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
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Google tests more noticeable ad labels in search results
Google is testing a more noticeable ad format, using a taller gray background with labels like 'Sponsored' and 'Promoted results.'
How to manage a paid media budget: Allocation, risk and scaling
Find out how to allocate your PPC budget, optimize spend across platforms and scale campaigns without compromising performance.
EU’s top court upholds $2.7 billion fine against Google
The record $2.7 billion fine against Google was for favoring its own price-comparison service in search results.
How to do PPC competitor analysis
Monitor your PPC competitors, analyze their ad strategies and leverage insights to optimize your campaigns and post-click experiences.
Google is hiding search data from advertisers and profiting
Here’s how it affects your ad campaigns and what you can do to optimize performance despite limited visibility.
Google Ads to deprecate enhanced CPC for Search and Display Ads
Google Ads will begin phasing out enhanced CPC in October with the goal of transitioning all remaining campaigns to manual CPC by March 2025.
How to conduct audience research for paid search
Enhance your audience research strategy with insights into pre-build, mid-flight and post-campaign analysis for Google Ads.
Is it time to rethink your Google Ads strategy?
Reimagine your Google Ads with a focus on audience targeting. Learn how a strategic overhaul can optimize your ad performance and budget.
ChatGPT for PPC: 17 strategic prompts you can use today
Learn how to use ChatGPT to level up your paid search efforts without sacrificing strategy, authenticity and creativity.
Peak PPC season is coming: 5 tests to run now
Learn essential testing methods to enhance your paid media campaign performance and outpace competitors in high-traffic seasons.
What 54 Google Ads experiments taught me about lead gen
Two years of experiments reveal key findings on the best-performing bid strategies, keyword match types, campaign settings and more.
Seasonal PPC: Your guide to boosting holiday ad performance
Everything you need to know about adjusting your PPC approach to seasonal shifts, from identifying trends to adjusting budgets and more.
Google removes Auction Insights from Looker Studio
This removal means you'll need to adjust your fields by September, as several competitive metrics are now only available in Google Ads.
How search query length is shifting in the LLM era: Insights for brands
Dive into the impact of AI-powered search on search patterns and gain strategic insights to help your brand navigate these changes.
7 ways to segment Performance Max and Shopping campaigns
These segmentation techniques help align your ad strategies with business goals and maximize campaign performance.
Google Ads removes Audience Recommendations?
Not seeing Audience Recommendations in your Insights tab? Google didn't remove it. It's a glitch. Google is working on the issue.
Google apologizes to advertisers for major Shopping Ads glitch
Google is criticized for vague and delayed communication, leaving many advertisers demanding clearer explanations and impact reports.
Lead gen advertising in the automation era: How any brand can succeed
Boost your lead gen strategy with tips on campaign management, sales alignment and maximizing ad performance.
Google extends deadline for Hotel Ads commission bidding sunset
Google extends Hotel Ads commission bidding sunset to February 2025, giving advertisers more time to adapt strategies amidst evolving privacy standards.
Google Ads API streamlines conversion adjustment uploads
Google Ads API eliminates 24-hour wait for conversion adjustments, streamlining data management for advertisers starting Sept. 9.
Broad match keywords: When to test and when to avoid
Looking to expand your reach with broad match keywords? Find out how to carefully manage them and avoid overspending on irrelevant searches.
How to overcome bias in PPC for better ad performance
Biases in PPC strategies can impact campaign effectiveness. Learn how to test bidding and ad structures without risking client profitability.
How to succeed in the era of AI-driven search advertising
From AI-generated creatives to automated campaigns, learn how to adapt your paid media strategy for the AI era.
Unlock AI’s potential in paid media creative
A look at the latest AI-driven advancements in PPC and creative design to optimize ad performance and engage your audience effectively.
Maximizing Performance Max: Strategies for ecommerce success
Learn about campaign structures, best practices and how Performance Max compares to Meta Ads for ecommerce success.
Advanced analytics techniques to measure PPC
Key strategies for consent management, data modeling and non-cookie measurement techniques in a privacy-first world.
10 advanced strategy ideas for Google Ads
Discover 10 key tactics to optimize your Google Ads campaigns, whether you run large ecommerce accounts or low-volume B2B campaigns.
Google Ads introduces new consent settings tab in Data Manager
Google allows advertisers to separately manage consent for website data and imported/uploaded data, now available in select accounts.
Google Ads introduces new surcharges for specific jurisdictions
Google will introduce a 2.5% Digital Services Tax (DST) fee on Oct. 1 for ads served in Canada to cover regulatory costs in various countries.
8 free tools for PPC reporting
Explore cost-effective PPC reporting solutions and enhance your paid media strategy using resources from Google, Microsoft and Meta.
Data: How often Google mixes ads into organic results
New data shows Google mixes ads into organic search results in only 0.31% of desktop searches and 0.01% of mobile searches.
Better Google RSA creation and optimization in 3 steps
Learn key mistakes to avoid when running Google responsive search ads, plus expert optimization tips to enhance your ad strategy.
Google streamlines ad creation with Merchant Center-Ads integration
Advertisers can now enhance product images in their ad campaigns, streamlining the creation of visually appealing assets for e-commerce businesses.
Google’s AI push reshapes ad landscape as privacy concerns linger
Google is making a significant investment in AI-driven advertising innovations, while navigating privacy concerns.
How to recover from Google Ads performance drops
Actionable insights into PPC monitoring, diagnosing issues and communicating with clients to keep your Google Ads campaigns thriving.
Google offers enhanced conversions consultations
Google offers select advertisers personalized consultations to implement enhanced conversions, aiming to improve measurement accuracy.
Why single keyword ad groups still matter in 2024
Delve into the debate over SKAGs vs. modern ad group structures and find out why SKAGs might still be your best bet for Google Ads success.
Google under investigation in Italy over user consent practices
The investigation into Google's user consent practices for ad profiling could threaten its ability to link user data across its services.
AI and Google advertising: What’s next?
Discover the latest AI-driven changes in Google Ads, their implications for PPC marketers and six key recommendations to stay ahead.
Google Merchant Center Next rollout expands
Rollout expands to all accounts, offering a revamped interface and new features, but early adopters report challenges with the platform.