Google Ads News
Google tests a grey box design for Shopping ads
Google tests a grey box design in Shopping ads.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel.
Google tests a new sitelink design on desktop
Google tests a new sitelink design for ads on desktop.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel .
AI Mode now shows three ads instead of two
Google AI Mode now shows three ads at the bottom instead of two.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel.
Google tests website names and URLs in AI Mode ads
Google tests showing website names or URLs in AI Mode ads.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel .
Google tests blue ad titles in AI Mode
Google tests blue titles for ads at the bottom of AI Mode.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel.
Google tests a bigger three-dot menu on search ads
Google is testing a larger three-dot menu icon on ads in the search results. Sachin Patel spotted this while scrolling through the results. It could be a test or it could be a bug.
New ad design test in AI Mode: white background, black border
Google is testing a new ad design in AI Mode, changing how ads appear at the bottom of AI-generated responses.
Key updates:
New design: Ads now have a white background with a black border instead of the previous grey background.
Ad placement: Ads still appear at the bottom of AI Mode responses.
Recent changes: This follows another test where Google introduced blue ad titles in AI Mode.
Thanks for sharing Sachin Patel .
DV360 launches Structured Data Files v11
Google has launched Structured Data Files (SDF) v11 for Display & Video 360 (DV360), with new features for large-scale campaign management.
Key updates:
Expanded audience targeting: Broader support for including and excluding lookalike audiences.
Location targeting: Target users near business chains and store locations through bulk uploads.
YouTube improvements: Updated third-party vendor configurations with support for multiple vendors.
New campaign formats: Support for YouTube Instant Deals, currently limited to selected beta partners.
Important: SDF versions older than v10 will no longer be supported from January 2027. Existing templates and automated workflows may need updating.
Bottom line: SDF v11 gives more flexibility for managing targeting and YouTube campaigns at scale, especially for advertisers and agencies using bulk uploads and automation in DV360.
Automated bidding for Video Reach campaigns (beta)
As of 10 October 2026, Google Ads offers automated bidding for Video Reach campaigns in beta. Advertisers can optimize bids and spend their full budget without setting a manual Target CPM.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
Video engagements now need 10 seconds of watch time
As of 10 October 2026, Google Ads requires 10 seconds of video watch time instead of 5 to count as an engagement. This could lower your reported engagement rates.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová .
Online lottery ads allowed in Colombia from 21 October
From 21 October 2026, Google Ads will allow online lottery ads in Colombia for operators authorized by the CNJSA.
Google Tag Manager containers now initialize automatically
Google Tag Manager update (8 October 2026): GTM containers now initialize automatically, and gtag(‘config’) commands appear as gtag.config events in the dataLayer.
This may trigger tags unexpectedly, so review your wildcard triggers and check your Google tag installation.
New “Overlay on videos” setting in Demand Gen
Google Ads is introducing a new “Overlay on videos” feature for Demand Gen campaigns. It lets Google automatically add text from your ad assets on top of your videos.
The feature seems to be on by default, so check your campaigns if you want to avoid automatic text overlays. You can turn it off in the video optimization settings.
In the EU, ads edited with AI will also get an AI label.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová & Gert Jan van Egmond.
Google Ads launches AI Asset Studio
Google Ads introduces AI Asset Studio, powered by Gemini. Advertisers can automatically generate text, images and videos based on campaign goals, target audiences and brand guidelines.
Thanks for sharing Thomas Eccel.
Google September 2026 spam update finished rolling out
The Google September 2026 spam update is done rolling out.
YouTube Masthead opens to certified gambling advertisers
On 21 October, YouTube’s ad requirements will be updated to allow Masthead ads for online gambling advertisers who are certified under Google’s Gambling and games policy.
New lead charging rules for Local Services Ads
On 8 October 2026, Google updated its Local Services Ads (LSA) lead documentation, with clearer billing rules, lead statuses and automated lead-quality reviews.
20-second missed-call rule: Unanswered calls during business hours may now be charged if callers stay connected for over 20 seconds.
Voicemail and IVR: Clarified when calls to automated systems become billable.
30-day lead review: Google may review lead quality for up to 30 days and issue credits afterward.
New lead statuses: Leads can be marked as Charged, Not charged, In review, or Credited.
15-day repeat-contact rule: Follow-up contacts from the same customer generally aren’t charged again within 15 days.
Automated quality assessment: Google has replaced many previous credit-exclusion examples with automated lead-quality evaluations.
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz.
Overview page adds video impressions and funnel stages
Google Ads has added video impressions and performance insights by funnel stage to the Overview page. This helps you see the customer journey and how your campaigns work.
Video impressions: Conversion paths now include video impressions, not just views, showing their impact earlier in the customer journey.
Performance by stage: A new card groups campaign metrics into awareness, consideration and action stages.
Expanded metrics: Includes impressions, CPM, frequency, views, video completion rate and conversion insights.
Lift measurement: Supports Brand Lift, Search Lift and Conversion Lift studies when set up.
Limitation: Video impressions only include web conversions, not GA4-imported conversions.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
AI insights in experiment reports
On 8 October 2026, Google Ads added AI-powered insights to experiment reporting, so you can understand test results faster.
AI summaries: A new panel in the “Summary” tab shows experiment goals, key insights and recommendations.
Actionable insights: You get suggested next steps based on experiment performance.
Performance Max migration: Applying experiments moves traffic fully to Performance Max.
Experiment outcomes: Optimization experiments permanently apply the tested settings, while custom experiments let you pick the winner yourself.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
Retailers can now share commerce audiences
On 8 October 2026, Google Ads introduced commerce audience sharing. Retailers and marketplaces can now securely share first-party audience data with advertising partners, including brands and sellers.
Audience sharing: Retailers can share customer segments with eligible advertising partners.
Setup: Requires linking Google Ads with the commerce partner’s Google Merchant Center and data sharing account.
Eligibility: Shared audiences are only available for eligible commerce media network campaigns.
Insights: Retailers get performance metrics, while advertisers can see audience details and conversion data.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
Preview AI Max text before you turn it on
As of 8 October 2026, Google Ads lets you preview AI-generated headlines and descriptions before you turn on AI Max text customization in Search campaigns.
Preview: See up to 10 sample headlines and descriptions.
Speed: Previews show up in about 30 seconds after you enter a final URL.
Availability: Works for new and existing Search campaigns under “Asset optimization”.
Support: Available in all supported languages and most business categories, except adult content.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
Google tests reviews in search ads
Sachin Patel discovered that Google is testing showing reviews in search ads.
Google pushes click-to-SMS ads
Google Ads is now pushing click-to-SMS ads.
Thanks for finding Anthony Higman .
Call reporting easier to reach from “Calls from ads”
VIVEK GUPTA discovered that Google Ads has made Call Reporting easier to reach, straight from the “Calls from ads” conversion action.
Alcohol policy: 0% drinks allowed in India, Indonesia and Egypt
Google has updated its alcohol advertising policy to allow 0% alcohol drinks in India, Indonesia and Egypt, with certification.
The policy now also covers low-ABV drinks below 0.5% and alcohol alternatives, as long as advertisers follow local laws and industry standards.
Google has also added restrictions on misleading claims and on messages that show alcohol as lowering social or sexual inhibitions.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
Merchant Center: fast price changes can lead to disapprovals
Google has updated its Merchant Center automation guidance for products with prices or availability that change often.
Products that change more than once a day may now be disapproved instead of updated automatically, especially when Google finds too many mismatches.
This matters for retailers with fast-moving stock, where automatic updates alone may no longer be enough.
New way to count view-through conversions in Demand Gen
Google Ads has changed how view-through conversions (VTCs) are counted for Display ads in Demand Gen campaigns.
The old Active View standard is being replaced by “rendered ad impression”. With the new method, an impression can count as soon as at least one pixel of the ad shows on screen, no matter how long it is visible.
The change rolls out automatically. You don’t need to do anything.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová & Arpan Banerjee.
Self-serve Conversion Lift for Search and PMax
Google has opened self-serve Conversion Lift to Search and Performance Max campaigns. You no longer need to work with a Google rep.
To qualify you need at least 1,000 observed conversions and a campaign budget of at least $5,000.
Conversion Lift now supports Display, Search, Video, Demand Gen, App and Performance Max. iOS App campaigns and Travel Ads are excluded, and alpha and beta campaigns still need Google support.
Google also added new guidance on supported conversion actions and reporting.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová.
New recommendation to add search themes
New? Felix Duerler saw this new recommendation for adding search themes.
Google tests a Direct offer asset in AI Mode
Google is testing a Direct offer asset in Google Ads that lets advertisers show personalized promotions directly in AI Mode.
Advertisers can set incentives, promo codes, dates, terms and claim limits, while Google AI decides when and which offer to show.
The feature currently works with campaigns that use AI Max or text customization.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová & Christian Cabrera.
Google tests a new Billing menu
Google Ads seems to be testing a new Billing menu with more links and a new layout for Billing Reports, Transactions, Payment Methods and Account Budgets. Interestingly, Summary and Billing Reports currently seem to show the same information.
Credit: Govind Singh Panwar & Barry Schwartz
New AI Max reporting columns
Google Ads is rolling out new AI Max reporting columns, including Locations of interest, Optimized targeting and Brand inclusions.
These should give you more insight into how AI Max settings affect campaign performance, and make analysis easier.
Thanks for sharing VIVEK GUPTA.
Advertiser name shown in call assets (test)
Google Ads is testing showing the advertiser’s name in the click-to-call phone number of the call asset on sponsored listings.
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz & Khushal Bherwani.
Merchant Center UCP integration hub rolls out in the US
Hana Kobzová discovered that the Merchant Center UCP integration hub is now slowly rolling out in the United States, with new options for merchants.
Google Ads Editor 2.10 and older stop working on 19 October
Hana Kobzová discovered that Google Ads Editor 2.10 and older versions stop working on 19 October.
Video campaign groups now in beta
Bia Camargo discovered that Video campaign groups are now in beta.
Hourglass icon for conversions still coming in
Google Ads now shows an hourglass for conversions that are still coming in.
See lost conversion value when excluding keywords
Harri Cullen discovered that he can now see the conversion value he loses when he excludes keywords.
ChatGPT Ads shows bigger images
Thomas Eccel discovered that ChatGPT Ads now shows bigger pictures in ads.
Google Ads can now set Target ROAS from profit margin
Arpan Banerjee discovered that Google Ads now calculates your Target ROAS from your profit margin.
Google tests a double About Us button
Google is testing a double About Us button, found by Khushal Bherwani .
Google drops the “50 conversions” line from learning period docs
Google has removed the mention of 50 required conversions from its help page on learning periods for bid strategies. The page now only says calibration usually takes 1 to 2 conversion cycles, without a specific number of conversions.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová .
Manager accounts can create accounts without a campaign
Google Ads manager accounts can now create new accounts without setting up a campaign right away. This works for manager accounts that have spent more than $1,000 USD and follow Google Ads policies.
Thanks for sharing Hana Kobzová .