Promotion update
Google Ads has expanded Promotion Mode, using Smart Bidding Exploration to help advertisers broaden reach and capture more opportunities during promotional periods. Thanks for sharing VIVEK GUPTA.
API Conversion
APP conversions are now getting attribution. Thanks for sharing Matteo Zambon.
New Sitelink test
Google is testing another new sitelink design for mobile search ads, adding to a growing number of ad-format experiments seen in recent months.
The latest variation was spotted independently by Brodie Clark and the Search Engine Watch team, suggesting Google is actively experimenting with how sitelinks are presented on smaller screens.
The test could affect how prominently advertisers’ additional links appear within mobile ads and how users interact with those expanded ad elements.
Source: Sachin Patel & Brodie Clark.
New Test
Google is testing a sponsored product grid in search results that appears to replace the organic product grid entirely.
The test was first spotted by Brodie Clark, who raised concerns that the “Sponsored products” label may not be prominent enough to clearly distinguish the unit from organic shopping results.
Because the sponsored grid closely resembles Google’s existing organic product layout, users could potentially click ads without immediately realizing they are sponsored placements.
If rolled out more broadly, the test could have implications for both SEO and PPC, increasing the visibility of paid shopping placements while potentially reducing space previously occupied by organic product listings.
Source: Sachin Patel & Brodie Clark
Gemini Omni
Google has introduced the first installment of its new Creative Drops series, highlighting Gemini Omni-powered creative capabilities in Google Ads Asset Studio.
Gemini Omni uses multimodal inputs including URLs, marketing briefs, product images, video clips, and other reference assets to help advertisers create coordinated text, image, and video assets.
For video creation, advertisers can select source assets and an aspect ratio, provide a creative prompt, choose from three generated creative narratives, and refine the resulting storyboard scene by scene.
Asset Studio can also use uploaded brand guidelines to help align generated creative with fonts, colors, logos, and visual style.
Videos can be produced in vertical (9:16), horizontal (16:9), and square (1:1) formats for use across Google and YouTube placements. Google says Gemini Omni-powered multimodal capabilities are rolling out globally as a free feature within Google Ads.
Policy update
Google says that in October 2026 it will add country-specific requirements for ads promoting complex speculative financial products in Chile and Denmark.
In Chile, the provider must be duly registered with and authorized by either the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero (CMF) or the Central Bank of Chile, depending on the products offered. In Denmark, the provider must be authorized by Finanstilsynet to provide the relevant products in Denmark.
Advertisers in both markets must also obtain Google certification and comply with other applicable local legal requirements.
The enforcement point in your summary is also correct: Google states that violations will not result in immediate account suspension without prior warning; advertisers will receive a warning at least seven days before account suspension.
New dimensions
Bia Camargo noticed what appears to be a new option in Google Performance Max campaigns: the ability to upload up to 15 “image ads” in traditional Display ad dimensions such as 300×250, 336×280, and 580×400.
Her main point is that these sizes differ from the standard PMax image asset ratios Google currently documents, which raises the possibility that Google may be testing or rolling out support for fully designed static Display creatives inside PMax.
If that is the case, advertisers could gain more control over exactly how ads look instead of supplying individual assets and relying on Google’s AI to assemble or adapt the creative.
The broader takeaway is that creative quality and creative control may become increasingly important in PMax, especially for brands with strict visual standards, even as Google continues pushing toward AI-driven, intent-based advertising.
New Sitelink test
Michael Zhu discovered that Google’s testing a new sitelinks format. Paperclips for pay-per-click, very fitting.
AI Max update
Google Ads has a beta AI campaign localization tool that can create localized versions of existing Search campaigns.
It can translate:
• Text assets, keywords, and targeting
• Text in image assets
• Landing pages via a JavaScript snippet
• Search campaigns, with Performance Max support also being introduced
A useful feature is back-translation: the localized ad copy can be translated back into English so advertisers can check whether the original meaning was preserved. My main concern is quality control.
If you need this tool because nobody on the team speaks the target language, you can verify the meaning but not whether the translation sounds natural, persuasive, or culturally appropriate.
Poor localization could reduce trust in both the ad and the brand.
The feature is still a limited beta.
Thanks for sharing Dario Zannoni.
Google Ads is updating its Business Name policy in October 2026
Until now, advertisers generally needed the business name shown in an ad to closely match the destination domain.
Under the new policy, Google will allow the business name and domain to differ in some cases.
To qualify: The business name must accurately represent the advertiser’s recognized brand or name. The advertiser must have a verified direct relationship with the domain owner.
The advertiser’s own products or services must be directly offered on that destination domain. The important limitation: third-party resellers, booking intermediaries, affiliate distributors, and secondary sellers are excluded.
They won’t be allowed to use the standalone brand name of the products, services, or properties they sell as their business name.
This should give more flexibility to brands that advertise through domains they legitimately control or work with, while still limiting brand impersonation or misleading business names.
The update was announced on October 1, 2026.
Thanks for sharing Anthony Higman
No Pictures
Arpan Banerjee discovered this test in which Google Ads just showing product titles and not images.
Automated promotions
Starting October 12, 2026, Google Ads may automatically pull promotions from your website and add them to eligible Search and Performance Max campaigns with location assets.
You can leave it on, manage the generated promotions in Assets, or opt out in account-level automated asset settings. If you need tight control over offers, manual promotion assets are safer.
Thanks for sharing Arpan Banerjee
Shopping YouTube
YouTube Shopping launches in the Netherlands!
Two dotted
Google is testing two dotted-menu elements in sponsored search results one near the URL and another near the ad headline.
Depending on which is clicked, users may be taken to the advertiser’s landing page or shown a “Why this ad” pop-up with more information about the advertisement.
The test was spotted and shared by Khushal Bherwani.
A/B
Google Ads brings A/B testing to Performance Max asset groups. Thanks for sharing Bia Camargo & Search Engine Land.
Merchant Center
Google has expanded its Merchant Center loyalty features, bringing Loyalty Customer Match to AI Mode and Gemini while widening availability to 14 countries.
The update also moves Customer Match support through the Merchant API, opens loyalty participation to non-advertisers, and clarifies eligibility rules for free-to-join programs. Google also added loyalty points and completed orders as qualifying membership types, plus a new country- and device-level availability matrix.
New markets include India, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Spain.Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
VTC
Google Ads is updating the definition of view-through conversions for Display ads within Demand Gen campaigns.Until now, VTC attribution for these ads has used Active View.
In the coming weeks, Google will switch to the rendered ad impression definition.In practice, this means a view can be counted as soon as at least 1 pixel of the ad appears on screen, for any amount of time.
Important: this change only applies to Display ads within Demand Gen. Google will roll out the update automatically, so advertisers don’t need to make any changes themselves.
For marketers, however, it’s worth keeping an eye on reporting. Because the view definition is becoming broader, reported view-through conversions may change even if your campaign setup stays exactly the same.
A good approach is to compare VTC performance before and after the change carefully and avoid treating both periods as if the measurement methodology were identical.
LSA
Google Local Service Ads seems to hide the phone number until you hover your mouse over the ad. Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
Sitelinks
Google Ads now has a Sitelinks Format In AI Mode! Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz & Anthony Higman.
Update policy
Google Ads updated its destination not working policy document to “provide additional examples for destination issues for advertisers,” the company said.
But Google also added a new line that says “Make sure your campaign has at least one asset group configured. If an asset group is missing, you may receive an “invalid final URL” error during setup even if your destination URL is working correctly.”
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
Shopping test
Google is testing making the sponsored products search results block or grid look more like the organic products/shopping grid. Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz,
Update policy
Google updated a number of Merchant Center policy pages in late September 2026, but the substantive definitions of prohibited content appear to have changed little.
The main shift is in how enforcement and appeals are documented.The updates emphasize account-level consequences more prominently, making clear that serious or repeated violations can affect overall product visibility rather than only individual listings.
Google also standardized the appeals process across policy pages, including a new or more explicit bulk appeal workflow.
Merchants are warned to review and remove violating offers before submitting bulk appeals, because unsuccessful bulk appeals may restrict later appeal attempts.
The documentation now uses consistent Merchant Center Next navigation, directing merchants through paths such as Products & store → Needs attention → View fix, with standardized options for resolving issues from either the product list or individual product pages.
Google also added clearer guidance for merchants using third-party ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, noting that review and appeal options may need to be handled through the platform’s own interface.
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
Renaming policy
Google substantially expanded and renamed its Merchant Center API help documentation in September 2026.
The page, previously called “API access to Merchant Center,” is now titled “Google Merchant Center API” and has been rewritten to provide a much broader technical overview.
The new version explains the available API and integration options in more detail, adds setup and authentication guidance, and gives merchants more context on how the API fits into the wider Merchant Center ecosystem.
It also highlights capabilities that were not previously emphasized, including features such as Product Studio and direct account notifications.
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
LSA
Anthony Higman discovered that Google Local Services Ads Is Doing A Test Where They Are Switching Out The Headshot Photo For Other Photos In The Profile.