Google Ads
Search Engine Land is your premier source for Google Ads news, strategies, and in-depth content. You’ll find a variety of up-to-date and authoritative resources, including the latest news, tactic-rich tutorials, and the latest data to help you work smarter and make better decisions that boost your ROI.
Mastering Google Ads for maximum ROI
Google Ads is a powerful tool for driving targeted traffic, generating leads, and increasing sales — but staying ahead in paid search requires more than just a basic understanding of campaigns. Search Engine Land equips you with actionable strategies to optimize ad performance, reduce wasted spend, and maximize your return on investment.
Discover insights on everything from mastering campaign types like Performance Max to leveraging advanced strategies and features like audience targeting, responsive search ads, and bidding strategies. Whether you’re managing large-scale accounts or running ads for a small business, our resources are tailored to meet your specific needs.
What you read here is written by our experienced in-house team, alongside subject matter experts from leading agencies and top-performing brands across various industries
Don’t miss out on crucial Google Ads updates! Get the Search Engine Land newsletter delivered daily to your inbox. Subscribe for free and stay ahead in the dynamic world of paid search!
New Google Ads help doc outlines corporate email rules
A new Google Ads help document explains how corporate email requirements will affect sensitive account actions during the pilot.
Google tightens Ads policy for government document providers
Advertisers now need to prove explicit government authorisation before promoting government documents through Google Ads.
Google releases help doc for Performance Max pay-per-lead goals
The new guides explain how advertisers can set up, target and optimise Performance Max campaigns with pay-per-lead goals.
Google launches secure API access pilot for manager accounts
The new pilot lets advertisers restrict sensitive API actions to approved applications, adding an extra layer of security.
Google tests clickable hyperlinks in Search ad descriptions
Google is highlighting selected phrases within ad copy as clickable links, potentially helping advertisers improve CTR.
How to troubleshoot automated bidding in Google Ads
Poor data, conversion tracking, and campaign settings can derail automated bidding. Learn what to check and when manual bidding can help.
4 Google Ads settings and recommendations worth a closer look
Auto-apply, Display Expansion, Search Partners, and budget recommendations deserve a closer look. Learn what to review before making changes.
Google publishes guidance for text disclaimers in Search ads
Google explains how advertisers can add legal disclosure assets to Search campaigns and what to expect when they serve.
Why separating brand and non-brand campaigns improves ROAS
Strong ROAS can mask where your budget goes. Here's how separating brand campaigns drives revenue growth and new customer acquisition.
Google launches Structured Data Files v10.1 for Display & Video 360
Google Display & Video 360's latest Structured Data Files update adds AI labels, DOOH support and new bulk management features.
Google tests AI-generated descriptions in Shopping ads
Google extends its AI-generated ad description test to Shopping ads, expanding it experiment they confirmed earlier this month.
Google rolls out AI content labels in asset studio
Google's AI content label helps advertisers disclose AI-generated or edited creatives as transparency requirements expand worldwide.
Google Ads appears to separate Target CPA and Target ROAS bidding strategies
Google is giving Smart Bidding targets greater visibility, potentially making bidding strategy selection easier for advertisers.
Attribution vs. incrementality: Why you need both
Attributed conversions don’t always equal incremental growth. Knowing the difference can lead to better campaign and budget decisions.
Putting Google Ads AI Max’s automated ad copy to the test
See where AI-generated assets helped ecommerce, B2B, and B2C campaigns — and where human control still delivered better results.
Google Ads Editor 2.13 brings AI Max support to Shopping campaigns
The new editor expands offline campaign management with new AI-powered Shopping features, and enhanced Demand Gen support.
Household income exclusions spotted in Performance Max campaigns
Advertisers can now exclude specific household income segments at the campaign level while keeping PMax's automated optimization.
How to revive overlooked ecommerce SKUs with Performance Max
When products stop getting traffic, they also stop building the signals Google needs to serve them. This automated approach breaks the cycle.
Google Ads automation makes governance a competitive advantage
Better business signals, guardrails, and feedback loops keep Google’s automation focused on the outcomes that drive business value.
How to prepare for Google’s DSA sunset and move to AI Max
AI Max changes how Google targets searches, creates ads, and selects landing pages. See what to monitor and control during the migration.
AI Max spotted in Google Standard Shopping campaigns
AI Max in Standard Shopping campaigns suggests advertisers could gain AI-powered query matching, dynamic ad copy, and more.
Google Ads API v25 adds YouTube metrics and loyalty campaign goals
Google Ads API 25 expands measurement capabilities, introduces retention-focused goals, and new ways of managing objectives.
Google Ads rolls out video campaign groups globally
Google launched video campaign groups, allowing advertisers to optimize YouTube reach and frequency across multiple campaigns.
The 4-step health check for your target ROAS and CPA
Your bidding strategy is only as good as the targets behind it. Validate them with practical formulas and real campaign data.
Google Ads adds missed growth estimates to the Recommendations tab
Google Ads' new beta estimates the clicks, conversions, and revenue you may be missing due to limited budgets and low bids.
Google drops $50K ad spend requirement for Lead Form assets
Google broadens access to it's native lead generation format while adding new integrations and simplifying eligibility requirements.
How to evaluate Google Ads creative before testing it
Evaluate Google Ads creative with the MOCA framework before it enters testing, so you're experimenting with stronger ideas from the start.
Google brings business data feeds to Demand Gen campaigns
Google is bringing business data feeds to Demand Gen, enabling dynamic ads without Google Merchant Center.
How to move beyond lead volume in B2B PPC
The longer the sales cycle, the less lead volume tells you. Build a feedback loop that helps Google Ads optimize for qualified opportunities.
Why CPC inflation starts before the auction
Rising CPCs start before the auction. Learn how brand, reach, and post-click experience shape paid search performance.
Why agentic commerce will matter more than ChatGPT ads
Google, Amazon, and OpenAI are building AI-powered buying. Here's why your product data matters more than your next ad platform.
Why frontloading your ad spend usually backfires
Launching with a bigger budget doesn't guarantee faster growth. Here's how to build momentum without wasting spend.
Google expands AI ad disclosures across Search, YouTube, Discover
Google will show whether ad creative was created or edited with AI. The AI-made ad disclosures are rolling out worldwide.
Google drops Next from Merchant Center Next
Google Merchant Center Next is now know as just Google Merchant Center.
A Google Ads targeting tactic that cut invalid clicks by 50%
After Google said it had already filtered suspicious activity, this unexpected approach restored campaign profitability.
How competitors target your branded traffic with Google Ads
Learn how dynamic keyword insertion, comparison pages, and brand modifier keywords influence branded searches, and how to defend against them.
Google tests AI-generated summaries in Search ads
Google is testing AI-generated summaries beneath Search ads, potentially giving its AI a larger role in how paid ads are presented
How campaign structure shapes Google Ads performance
Better automation starts with better account architecture. Learn how to strengthen signals, reduce overlap, and improve results.
Google Ads redesigns All Campaigns selector
Google Ads is rolling out a redesigned All Campaigns selector with a new hierarchy view and search to simplify campaign navigation.
How one broken form cost an agency months of leads ft. Danny Gavin
A simple technical failure cost an agency months of leads, revealing why communication and QA matter as much as PPC performance.