Google will stop serving Showcase Shopping ads and remove Showcase Shopping ad groups beginning on April 1, the company stated in an email to advertisers sent on February 23. After April 1, previous Showcase Shopping ad layouts will become part of Product Shopping ad groups. Advertisers will retain access to performance data for removed ads […]
SEM
Advertisers have until February 2022 to adjust to Google’s new Partner Program requirements
In an email to Google Partner Program members around the world, Google announced changes to the Program structure and badge criteria. The changes were initially slated to take place June 2020, but due to the pandemic will now go into effect beginning in February 2022. This means Partners will have a year to meet the […]
How the Microsoft Search Network can maximize your search campaigns
Search advertising is evolving alongside a rapid change in user shopping behavior. With audiences shifting more than ever, it’s important for marketers to make the most of potential customers seeking out new brand loyalties and products. But when it comes to search marketing, it can be tempting to stick with what you know. It might […]
Responsive search ads now the default in Google Ads
Google announced today that RSAs will officially become the default ad type for Search campaigns in Google Ads, though expanded text ads can still be created. RSAs allow advertisers to input multiple headlines and ad copy variations, and Google Ads uses machine learning to determine which variations to use based on what queries people are […]
Google brings Display ads to attribution reports as an open beta
Google has added Display ads to its Google Ads attribution reporting as an open beta, the company announced Thursday. Last year, the company streamlined its attribution reporting and included YouTube ads to it, also in beta. How to opt-in. Eligible advertisers can opt-in to Display ads in attribution reports by going to the Measurement > […]
Google to transition to parallel tracking for Video ads by April 30
Google announced today that the deadline to adopt parallel tracking for Video ad campaigns is April 30. Parallel tracking for Search campaigns took effect in 2018, so this announcement specifically applies just to Video campaigns. What is parallel tracking. Parallel tracking is a form of campaign click measurement that’s meant to speed the loading process […]
A Google Ads setting allowed advertisers to exclude people of “unknown gender”
A Google Ads setting allowed businesses to potentially exclude nonbinary gender audiences, according to The Markup. The publication found examples across YouTube and search where advertisers could exclude audiences based on “unknown gender.” This form of discrimination is against Google’s own personalized advertising policy. “We will be implementing an update to our policy and enforcement […]
Google Search dark theme mode expands but search ads are hard to distinguish
Google has been expanding its roll out and test of dark mode or dark theme for the company’s search interface. Google started testing this back in December 2020, as captured by this Reddit thread. But over the past couple of days, more and more searchers are noticing the new dark theme show up in Google […]
Microsoft Ads to replace Manual CPC with Enhanced CPC by end of April
Microsoft will transition all search, shopping, and Dynamic Search Ads campaigns that do not have automated bidding strategies to Enhanced CPC (eCPC) beginning in March. “Starting in March 2021 and continuing through April 2021, all existing search, shopping, and Dynamic Search Ads campaigns without any automated bidding strategies in place will be automatically migrated to […]
Google’s updated phrase match simplifies keywords and worries advertisers
Google’s recently announced updated treatment of phrase match to include broad match modified (BMM) traffic is the latest in a series of changes its made to its keyword match types. These changes place the emphasis on machine learning and automation over manual inputs from advertisers. There has been a mixed reception from advertisers, with some […]
Google expands phrase match to include broad match modifier traffic
Changes are coming to Google’s phrase match and broad match modifier keyword match types, the company announced Thursday. Phrase match will expand to include additional broad match modifier traffic and support for broad match modifier will end. The changes will start rolling out in two weeks. How phrase match will change. Currently, an advertiser using […]
Google Ads Auto Applied Recommendations: Every setting, explained
Over the past few years, Google has expanded its suite of Auto-Applied Recommendations. These are AI-driven “improvements” to elements of the text and display ads you’re running in Google. What started with adding ad units to text Ad Groups has grown into a list of 35 editable options. Here, we’ll detail each of them and […]
Google adds Black-owned business label to product results
Google announced that black-owned businesses can now also show a special label or indicator in their product and shopping results within Google Search. The label reads “identifies as Black-owned” and shows in the product listing results within Google Shopping. What it looks like. Here is a GIF from Google showing this label in the Google […]
PPC award winners talk strategies for competitive times, industries, and marketplaces
In an interview with contributor Matt Van Wagner, the SEM initiative Search Engine Land Award winners talked about their strategies for a donation campaign combatting news searches during the bushfires in Australia, improving CRO in the very competitive financial services space, and improving margins for seasonal retail campaigns on Amazon. Watch the video below to […]
Microsoft Advertising now offers Filter Link Extensions
Microsoft Advertising announced an addition to their ad extension offerings today: Filter Link Extensions. According to the announcement, filter link extensions mean “Advertisers can present many different features under categorized headers so that users can quickly navigate to their key products and offerings.” With Filter Link Extensions, your ads will include one header with between […]