Google tests traditional Search campaigns in AI Mode
Google is testing exact and phrase match Search ads in AI Mode when users show clear, direct intent.
Topic: Keyword advertising
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 undermines match-type control
AI Max quietly turns all keywords into broad match and blurs reporting, making it harder for advertisers to see what’s really driving their results.
Google clarifies where ads appear in AI Overviews
Google Ads confirmed that ads can appear either above/below or within AI Overviews, but not in both locations simultaneously.
Google AI Max for Search campaigns: New insights from Ginny Marvin
Google's Ginny Marvin talks AI Max: keywordless targeting, geographic controls, and better reporting. Here's what you need to know.
Coupon sites: The hidden threat to your brand
Explore the risks of coupon sites for brands and discover how to mitigate these challenges effectively.
Reddit introduces AI-powered keyword targeting features
Reddit's new Keyword Targeting feature aims to help you reach highly engaged audiences within relevant conversation.
Warby Parker dodges 1-800 Contacts lawsuit over search results, website
Warby Parker, 1-800 Contacts don't see eye to eye on branded keyword search results and federal courts ruling.
Google vs. Edible Arrangements: Court rejects ‘theft’ claim
Edible Arrangements was seeking damages from Google for selling its name via search ads. The court didn’t bite.
Advertisers will lose the ability to create new BMM keywords in late July
Attributes, like bid and status, can still be edited, but you’ll have to convert to phrase match if you want to edit the keyword text.
Now you can easily find negative keyword conflicts in Microsoft Advertising Shopping campaigns
Get a better view into product negative keyword conflicts in your Shopping campaigns.
Quora adds search-like keyword targeting, Auction Insights for advertisers
Keyword targeting offers the intent targeting of search and can be more granular than topic targeting. Auction Insights offer competitive visibility.
Keyword infringement: Edible Arrangements files $209M trademark suit against Google
While use of trademarked keywords has been allowed by courts, this case may be more complicated than it seems on the surface.
Google adds keyword functionality to the AdWords app
Advertisers can make more on-the-go changes.
Google to further dilute exact match in AdWords; will ignore word order & function words
Not just for plurals anymore, close variants will extend to include word ordering and function words in inexact match keywords.
The Aftermath: Clarifications & Expert Reactions To Google’s Move To Secure Paid Search Queries
Yesterday, Google announced it is expanding secure search to clicks on paid ads. The change means that the search query a user typed in before clicking on an ad will be dropped from the referrer string in the URL and won’t be passed to analytics or other software other than AdWords. The move is aimed […]
Bing Ads Introduces Refined Broad Match Keyword Targeting
In an effort to help advertisers attract more click volume from the Yahoo Bing Network, Bing Ads has rolled out Broad Match keyword targeting. The company says that with refinements and ongoing updates the “Bing Ads platform is able to deliver Broad Match conversion metrics that are 85% of the percentage of Exact Match”. The […]
Google Streamlines AdWords Rules On Using Trademark Keywords
Google has announced an update to its AdWords trademark policy that streamlines the rules on using third-party trademark keywords in campaigns. With the update, Google now has a consistent global policy that allows advertisers to bid on competitor third-party trademark keywords. The update states: “Starting on 23 April 2013, keywords that were restricted as a result […]
Wisconsin State Court OKs Bidding On Trademarks In Paid Search
A Wisconsin appeals court this week affirmed a circuit court’s ruling that it’s OK to use trademarks as keywords to trigger the display of paid search ads. The court’s conclusions are in line with search engines’ policies with regard to trademark bidding and with a Federal case decided last year in California. The Wisconsin case, […]
Mesothelioma, Asbestos, Annuity: Google’s Most Expensive Keywords
Markus Allen posted what will be a monthly report documenting the most expensive keywords you can by on Google AdWords. Leading that keyword list this month, according to the Google AdWords Keyword tool include keywords in the category of mesothelioma, asbestos, annuity and auto donation. For example, [mesothelioma settlement] goes for $142.67 and [auto donation] […]
Google And Rosetta Stone Agree To Settle Suit Over Trademarked Keywords
One of Google’s most well-funded and tenacious opponents in the legal arena, Rosetta Stone, has agreed to settle its trademark suit against the search giant. The language learning software company had contended that the use of its trademarks as “keyword triggers” infringed trademark law and confused consumers. Terms of the settlement agreement weren’t disclosed. The three-year-old case was […]
Why You’re Paying More For Your Brand Terms On Yahoo
Yahoo has suffered through its fair share of turmoil over the last few years: a revolving door of CEOs, significant layoffs, investor revolts, and a declining share of the search space, both paid and organic. One recent bright spot for Yahoo was their first year over year growth in search revenues after traffic acquisition costs […]
Question Of Whether It’s Legal To Use Trademarks As Keywords Revived On Appeal in Rosetta Stone/Google Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit today revived part of Rosetta Stone’s trademark lawsuit against Google, meaning the search giant’s permitting the use of trademarked terms in AdWords is still legally questionable in the United States. It’s the first time an appellate court has ruled in a case of this kind. Previously, a […]
Valentine’s Day AdWords “War” Among Florists Highlights Another Google Challenge
Imagine searching on your own company’s name and finding a competitor’s ad that said you were “Sold Out” right on your business’ most important holiday. That’s what florists like the owner of Chez Bloom in Minnesota had happen, as originally reported by Brand Channel. Indeed, as the owner of Chez Bloom Laura Chase told BrandChannel, […]
In Interflora Case, EU OKs Bidding On Trademarks With Some Restrictions
The European Union’s Court of Justice has ruled in the long-running Interflora case against Marks & Spencer, which involves bidding on trademarked terms, and the decision is no clear victory for either party. Instead, it OKs trademark bidding so long as the resulting ad offers an alternative to the mark holder’s service and doesn’t cause […]
European Advocate General Finds Against Trademark Bidding in Interflora Case
The European Advocate General is recommending that the Court of Justice of the European Union rule against retailer Marks & Spencer for bidding on the trademarked terms of Interflora, the flower delivery network company. If the Court of Justice acts on the findings, it could effectively spell the end of bidding on competitors’ trademarks in […]
Federal Appeals Court Allows Keyword Bidding On Competitor’s Names
paidContent reports a California federal court ruled that it is allowed to bid on a competitor’s name for search ads. The ruling was done in an appeals court in the case between Network Automation and Advanced Systems Concepts. Both companies sell scheduling and management software and Network Automation purchased the keyword “ActiveBatch,” a trademarked product […]
Bing & Yahoo Align With Google’s Trademark Rules For Search Ads
Bring on the trademarked keywords in the U.S. and Canada, says Microsoft AdCenter. A policy change, which takes effect March 3, means ads appearing on Bing and Yahoo will soon able to be triggered by trademarked keywords, though only authorized users can include trademarks in the text of their ads. The shift brings Microsoft AdCenter […]
Google AdWords Trademark Case Goes To U.S. Court of Appeals
paidContent reports Rosetta Stone, which lost their trademark case against Google a year or so ago, is taking the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Rosetta Stone claimed that the ads on Google infringed trademark law and confused consumers. The court ruled in Google’s favor but Rosetta Stone decided to appeal. This is significant […]
Google To Allow Trademarks To Be Used In AdWords Copy In Canada, the UK and Ireland
Google announced starting on September 14th, UK, Canadian and Ireland advertisers can use trademarked keywords in their ad text. This is a policy that was adopted in the U.S. on May 14, 2009 and is now being adopted in the UK, Canadian and Ireland. In addition, advertisers on September 14th can now select trademarks as […]
Google Claims Victory In French Supreme Court Keyword Trademark Case
Google wrote that they were victorious in a ruling today by the French Supreme Court over trademark infringement charges brought to them by three companies. But not everyone agrees that Google was indeed the winner here. Google wrote: Today, the French Supreme Court was unequivocal in their rulings and anyone who reads them will be […]
EU Upholds Ruling That Trademarks In Search Ads Do Not Infringe
EU Court Rules on Ad Keywords from the Wall Street Journal reports the the highest court in Europe upheld and confirmed a decision by a previous court that bidding on trademarked keywords in search engines does not infringe on European trademark law. This specific case was between Portakabin, a cabin maker and a competitor, Primakabin. […]
Google Wins Legal Battle Over AdWords Trademark Issue In Europe
European luxury goods maker LVMH (Luis Vuitton) sued Google in France over its AdWords policy allowing third parties, including LVMH competitors, to bid on its trademarked terms as keywords. The case originally arose when marketers bid on “Louis Vuitton” and turned out to be selling counterfeit Louis Vuitton items. The company won in France’s highest […]
Google AdWords Adds New Alerts & Place Pages Performance Reports
Google AdWords announced two updates including new alerts and place pages in performance reports, let me explain both in more detail. The new alerts are designed to help you stay on top of your campaigns. In addition to the billing alerts, they added alerts for new keyword and budget ideas in the Opportunities tab. Also, […]
Google AdWords Opens Up Trademarked Bidding To Most Countries
BrandVerity tipped me off to news that Google has modified its AdWords trademark policy to allow bidding on trademarked terms in 190 new countries. The policy is in line with the same trademark policy that we have in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. I asked Google for a comment on this change, […]
Court: Trademarked Keywords Can’t Be Used By Third Parties In AdWords
Last week the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the Rescuecom v. Google case that has some potentially serious implications for all concerned. The appellate court has jurisdiction over cases arising in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont but the case has national impact because of the way that AdWords is operated and […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, March 5, 2009
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Why Do Lawyers From Utah Hate Search Ads?
Eric Goldman reports that Utah, for the third time, is trying to regulate keyword advertising by proposing new law. The first two times they failed, but they are hoping the third time will be a charm. This revised law proposal, HB 450, is trying to prevent registered marks as triggers for keyword advertising but specifically […]
Heads-Up, Google: Broad Match Controls We Need
Last week, the Rimm-Kaufman Group disclosed what is apparently an inadvertent bug in Google’s Broad Match algorithm. Last summer’s switch from minimum bid to first-page minimum bid wasn’t supposed to impact broad match logic at all, but it did in a big way. The result? Agencies and advertisers who pay attention to the numbers saw […]
American Airlines And Google Settle Keyword Lawsuit
American Airlines Drops Google Trademark Lawsuit from Bloomberg reports that the two sides have settled the search ad legal dispute. Each side has agreed to pay their own legal fees and the terms of the settlement were not disclosed. American Airlines sued Google about a year ago over trademark infringement in their AdWords product. In […]