Starting June 10, I’ll enjoy seamless access to valuable YouTube engagement data through Google Ads, all thanks to an automated linking feature.
I received a notification from Google alerting me that my Google Ads accounts will soon be automatically linked to any associated YouTube channels. This change comes into effect on June 10, 2026, and eliminates the need for manual connections.
Now, without lifting a finger, I can access a world of video engagement data and targeting features directly through Google Ads.
Why it matters to me. By linking my YouTube channel, I can now dive into deeper insights and leverage more advanced targeting options that I might have otherwise overlooked.
With this automation, video data becomes a standard tool in my campaign optimization arsenal.
Take a closer look. I’ll have instant access to organic video metrics like view counts right within Google Ads.
I’m also able to create audience segments based on user interactions with my YouTube content, such as video views and channel engagement.
Extra benefits. This integration means I can track ‘earned actions’ like subscriptions or additional views spurred by my ads, making these interactions valuable conversion signals.
Such insights offer a clearer picture of how my video campaigns impact user behavior beyond mere clicks.
What I’m watching for. It’ll be fascinating to see how my measurement strategies evolve with the integration of organic and paid video data, and whether this encourages a broader adoption of engagement-based conversion tracking.
The bottom line. Google is making it impossible to ignore YouTube insights, turning automatic linking into a necessary step for honing targeting, measurement, and performance.
First spotted. Multiple advertisers, including myself, were informed by Google. Notable mentions are Menachem Ani, Hana Kobzová, and Arpan Banerjee.
For years, I’ve been told to stick to a set of guidelines: always use top-notch creatives, maintain a polished brand, follow scripts, and adhere to platform-recommended formats.
Lately, while navigating ad accounts or simply scrolling through feeds, I’ve noticed something intriguing. The ads that grab my attention often defy these rules. They’re less polished, scrappier, and sometimes referred to as ‘ugly ads.’ What’s fascinating is that they’re outperforming the traditional, polished ones.
More brands are deliberately breaking so-called best practices to stand out. It’s important to remember that these practices represent an average of what worked for others in the past. By the time a strategy becomes a platform-recommended rule, it might have already lost its edge.
This is why defying best practices can lead to success — but only if you understand the reasons behind them.
Why Breaking Best Practices Enhances Ad Performance
Before diving into what to change, it’s crucial to understand the rationale behind existing rules. Platforms like Meta and TikTok have dual objectives:
They aim for you to spend money on ads.
They want to keep users engaged on their platforms.
The best practices they promote are designed to ensure a seamless experience, encouraging ads to resemble others. The issue is that familiarity eventually breeds invisibility. When I adhere too closely to the rules, my ads risk blending into the background noise, overlooked by users.
Highly-produced ads often scream ‘this is an ad,’ prompting users to skip them before my message hits home. In contrast, when my ad resembles something a friend might share, users’ defenses remain down longer, potentially transforming a scroll into a conversion.
This is why many top-performing ads today don’t appear traditionally polished or on-brand. They break patterns instead. Consider:
Grainy phone footage.
Notes app screenshots.
Green-screened reactions or commentary videos.
Other lo-fi formats that outperform studio-quality creatives.
To implement this, I started intentionally reducing my production value and experimented with formats like point-of-view (POV) shots tailored to various personas.
Many brands have adopted guidelines that make them seem faceless and untouchable. They refrain from showing a messy office, an unpolished founder, or anything that challenges their corporate script. However, others are discarding that playbook, embracing founder-led ads that deviate from the polished executive version.
There’s a catch.
Breaking the rules works only when it’s genuine. I’ve learned that faking authenticity is easy to spot and can backfire. This was evident in a viral series of videos where McDonald’s CEO appeared to present a new burger, but his execution was criticized for being stiff and unconvincing.
As shown in a Dineline video, his performance appeared staged. Contrarily, Burger King’s president presented their burger with no hesitation, offering a genuine and relatable moment.
The distinction was evident: One was a product pitch, and the other felt authentic.
If my leadership doesn’t genuinely believe in the product, neither will my customers. Rule-breaking should allow us to be real, rather than simply appear unpolished.
You’ve probably encountered video hook best practices like ‘show the product in the first two seconds and state the value prop clearly.’ Sound familiar?
Imagine my ad starting with a screenshot of a negative comment, like one for a skincare product stating, ‘This probably smells like old socks, and does it even work?’ My ad would then show the founder confidently disproving this in an unscripted manner, applying the product.
Though this breaks the positive-association rule, it leverages viewers’ curiosity about digital conflicts. By the time they realize it’s an ad, they might already be engaged.
I learned not to abandon all polished assets just yet.
Rule-breaking is strategic, and often misunderstood when the ’80/20 rule’ is ignored.
Switching completely to shaky phone footage isn’t wise. Keeping 80% of the budget in traditional ads while using 20% for testing unconventional ones can be effective.
Next testing campaign, I plan to try:
The silent test: Running a silent ad with bold captions to stand out in a noisy feed.
The UI ghost: Using static images resembling platform notifications to pause scrolling.
The algorithmic trust fall: Disabling auto-optimizations in a campaign to test creative performance without constraints.
Don’t Follow the Rules; Understand Them
Best practices are a guide, not a strategy. To move beyond them, I do it systematically.
I start by questioning the rule’s existence, evaluating its current relevance, and testing its opposite in a structured manner. Comparing traditional and lo-fi approaches helps me understand user engagement better.
In an environment where brands play it safe, those who understand and strategically break the rules will capture attention and conversions. My goal is to learn faster than the competition, skipping guesswork.
I’m excited to share that Google has released version 23.2 of its Ads API, bringing several exciting updates that enhance video, app campaigns, and audience planning tools.
What’s New in This Release?
First, there’s the new VideoEnhancement resource. It now allows me to identify whether a video ad is Google-generated or advertiser-provided. This provides much-needed clarity on how ads are enhanced automatically.
Additionally, the AppTopCombinationView resource offers read-only insights into top-performing asset combinations in app campaigns, a valuable tool for optimizing my campaign strategy.
For those utilizing Demand Gen campaigns, I can now disable the hotel feed using HotelSettingInfo.disable_hotel_setting. This gives me more control over my ad placements.
This update also introduces a new conversion metric for tracking indirect first in-app installs across Campaign, Customer, and AdGroup resources, giving me deeper insights into conversion performance.
Moreover, enhancements to ContentCreatorInsightsService and ReachPlanService means I can further refine my content strategies and audience reach planning.
Steps to Upgrade
To benefit from these updates, I’ll need to upgrade to v23.2 by updating both client libraries and client code. Fortunately, all updated libraries and code examples are already available.
Join the Live Walkthrough
If you’re looking for more information, I recommend attending Google’s live release walkthrough on March 26 at 11am ET. It will be streamed live on Discord and YouTube, and a recording is provided afterward.
Why This Matters
The addition of the VideoEnhancement resource addresses a significant gap in Performance Max reporting. For those of us developing custom reporting tools, this means improved visibility into creative performance.
Final Thoughts
Although this release is part of Google’s routine updates, the enhancements, particularly in the VideoEnhancement resource, are worth noting. It’s a significant step forward for developers like myself working on Performance Max creative reporting.
I’ve recently discovered an intriguing update in Google Ads Performance Max campaigns that could significantly shift how I and other advertisers approach animated display advertising.
Imagine the possibilities with Google’s new AI image animation feature! It could be a game-changer for those of us who’ve been sticking to static images in our PMax campaigns.
What I Found. Nikki Kuhlman, Vice President of Search at JumpFly, Inc., shared her discovery of an option to generate animated video clips directly within PMax asset groups. These clips use AI to transform a single source image into engaging animations.
How It Works.
I can upload a source image like a logo, a product shot, or a property photo.
The AI works its magic, generating several “enhanced” versions of my image.
Each enhanced image then produces two animated clips.
I can choose up to five animated clips per asset group to enrich my campaign.
Note: While faces can’t be used in the source images, AI might introduce people in the enhanced versions.
Early Testing Insights. I tested it, and observing a logo turn into a spinning animation and a house image pan out cinematically was impressive. Simple inputs, but the quality of the animated outputs is certainly suitable for display advertising without the need for a video production team.
Ad Placements. While Google hasn’t officially documented ad placements, early tests show these animated clips appear in Display ad previews when integrated into an asset group.
Why I Care. Video assets have always been vital in Paid Media for their creative potential, but not everyone, including myself, has the time, budget, or resources for video production. Now, this feature offers me the chance to easily convert a single photo or logo into dynamic display content, effectively removing previous barriers.
This opens a new door for advertisers like me who’ve relied on static images in PMax campaigns. I see it as a simple but effective win.
The Bottom Line. Although Google hasn’t confirmed this feature officially, it’s advisable for anyone running PMax to check their asset groups. If this is present, it’s worth testing, especially for those of us who have solely utilized static images.
First Seen. This exciting feature was initially spotted by Nikki Kuhlman and shared on LinkedIn.
I’ve noticed that Google is making strides in enhancing metric visibility within Performance Max, which is a fantastic development for those of us managing campaigns. Now, advertisers like me can gain deeper insights into how our creative decisions, especially regarding video, are influencing ad performance.
What’s changing? Google Ads has rolled out a new segment in their Performance Max reporting called “Ads using video.” This update allows us to dissect our campaign results, focusing on whether or not video assets were part of the mix. It’s a game-changer for those of us using videos in our ads.
Why is this important? As a marketer, being able to compare how campaigns with and without video perform is invaluable. This clear distinction helps me understand the role video plays in our automated strategies, allowing for more data-driven decisions.
The insight into whether investing in video assets is paying off answers a pivotal question in the automated marketing arena. Now, I can make informed choices about creativity and budget allocation within Google Ads.
Looking deeper. As video content continues to grow in importance across platforms like YouTube and beyond, this new feature lets me confirm the effectiveness of our video-based investments in automated campaigns.
The takeaway. This added segment provides clarity to the Performance Max reports, helping us as advertisers to assess the value of video without altering how campaigns are currently managed in Google Ads.
First observed. This update was first noticed by Hana Kobzova, founder of PPC News Feed.
Short-form video, Thought Leader Ads, personalized creative, and Qualified Lead Optimization are showing promise. Here’s how I plan to test them.
LinkedIn made some noteworthy moves last year with significant payoffs for our B2B clients. As we embrace 2026 and zero in on our yearly marketing goals, I’ve gathered some exciting insights from 2025 to help you maximize your strategies. Let’s dive into the top tests to run, including:
Video.
Thought Leader Ads.
Personalized creative.
Qualified Lead Optimization.
Ads duplication.
Let’s explore each of these tests and the potential benefits they offer.
LinkedIn video is a must
Even though Meta and TikTok are more suited for videos, LinkedIn hasn’t shied away from the wave — especially with short-form videos (7-15 seconds). Crafting the right content is crucial for your marketing strategy. Here’s how you can leverage video effectively:
Consider new placements like First Impression Ads. Compare the performance of video ads in the feed against other ads to gauge impact and engagement.
The usual tips apply:
Avoid just repurposing videos from others. LinkedIn users interact differently — focus on content addressing professional challenges, testimonials, or tutorials.
Have a follow-up plan for users engaging with your video, as one video isn’t usually enough to convert immediately.
Define a strategy to measure video engagement value, from views to actions like “Comment X for the full guide.”
People respond to people, so try Thought Leader Ads
Engaging potential B2B clients can often be challenging, especially through a corporate lens. Thought Leader Ads (TLAs), which allow companies to boost employee content, have been around. Since I tested them rigorously in 2025, I’ve noticed they garner significantly higher engagement compared to typical business profile ads.
TLAs also afford creativity. Humorous posts, for instance, feel more authentic when shared from a personal profile.
As with all boosted content, selective investment is key. If a post organically gains traction and aligns with your business goals, it’s a prime TLA candidate.
Caveats to consider:
Ensure employees whose content you boost have your brand prominent on their profiles. Activate creator mode so users can follow them, adding value to future content.
Per LinkedIn, repurposing content published less than 30 days ago works best. My experiences confirm this.
In late 2025, I experimented with personalized LinkedIn ads across various regions and campaigns. Globally, I witnessed a >20% improvement in cost per lead, paired with better CTR and lower CPC. U.S. campaigns were remarkable, showing a 33% drop in CPLs.
According to my LinkedIn contacts, European users value privacy more than their U.S. counterparts, explaining why personalization resonated better stateside. Yet, even U.S. campaigns showed fatigue with personalized ads after a month.
Combining personalized and non-personalized ads in one campaign decreased the frequency of personalized ads and facilitated side-by-side performance comparisons.
Having experience with Conversions API (CAPI) and enhanced conversions in Meta and Google, the concept of Qualified Lead Optimization is familiar. LinkedIn’s take lets you merge your first-party data with its algorithm to target high-quality users more effectively.
Though not as adept as Meta and Google yet, I’ve noted an increase in qualified leads through LinkedIn.
Here’s how to test it:
Use LinkedIn’s CAPI to sync CRM data and define what constitutes a qualified lead.
Set up a CAPI conversion event for qualified leads and ensure data flow to Campaign Manager.
Use the new ads duplication feature
This tactical feature has saved me time across accounts, making it an essential tool. In March 2025, LinkedIn improved Campaign Manager with a feature for duplicating ads across campaigns and accounts, expediting our campaign launches — a win with no downsides.
One more LinkedIn ad format to watch
I’m still evaluating LinkedIn’s new CTV capability. It offers potential for testing brand messages and positioning through targeted niche audiences before committing to broader campaigns.
LinkedIn introduced substantial updates last year, prompting us to boost client budgets there. Setting clear platform expectations and having a robust evaluation framework will maximize LinkedIn’s value.
Armed with these strategies and a deep understanding of your ideal customer profile (ICP), LinkedIn could serve as a surprising source of growth in the coming months.
Recently, I discovered that Google has started adding AI-generated conversion cards at the end of video ads. This automatic feature effectively overrides any existing end screens that we might have set up.
Google’s new auto end screens append an interactive, auto-generated card to eligible video ads. It’s designed to guide viewers toward converting, making our job as advertisers a bit simpler.
How it works: Right after the video concludes, an interactive screen pops up for a few seconds.
What’s impressive is how it automatically pulls in campaign details like app name, icon, price, and even a direct install link for app promotions.
The convenience doesn’t stop there; these end screens appear by default on any eligible ads, so we don’t have to spend time setting them up manually.
Why we care: This change means no more manual post-roll calls-to-action. However, it also alters the end of our video ads, replacing any custom YouTube end screens we might have built without warning. This can be a crucial point since the last thing viewers see can significantly impact their decision to convert.
With Google planning to roll this out more extensively, it’s crucial we understand these changes before they apply to more of our campaigns.
The catch: When we enable auto end screens, any manually added YouTube end screens will be overwritten, an important point to remember for maintaining control over our branding.
Current limitations: As of now, this feature is only available for in-stream ads in mobile app install campaigns. Broader rollout plans are in the works, but no definite timeline has been set.
What stays the same: Rest assured, auto end screens don’t affect our billing or view counts. They’re simply an added layer of engagement after our video has completed playing.
Next steps: It’s essential for those of us running mobile app campaigns to review our video ads. We should ensure auto end screens are working as expected and that our custom YouTube end screens aren’t being unexpectedly replaced.
As Google expands this feature, establishing an early review process will prepare us well for broader eligibility.
Dig deeper: For more details on auto end screens for video ads, click here.
Have you heard the news? Google Ads is taking the advertising world by storm with its latest feature: AI voice-over for Performance Max video ads! They’re rolling out this innovative enhancement, automatically narrating video ads with realistic voice-overs, unless, of course, we choose to opt out by March 20.
Google is enhancing viewer engagement and ad performance by utilizing advanced AI voice models. This update will make ads more appealing without any additional creative output on our part. Exciting, isn’t it?
Why this matters to us. If we don’t actively opt out by March 20, our video ads will automatically benefit from Google’s AI voice models. This could transform how our ads sound to viewers, all without any creative effort on our part.
How does it work?
This feature kicks in only when videos lack a voice track.
Google’s AI chooses text from the headlines and descriptions we’ve provided and crafts a realistic voice-over from it.
The voice-over is seamlessly layered onto the original video, transforming it into a new asset.
The catch. This process is set to default, meaning our ads will be automatically eligible for voice enhancements unless we opt out proactively.
Key dates. We have until March 20 to decide if we want to exclude our ads from this feature. To step back from this feature, we need to adjust the video enhancement control settings. After the deadline, any ad with video enhancement control will be open to voice-enhanced updates automatically.
Action steps for us as advertisers. Configuring our video settings is simple. Just visit your Google Ads portal to make any necessary adjustments.
First seen. This update was brought to light by Paid Search specialist Arpan Banerjee in a LinkedIn post. Take a look at his insights here.
As someone passionate about video advertising, I’ve noticed how easily videos can now be distributed across platforms like YouTube, paid social media, and connected TV. It’s an immense opportunity for exposure.
However, I often find myself questioning the real effectiveness of these videos. Campaigns sometimes show impressive metrics, but lack in tangible business impact due to strategic missteps.
The issue isn’t so much about targeting or budget; it’s about focusing more on outputs—views, impressions—rather than crucial outcomes like attention and persuasion. That’s where most video strategies falter.
Misunderstanding Attention: A Common Pitfall in Video Ads
Many video ads operate under the assumption that they’re just like TV commercials, but that’s a misunderstanding of how attention works today.
In past meetings, we’ve defined success by views and impressions, not realizing these metrics don’t always translate to engagement or conversion.
True success lies in transforming impressions into meaningful actions, and that requires a drastic shift in strategy.
I’ve learned that the opening seconds of a video ad are critical. Initially, I assumed upfront branding mattered most, but ads that opened with engagement hooks performed better.
View-through rates don’t equate to persuasion. Real impact happens before the viewer can skip the ad.
An effective hook makes all the difference, whether it’s striking visuals or compelling questions. That initial grab of attention sets the stage for success.
Scrappy Ads Often Outperform Polished Productions
It’s surprising how often simple videos outperform higher quality productions. Authenticity resonates more with audiences than polished, overtly professional content.
Audiences and algorithms favor content that feels genuine over what looks like an ad. It’s about fitting in with the platform’s native content style.
Through experience, I’ve realized that the optimal length for an ad depends on the message itself. Sometimes a longer duration with a well-crafted story outperforms shorter clips.
A well-paced narrative keeps viewers engaged, making them more receptive to the brand’s message, regardless of duration.
Understanding Metrics: Decoding Signals, Not Outcomes
The abundance of data can be misleading, with metrics often misinterpreted as outcomes. I’ve seen campaigns with high completion rates fail to drive any business impact.
The true measure of success is how video metrics correlate with real-world actions and conversions.
Aligning Briefs with Creative Outcomes
A common issue is poorly defined briefs leading to lackluster creative. Clear objectives and a deep understanding of the target audience guide more effective video strategies.
Knowing precisely who you’re speaking to and what action you desire them to take results in more intentional and impactful creative.
Creative and Distribution: An Inseparable Duo
Strategically planning how and where ads are distributed is just as crucial as content creation. I’ve witnessed great ideas fall flat due to mismatched platform contexts.
Designing ads tailored for specific platforms ensures they resonate and are effective in their intended environment.
Insight-Driven Testing: Beyond Mere Variance Generation
Effective testing focuses on key elements that engage audiences. Hypothesis-driven testing yields insights far more valuable than superficial variant testing.
Ultimately, I’m looking for tools that prove reliable in predicting real-world outcomes, enhancing creative confidence well before any campaign goes live.
Despite evolving platforms and algorithms, I’m convinced that the core elements of attention, curiosity, and trust remain constantly human.
The most successful video ads I’ve been part of focused on relevance, respecting viewers’ time, and delivering valuable content. That’s what truly captivates audiences.
Success in video advertising comes from understanding people—not just appealing to platform metrics.
I’ve noticed a shift in Google Merchant Center that makes video a key player in retail ad strategies. The once-empty Video Assets section is now abuzz with automatically sourced content.
Initially showcased at Google Marketing Live 2025, this feature is designed to centralize our video content within Google Merchant Center. Although the rollout started in September, many of us saw only a blank screen.
That’s no longer the case—videos are now seamlessly imported, including those from YouTube.
Why is this important to me? Google’s commitment to making Merchant Center a hub for creative commerce shows through this update. With videos auto-populating, our brands can enhance visibility across Shopping and Performance Max with less effort, though it means I must ensure my YouTube and website videos are commerce-ready.
In essence, video is becoming essential in retail ad delivery, and by staying proactive, I can gain a competitive advantage.
Reading the details, Google aims to centralize videos from various platforms including potential AI-generated sources, transitioning Merchant Center into a comprehensive creative hub rather than just a product feed manager.
This trajectory aligns with the larger movement towards video-first shopping experiences in campaigns like Search, Shopping, and Performance Max.
What I should monitor. I still have questions about how performance reporting and optimization controls in the Video Assets section will develop. However, the transition from an empty placeholder to a populated library illustrates that the infrastructure is now live.
Breaking news. This update was initially reported by PPC News Feed founder Hana Kobzová.
