Google Ads News
New message assets
Zeeshan Ali discovered that Google has added Facebook Messenger and Zalo for Message assets!
New chart
Anthony Higman discovered that Google has added “Conversion Delay,” “Performance Anomaly Insights,” & “Notes” for the adjust function.
Events
Google Ads is hosting two big free virtual events next week:
Think Retail on Air 2025 – Sept 10, 11:00 am–12:30 pm ET
Think Lead Gen on Air 2025 – Sept 11, 10:00 am–12:00 pm ET
Checkboxes
Thomas Eccel discovered that Google Ads enhances campaign filters with these new checkboxes!
New location option
Barry Schwartz and Greg Kohler discovered that Google Ads now lets you select your business by searching Google Maps for location assets.
This makes it easier to manage existing and new location assets for your Google Ads campaigns.
API Merchant
Arpan Banerjee just send to me that Google is sending out the upgrade to Merchant Center API!
NEW YOUTUBE Network
A survey shared by Natasha Kaurra suggests Google may separate YouTube from Search Partners and introduce a standalone “YouTube Network” option.
This would be a big step forward. If YouTube is split out, we’d finally get transparency and control: true Search intent vs. YouTube discovery.
Thanks for sharing this Georgi Zayakov.
Google Fine
A U.S. jury has ruled that Google must pay $425 million in a class-action privacy lawsuit. The case alleged that Google collected user data between 2012 and 2020 even after people disabled Web & App Activity tracking.
The payout covers nearly 100 million users, though it’s far less than the $31 billion originally sought. The jury found Google liable on two privacy claims but did not award punitive damages.
Google has said it will appeal, arguing the verdict misinterprets how its systems work.
This marks another major legal setback for Google in 2025, adding to its growing list of privacy battles.
BIG LSA ERROR
Found by Anthony Higman…Google’s removal of badges from Local Services Ads is creating major confusion.
Users now mistake LSAs for organic Google Maps listings, leaving reviews via message leads. For law firms, these leads cost up to $600 each, and disputes aren’t possible.
Campaign Manager 360 API v5
Google has announced the release of Campaign Manager 360 API v5, alongside updates to v4 to comply with the upcoming European Union Political Ads Regulation.
Key points:
– Political ads will no longer be served in the EU starting October 2025.
– Both v4 and v5 now support the required euPoliticalAdsDeclaration field, which must be set at either the advertiser or campaign level to declare whether EU political ads are being run.
– Advertiser-level declarations are recommended; if not set, campaign-level declarations are required for new campaigns or when adding placements, ads, or creatives.
– v4 begins deprecation with this release and will sunset on February 26, 2026. After that date, v4 requests will return errors.
– Updated client libraries and a migration guide are available to help developers transition to v5.
New Merchant Center update
Product Studio can now generate product titles, descriptions, and attributes with AI. Until now, it has only handled images. While this speeds up catalog work, outputs can be generic or miss context, so manual review remains crucial.
For now, it’s API-only, but a Merchant Center rollout is likely. Discovered by Emmanuel Flossie and discussed in his new video.
Update Chrome case
A U.S. antitrust judge has ruled against Google on one of the core issues in its search monopoly case.
The judge barred Google from making exclusive agreements with partners deals that previously ensured Google Search was the default across browsers, phones, and carriers. This is a significant restriction, as these contracts were a central pillar of Google’s dominance in search distribution.
However, the court stopped short of banning all financial arrangements. Google can continue making payments to Apple to keep its search engine as the default on iPhones and Safari.
Those payments, worth billions annually, remain a powerful channel for Google to retain market share.
Ads API
Starting January 2026, Google Ads API will switch to a monthly release cycle.
This change gives advertisers and developers faster access to new features and improvements.
Each major version will remain supported for one year after launch, ensuring stability for long-term integrations.
Minor versions will introduce non-breaking, additive changes designed to bring additional functionality without requiring major updates, making it easier for teams to keep their integrations current.
Cosmetic products
Starting 22 September 2025, Google will update its sexual content policy by removing restrictions on mature cosmetic procedures.
Enforcement will roll out over about four weeks.These ads will still need to comply with all other Google Ads policies, so sexually suggestive content, nudity, or violations of child/teen protections remain restricted.
Fine Google
The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion (about $3.5 billion) for abusing its dominance in the ad-tech market.
Regulators found that Google unfairly favored its own advertising tools and exchange, creating conflicts of interest and limiting competition for publishers and advertisers.
This is the fourth major EU antitrust fine against Google, following previous cases involving Android and AdSense.
Google now has 60 days to propose remedies, such as ending self-preferencing practices. If the Commission deems Google’s proposals insufficient, it could demand structural changes, including divesting parts of its ad-tech business.
Google says it will appeal, calling the ruling “wrong and unjustified,” and arguing that the ad market remains competitive.
Meanwhile, publishers and regulators stress that fines alone may not be enough, and that real reforms are needed.
The case runs in parallel with U.S. antitrust actions, where similar remedies are being pursued.
New CTA
Arpan Banerjee discovered these new CTA text in Ads!
Web and App advertising
Arpan Banerjee texted me that Google just rolled out new features to better connect web and app advertising in Google Ads.
Here’s what’s changing:Web to App Connect expansion
You can now deep link from YouTube, Hotel Ads, and Demand Gen campaigns directly into your app (on iOS & Android). Unified workflows & reporting
Smart prompts (“nudges”) to optimize setup for in-app conversionsA simplified conversion setup page combining web + app eventsA unified overview card on the Google Ads homepage showing web + app performance side by side
Web-to-App Acquisition measurementYou can now track app installs and first in-app conversions directly back to your web campaigns (like Search or Shopping).
Why it matters:Advertisers can finally bridge the gap between web and app journeys, with easier setup, clearer reporting, and better attribution across channels.
AI agent Ads
AI agent GoogleGoogle Ads now has an AI Agent in the documentation that can help you! Found by Yazid Benhlal.
Political Ads
Muiz Hassan discovered that Google is now also adding the EU political ads in the copy and past option.
Google is testing a new Sales & Promotions Feature Bundle with Flighted Budgets in Google Ads
The alpha program lets advertisers set campaign total budgets (fixed spend over 3–90 days) and activate a Promotion Mode (3–14 days) to push volume during key sale periods.
It works across Performance Max, Search, and Shopping, with support for tROAS and tCPA bidding.
Unlike standard seasonality adjustments, this setup factors in sale dates, promotional assets, and ROAS flexibility, giving Smart Bidding clearer signals to scale spend effectively.
It’s designed for flash sales, holiday promos, ticket sales, and travel offers helping brands capture demand quickly without wasting budget.
Found by Yash Mandlesha
Emoticon free shipping
Arthur LUBRANO discovered that Google is now testing with emoticons before free shipping:)
Hotel policy
Google announced that starting September 22, 2025, it will enforce stricter standards on pricing accuracy in Hotel Center. The policies themselves haven’t changed, but Google will now filter out more inaccurate prices from both ads and free booking links.
For hotels and lodging partners, this means that inaccurate deals are less likely to appear on Google, which could reduce traffic.
On the other hand, properties with consistently accurate pricing may see more visibility and traffic as a result.
The goal is to improve user trust and ensure that the price shown on Google matches the price on the booking page. Hotel partners are advised to review their price accuracy metrics in Google Hotel Center and aim for an “Excellent” Price Accuracy Score to avoid losing exposure.
Found by Barry Schwartz & Lluc Berrio Penycate
Week 36 finished
