Payment section change
Anthony Higman stated that the payment methods section in Google Ads is going away soon and will be moved to the billing section as a drop-down.
Google lowers the price for advice
Florijan Abazi & Hana Kobzová discovered that Google has changed the price for advice. Before a 45-minute consult was 50 USD.
Prompting search engine
Jordan Fry discovered that ChatGPT is prompting users to download their new Chrome extension which would switch the default search engine to ChatGPT Google then prompts you to change it back.
LSA
LSA are now showing up in the search results discovered by Anthony Higman & Leonard Raleigh!
Asset coverage reporting Pmax
Maximilian vom Eyser just posted that asset Coverage Reporting in PMax campaigns is now available to more advertisers globally. The rollout is ongoing, but check if your accounts are available.
UPDATE: Google’s Compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA)
Rudolph Dekker just sent me that to align with the EU’s DMA, Google has made major changes to its search services in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia.
Key Changes:
Hotel-related features: Temporarily removed from Google Search.
No maps or rich results: Results will show only simple website links (“ten blue links” format).
These changes aim to comply with the DMA but have impacted suppliers like hotels and airlines, with some reporting up to 30% fewer direct bookings.
Google seeks to balance compliance with innovation and user value.
Local Map
Anthony Higman discovered that Google is now showing ads at the top of each page in the local map!
£7 billion class action lawsuit in the UK
Google is set to face trial in a £7 billion class action lawsuit in the UK, following the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s decision to proceed.
The lawsuit, filed by consumer rights advocate Nikki Stopford, accuses Google of abusing its dominant search engine position to inflate advertising costs, which are passed on to consumers.
Allegations include forcing Android manufacturers to pre-install Google apps and paying Apple billions to remain the default iPhone search engine.
The case includes all UK consumers aged 16 and over unless they opt out. Google, which denies the claims, argues the case lacks merit.
The trial adds to Google’s mounting legal challenges, including scrutiny from the US Department of Justice, which has proposed measures like selling Chrome to curb Google’s dominance.
Meet Copycat
Christoph Scherf announced a new open solotion tool called CopyCat.
Powered by Gemini, Copycat analyzes your Search ads to create custom, on-brand ads for new keywords—fast and effortless. Open-source on GitHub.
Check it out here.
New Custom Channel Groups support manual ad content
You can now use the manual ad content parameter as a condition group when creating a new custom channel!
New Black buttons
Emil Buur 🧬 discovered that Google is testing with black buttons.
Coming Soon: Display & Video 360 Updates (Nov 11, 2024)
Arpan Banerjee just sent me these new updates for DV360:Floodlight Picker Update:
See assigned advertisers for Floodlight Configuration IDs to simplify report setup.
YouTube Ad Previews: Preview video creatives across formats and devices in real-time.
New Cross-Media Metrics: Gain insights with “TV Campaign Reach” and co-viewing metrics in Cross-Media Reach reports.
Gold buttons
Leonard Raleigh & Barry Schwartz discovered that Google is testing with gold buttons for Phone calls!
Account Administrators
Google Ads has rolled out a new feature that allows Google Ads account administrators to grant access to a service account. Once the access has been granted, you can use the service account credentials to make API calls to that Google Ads account and other accounts in that hierarchy, if applicable.
Bug Shopping
Arpan Banerjee discovered an error in the shopping results!
Key Updates to Demand Gen Campaign Policies (Effective January 2025)
Google has made updates for Demand Gen, this was announced last week but they now provided more information.
Policy Simplification:
– Demand Gen campaign policies are being retired and integrated into unified ad requirements for YouTube, Discover feed, and Gmail.
– A single, clear set of standards will replace current Demand Gen-specific guidelines.
Unified Ad Standards:
– All image, text, and video assets must meet YouTube’s ad quality policies and Google Ads editorial standards.
– Stricter enforcement on clarity, spelling, grammar, and visual quality.
Prohibited Content:
– Bans on exaggerated claims, violent or distressing imagery, overly sexual content, and misleading interactivity.
– Restrictions on ads emphasizing personal attributes or promoting sensitive or invasive topics.
Automated Reviews:- Enhanced automated checks for ad quality; disapprovals may lead to temporary or permanent suspension if violations persist.
Simplified Compliance:- Centralized policies streamline adherence and reduce confusion.- Resources, including YouTube ad guidelines and Google Ads support, will assist advertisers during the transition.
Generate report
Slobodan Jelisavac just posted that he saw the generate report function live! Now this is a new feature that is slowly rolling out. I have seen it before but if you have not seen it check your reports tab and see if you have access!
BF Results
Black Friday 2024 saw a 3.4% year-over-year increase in spending, driven by a 14.6% rise in online sales, while in-store sales grew just 0.7% (Mastercard).
Adjusted for inflation, in-store spending declined 8% (Facteus). Popular purchases included makeup, Bluetooth speakers, and espresso machines.
E-commerce platforms like Amazon, Walmart, Shein, and TikTok Shop thrived, while traditional retailers like Macy’s and Target faced muted sales.
The shorter holiday season and consumer preference for online bargains were key factors in the shift toward digital shopping.