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 Ads makes broad match default for new search campaigns
Google Ads now defaults to broad match for new search campaigns, potentially impacting performance and spend if advertisers aren't vigilant.
How to evolve your PPC measurement strategy for a privacy-first future
Overcome cookie limitations, leverage first-party data and implement diverse attribution methods for accurate insights.
Google Ads unveils tCPA Insight Box for Demand Gen campaigns
Google Ads launches tCPA Insight Box for Demand Gen campaigns, offering advertisers a quick way to assess performance and optimize ad spend.
Google Ads shifts to Feed Labels for Shopping campaigns
Google Ads to automatically upgrade Shopping and Performance Max campaigns from Country of Sale to Feed Labels in August.
Google launches tool to simplify Enhanced Conversions setup
Google unveils EC Assist, a Chrome extension to help advertisers troubleshoot and optimize their Enhanced Conversions setup.
Google launches Merchant API Beta with new features
This is a redesign of the Content API for Shopping, with new features to enhance product management and showcase businesses capabilities.
Google announces new Display & Video 360 features
Improved reporting, user ID redactions for privacy compliance, first position targeting for YouTube Instant Reserve and more are coming soon.
Google tightens disclosure rules for synthetic content in political ads
Advertisers will need to disclose synthetic or digitally altered content in election ads, as Google aims to combat misinformation.
Google expands definition of U.S. Election ads
Google now requires verification for a wider range of political content, which may impact more advertisers ahead of the 2024 elections.
Google expands conversion tracking for Merchant Center
Google Merchant Center will include data from Search web results and other sources, aiming to provide merchants with more comprehensive performance insights
Microsoft Advertising launches Property Center and expands Lodging Campaigns
Property owners and managers globally now have enhanced tools to streamline campaign management, and boost bookings for both hotels and vacation rentals.
Google expands Audience Signal Targeting to App campaigns
This update gives advertisers more control over audience targeting and potentially improving app campaign efficiency.
Google expands Product Studio to new markets, adds features
Google expands its AI-powered Product Studio to the UK, India, and Japan. New features include direct file uploads and seasonal themes.
A guide to Google Ads for regulated and sensitive categories
Advertising sensitive products on Google Ads? Learn best practices for balancing policy compliance and marketing effectiveness.
Google Ads unveils major updates to search query matching
The Google Ads updates offer advertisers enhanced AI-powered performance, greater brand control and improved visibility into search queries.
Google tightens AdSense consent rules for Swiss users
Advertisers must implement stricter consent management practices or risk losing ad visibility, aligning with EEA and UK standards.
New tROAS Insight Box for shopping campaigns in Google Ads
Advertisers now get enhanced visibility into ROAS performance, enabling more informed optimization decisions and reshaping tROAS strategies.
Google Ads launches Cross-Media Reach Measurement for video campaigns
This update will allow advertisers to optimize video campaigns by providing deduplicated reach and frequency data across YouTube and TV.
Google rolls out new shopping tools ahead of summer sales
Google's tools streamline deal-hunting for consumers, intensifying competition among retailers and could reshape advertising strategies.
Google tightens EU consent rules for Customer Match ads
The new requirements mandate explicit user consent signals for ad personalization in the European Economic Area.
Google turns off Universal Analytics July 1: What you need to know
Universal Analytics shuts down on July 1, 2024, forcing a swift transition to Google Analytics 4 to maintain data access and measurement capabilities.
Google streamlining YouTube, Display ad content controls
Google is removing several content label exclusions for YouTube and restricting some filters to the account level.
Display & Video 360 instant reports coming to Bid Manager API
Google's DV360's real-time instant reports in Bid Manager API will let advertisers programmatically access and integrate the reporting data.
7 tips for conducting Google Ads audits
Keep your Google Ads account in top shape by auditing key areas like conversion tracking, impression share, match type performance and more.
Google’s $2.3 million check secures bench trial in adtech antitrust case
After sending a $2.3 million check to cover potential damages, Google has sidestepped a less predictable jury verdict.
Google Ads phasing out card payments
Certain high-spending advertisers will need to transition from credit or debit card payments to bank-based payment options by July 31.
Google’s auto-pause for idle keywords: overreach or overdue?
Google's plan to automatically pause keywords in advertisers' accounts after 13 months of no engagement has been met with mixed reactions.
How to use Performance Max for any type of business
Learn to adapt Google's automated campaign type for retail and DTC ecommerce, lead generation with varying budgets and local businesses.
3 PPC KPIs to track and measure success
Leverage valuable Google Ads metrics like conversion rate, impression share and lifetime value for deeper PPC insights and opportunities.
Google Ad Manager updates give publishers more creative controls
Publishers will be able to disable ad badging disclosures or control where it appears. The Mute This Ad feature will be sunset.
Google Ads rolls out new design to all markets on Aug. 30
Google Ads plans to retire the old interface and replace it with a new, more organized design for all markets.
Google Ads API v17 released with new features, changes
Google Ads API v17 comes with new features and changes that impact resource usage policies, batch processing, reporting capabilities and more.
Google launches Accelerate with Google resource hub for advertisers
Accelerate with Google is a new educational hub with customized resources to help marketers build expertise using AI.
Google Ads launches Brand Recommendations powered by AI
Google's Brand Recommendations, new AI-powered customized suggestions to help advertisers optimize awareness and consideration campaigns.
Generative AI’s role in shaping the future of advertising
Generative AI is set to revolutionize advertising and enhance the future of search. Here's what it means for search marketers.
Google sued by publishers over alleged pirate textbook promotion
This raises serious concerns for advertisers about brand safety, fair competition and the integrity of ad placements.
Google Ads inviting some advertisers to join Advisors Community
Select Google Ads advertisers are being offered the 'unique opportunity' to help shape current and unreleased products via surveys.
5 ways advertisers can prepare for Google’s AI Overviews
With Google's impending expansion of AI Overviews in Search results, advertisers must implement tactics to stay competitive.
4 Performance Max segmentation strategies and how to leverage them
Learn the pros and cons of common Performance Max segmentation strategies, along with tips to determine the best approach for your account.
Google to honor new privacy laws and user opt-outs
Google is enabling Restricted Data Processing and honoring user opt-outs via Global Privacy Controls signals in light of new state laws.