Search Engine Land is your source for Google news and 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.
What you read here is written by our experienced in-house team, and subject matter experts from leading brands and agencies.
Don’t miss out! Get the Search Engine Land newsletter delivered daily to your inbox. Subscribe for free!
Google Ads Performance Max gets asset and channel reporting
Google Ads upgrades bring bulk reporting, ROI columns, diagnostics, and more to help you fine-tune Performance Max campaigns
Google Ads tests new Labs hub for experimental features
The Google Ads hub centralizes experimental features, giving advertisers early access to pilot tools and campaign insights.
Google adds ROI insights to Meridian marketing mix model
You can now factor in pricing, promotions, and long-term effects as Google’s Meridian evolves into a smarter tool for budget decisions.
AI Max in action: What early case studies and a new analysis script reveal
See how Google’s AI Max performs in travel, fashion, and B2B campaigns – and get a script to speed up analysis and reporting.
Google AI Mode gets more visual, including inspirational shopping responses
Google uses a visual search fan out technique, plus the Google Shopping Graph to provide a more visual experience in AI Mode.
Google Search Labs gains Agentic capabilities in AI Mode
You can now have AI Mode help you make reservations at restaurants.
Google’s AI Max for Search: What 30 days of testing reveal
AI Max expands Search targeting beyond keywords. See how it stacks up against Performance Max and when it can actually deliver results.
What is YMYL? Google’s high-stakes content category
YMYL content affects lives and finances—so Google holds it to higher standards. Learn what qualifies as YMYL and how to meet E-E-A-T expectations.
Google Ads tweaks default conversion goal behavior
Google Ads will stop automatically making all new conversion goals account-default, helping campaigns avoid bidding toward irrelevant signals.
The global E-E-A-T gap: When authority doesn’t travel
Search and AI systems demand more than global reputation. Scale E-E-A-T with local expertise, trust signals, and structured authority.
Google Ads will recommend you link to your Google Analytics account with one click
If Google Ads finds an unlinked and unassociated Google Analytics account, Google may recommend you link it.
Google Ads updated policies to target dishonest pricing practices
Google Ads Misrepresentation policy will be updated on October 28, 2025.
How to deliver monthly PPC reports clients love
Elevate your monthly PPC updates with clear, insightful stories that showcase results, highlight value, and strengthen client loyalty.
Google clarifies API key process for local inventory feeds
Google simplified the process for merchants to obtain API keys for local inventory feeds, clearing a hurdle to faster Shopping integration.
Google tests Brand Profiles in Merchant Center Next
Google is testing Brand Profiles in Merchant Center Next, giving retailers new ways to showcase their story, values, and offers directly in Search.
YouTube to reinstate banned channels: What it means for advertisers
The return of banned YouTube creators could reshape ad reach and placements – and pose risks for brands and marketers.
AI Overview citations: Why they don’t drive clicks and what to do
Data from 20,000+ queries shows AI Overviews match Position 6 results – offering high visibility, but far fewer clicks than blue links.
People Also Ask SEO: How to optimize, rank and track
Capture long-tail traffic through People Also Ask results. See how to identify opportunities and build content that stands out.
Google pushes Demand Gen deeper into performance marketing
Google is shifting Demand Gen from an upper-funnel discovery tool to a full-funnel performance driver, with YouTube at the center.
Google Ads streamlines scripts documentation
You can now navigate Google Ads scripts more easily with streamlined guides, a central reference tab, and consolidated sample code.
Schema and AI Overviews: Does structured data improve visibility?
A head-to-head schema experiment uncovers whether well-implemented structured data gives pages an edge in Google AI Overviews.
Google launches seasonal bid adjustments for app campaigns
Google’s new beta lets app marketers flag big conversion spikes so Smart Bidding can ramp up performance during short-term promos and sales.
Google Ads doubles negative keyword list limit: Glitch or quiet policy change?
It's unclear whether Google quietly raised negative keyword list limits after one account exceeded the documented 5,000-cap without issue.
Google’s ad tech monopoly remedies trial begins
The DOJ’s ad tech remedies trial could crack open Google’s dominance of programmatic ads, reshaping transparency across the open web.
Google August 2025 spam update done rolling out
This spam update took just under 27 days to fully roll out and is now complete.
Google warns DOJ ad-tech remedies would hurt publishers, advertisers
The DOJ’s push to split off Google Ad Manager could raise ad costs while also opening the door to more competition.
Broad match drives higher revenue per conversion – but at a cost: Study
An Adalysis study finds exact match most efficient, but broad match can deliver higher revenue per conversion despite higher CPAs.
Google AI Mode coming to Chrome browser
Plus, while on a website using Chrome, you can ask questions and learn more about your current page with AI Mode.
Google brings Smart Bidding Exploration to Performance Max
Google’s new Smart Bidding Exploration in Performance Max may boost conversions by easing ROAS limits – at the risk of reduced efficiency.
Google adds new store widgets for your website
Google added two new options for merchants to add new Google store widgets to their websites.
Google doubles down on AI Max pitch to wary advertisers
Google’s pitches AI Max as smarter search ads with more safeguards solution — but control, brand safety and spend remain key concerns.
Google Discover adds follow feature and more social posts from creators and publishers
This aims to make Google Discover more publisher and creator friendly.
Google Ads placements: Your guide to targeting websites, apps, and YouTube
Learn how Google Ads placement targeting works – what it is, where to find it, how to block the junky sites, and whether it’s worth testing.
Google Ads Masterclass: Local search strategies that convert
Join this Masterclass to hear Google Ads experts share actionable strategies to capture more high-quality leads and prove the full value of your local ad spend.
Google Ads auto-enables ‘Store Visits’ conversions, sparking concerns
Google will automatically change store visit value, potentially raising ROAS with estimated – not actual – sales.
Google Search Console adds achievements section
Now there is a dedicated section to see your achievements within Search Console.
Google Search rank and position tracking is a mess right now
Google removed the ability to see 100 search results per page and both third-party tracking tools and maybe even Search Console seem off since.
FTC probes Google and Amazon over ad pricing disclosures
The FTC is probing whether Google and Amazon misled advertisers on ad pricing and auctions.
Google publishes new guide on Shopping ads pricing
Google details how sale annotations like automated updates or loyalty pricing can shape how shoppers see and trust your product listings.
Top Performance Max optimization tips for 2026
Use Google’s newest reporting and creative controls to refine targeting, optimize asset groups, and achieve incremental gains.