarketing setups externally.

    By utilizing Google’s recommended eCommerce event collection, Analytics will automatically share dynamic remarketing data with linked Google Ads accounts, provided personalized advertising is enabled.

    Why we care. Google’s enhancements make it far easier to focus on the customers who truly matter — the high-value buyers and those who’ve lapsed. These fresh templates and dynamic remarketing tools pave the way for faster and smarter customer acquisition, retention, and repeat purchases directly from Google Analytics.

    These advancements reduce the manual work involved, offering us more precise lifecycle targeting, translating into better performance and more profitable campaigns.

    The big picture. Google is shaping its ecosystem by empowering advertisers with more automated methods to identify, activate, and re-engage customers, all supported by audience intelligence within Google Analytics.

    The bottom line. Google is intensifying its commitment to lifecycle marketing by transforming Google Analytics into an even more robust audience engine for Google Ads.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Unlocking the Mystery: PMax Now Shows Search Partner Impact

    Unlocking the Mystery: PMax Now Shows Search Partner Impact

    I’ve been eagerly waiting for Google to enhance their Performance Max (PMax) reporting, and now it’s finally here! This new update reveals how much PMax spends on Search Partners and if that traffic actually adds value to our campaigns.

    Google has rolled out a significant upgrade to PMax reporting, which gives us advertisers our first opportunity to clearly see how Search Partners influence campaign outcomes. This transparency is a game-changer for those of us managing PPC campaigns.

    Driving the news. The update is now live in Google Ads and integrates Search Partners into the PMax channel performance tables. Here are a few things we can now observe:

    • How Search Partners contribute to overall PMax results.
    • Whether they provide incremental value.
    • Comparison of their performance with other PMax channels.
    • The total spending directed towards Search Partners.

    What’s changing. This added level of transparency allows us to see how PMax distributes the budget across different channels, particularly in search. It’s crucial for understanding whether the Search Partners’ traffic is beneficial or if it detracts from the campaign’s efficiency.

    ```json
{
  "alt": "Channel performance report showing costs and impressions for multiple advertising platforms.",
  "caption": "Explore your advertising efficiency with detailed channel performance insights, revealing costs and share percentages for strategic decision-making.",
  "description": "This image showcases a channel performance report from an advertising dashboard. It details costs associated with maps, search partners, and YouTube, indicating share of cost percentages for each. The report highlights $191.22 cost and 41.79% share for search partners, $33.84 cost and 7.39% share for YouTube, and $0 cost for maps. A table below lists channels like Discover, Gmail, and Google Display Network alongside metrics such as impressions and clicks, providing insights for advertising strategies. Keywords: channel performance, advertising, cost analysis, dashboard."
}
```

    Why we care. In the past, Search Partners’ activity was hidden within PMax, leaving us in the dark about our spending and its impact. Now, this new line of reporting sheds light on a previously invisible segment of search inventory. With this insight, we can assess incremental value, compare performance with other PMax channels, and make more informed decisions on optimization and budgeting. Essentially, we’re now able to measure spending that was invisible, which could directly influence our campaign performance and profitability.

    The big picture. While it may seem like a small change, it’s a crucial step towards understanding how PMax works. For those of us running large-scale PMax accounts or analyzing channel profitability, isolating Search Partners’ data can dramatically shape our strategies in optimization, budgeting, and overall planning.

    First seen. Google Ads specialist Aleksejus Podpruginas was the first to notice this update, sharing his findings on LinkedIn.

    Bottom line. PMax is finally giving us a clearer view of how Google’s automation spends our money. This insight is a pivotal piece of the puzzle that we’ve been missing.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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  • Google Retires Ads Developer Forums in 2026: What It Means for You

    Google Retires Ads Developer Forums in 2026: What It Means for You

    As I reflect on the recent announcement, I realize that Google is taking a big step by sunsetting the ads developer support forums. By 2026, we will need to shift our reliance to official support channels for maintaining the smooth operation of our ad tools.

    The upcoming closure will affect three long-standing Google Groups support forums for advertising developers. Google’s aim is to consolidate technical support into more official and structured channels.

    Driving the news. It’s important to note that starting January 28, 2026, Google will cease responding to new posts in these forums. While they’ll remain accessible as read-only archives for a short while, eventually, new posts will be completely disabled.

    After Jan. 28:

    • Support agents will no longer reply on Google Groups.
    • Replies to existing threads will initiate a new email conversation with Google support.
    • Past discussions and solutions will remain available online for reference.

    The shift. Google’s objective is to “streamline technical support channels,” guiding developers towards official tools that have better tracking and response processes, thereby improving our overall experience.

    Where developers should go now. Since the announcement, I’ve been exploring the updated developer documentation that Google has provided. It directs developers to the following official support channels:

    Why we care. These forums have served as critical open Q&A hubs for us developers, particularly in dealing with Google Ads API, Google Ads Scripts, and the Campaign Manager 360 API. This change will impact how quickly and effectively we can resolve issues, which are essential for maintaining seamless bidding, reporting, and automation functions.

    With the closure of the public forums, we’ll need to adjust our workflows. This means providing more detailed logs and relying less on community-shared solutions. Being prepared for this transition will help us avoid downtime and lapses in performance.

    What Google wants from developers. To expedite issue resolution, Google urges us to include comprehensive diagnostic details in support tickets, such as:

    • Google Ads API: request ID, full request + response logs
    • Ads Scripts: script name, customer ID, execution logs, UI error messages
    • CM360 API: profile/account IDs, API method, request + response logs
    • All products: clear issue description, expected behavior, repro steps, code snippets, and error messages

    Community still has a home. For those of us looking to stay connected with updates and participate in general discussions, Google recommends their “Google Advertising and Measurement Community” Discord server, which isn’t tied to official support.

    The bottom line. Transitioning away from public troubleshooting forums towards standardized, direct support should streamline issue handling. However, it might also diminish the community-shared knowledge we’ve come to rely on.


    Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.


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