Google Ads in the Media
235 mentions across press, blogs, and newsletters
July 2026
Standing On Principal; Google Ads Gets A Security Update
Principal Principles Who bears the brunt of AI costs? The advertising industry hasn’t settled on an answer yet, but many agency holding companies are striking a compromise with clients. They’re willing to pay the full AI infrastructure bill so long as the brand agrees to run a predetermined amoun
Google Ads Editor Version 2.13 Is Now Available
Google has released version 2.13 of the Google Ads Editor, which includes 17 new features and removes one older feature. The full list of features is below, as Google posted on its site. Google Ads Editor is a free...
Google Ads Editor 2.13 brings AI Max support to Shopping campaigns
The new editor expands offline campaign management with new AI-powered Shopping features, and enhanced Demand
Google Ads API v25 kills two lifecycle goal resources, forcing code rewrites
Removed CustomerLifecycleGoal and CampaignLifecycleGoal break automated goal configuration. Five features land, including Shorts likes and comments in reports.
Google Ads API v25 adds YouTube metrics and loyalty campaign goals
Google Ads API 25 expands measurement capabilities, introduces retention-focused goals, and new ways of managing ob
Google Ads bans blurry image assets and cuts eligibility to 60-day accounts
Accounts need 60 days of history, active text ads and Search spend above zero. Sensitive verticals stay locked out, and AI labels now bypass the overlay ban.
Google Ads kills appeals for policy decisions over 6 months old
Policy decisions older than six months become final inside the account, and Google gave zero notice period. What recourse remains for suspended advertisers?
Google Ads rolls out video campaign groups globally
Google launched video campaign groups, allowing advertisers to optimize YouTube reach and frequency across multi
Google Ads Appeals Limits Set To 6 Months
Google Ads updated its appeals guidelines and documentation yesterday afternoon to say you can no longer appeal a Google Ads violation if that violation is older than 6 months. Google wrote, "Starting July 21, 2026, the option to appeal a policy decision directly from your Google Ads account will no
Google Ads adds missed growth estimates to the Recommendations tab
Google Ads' new beta estimates the clicks, conversions, and revenue you may be missing due to limited b
Google Tag Manager adds guided setup for Google Ads purchase tracking
GTM's new guided setup simplifies Google Ads conversion tracking by automatically configuring key meas
Google folds Local Services Ads into Google Ads, cuts historical reports
Reports won't carry over and manual bidding disappears as US home service accounts migrate first in August, while non-US accounts wait until the 2027 rollout.
Local Services Ads come to Google Ads via Performance Max
Advertisers will gain a unified campaign management experience w
How to evaluate Google Ads creative before testing it
Evaluate Google Ads creat
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google 7/11 Update, Bing Penalties, Google Images, AI Overviews AI Images, Google Ads Updates, ChatGPT Ads Features & Apple Maps
This week, we saw some Google Search ranking volatility around July 11th, so I called it the 7-Eleven update. Bing said it does not do one-off search penalties because it is not scalable. Google Images celebrated its 25th anniversary...
Google Ads Making Broader Smart Bidding Updates? Google Says No.
The PPC community has been going wild over the change that is coming to Google Ads around bidding for campaigns limited by budget on August 18th. There is some belief that this is going to be a broader smart bidding update than what Google communicated.
Hackers Use Google Ads and Claude AI Chats to Steal macOS Credentials and Crypto Wallets
Threat actors have exploited Google Ads and Anthropic’s Claude shared-chat feature to distribute the MacSync Stealer to macOS users. They used a social engineering technique called ClickFix, designed to steal credentials, browser data, cloud keys, sensitive files, and cryptocurrency wallets. Acco
Google Ads bidding overhaul forces CPAs to double, sparking backlash
A campaign converting at 5 dollars can be pulled toward a stated 10 dollar target once budgets shift. Practitioners call the six week notice window too short.
Hackers Abuse Shared Claude Chats and Google Ads to Deploy MacSync Stealer on macOS
Threat actors are hijacking Anthropic’s Claude AI platform and Google Ads to trick Mac users into infecting themselves with a dangerous new information-stealing malware called MacSync Stealer, according to Zscaler Threat Hunting. The infection begins when a victim searches for terms like &#
Google Ads forces second admin approval, leaving solo admins stuck
Each removal request now carries a written justification and expires in 20 days if unapproved, a design that leaves single-admin accounts with no path forward.
A Subtle Google Ads Bidding Change
Will the new bidding system provide more predictable performance as Google claims? The post A Subtle Google Ads Bidding Change appeared first on Practical Ecomme
Google Ads Expands Alcohol, Gambling & Games Policy
Google Ads has posted that it has (1) expanded its alcohol policy to expand the approved geographic locations and (2) updated the gambling and games policy to expand the
Markifact adds Google Ads MCP with approval controls
Markifact's Google Ads MCP launch gives marketers an AI-assistant workflow for paid search reporting and approved account changes.
How to write Google Ads for SMEs
Experts share their tips to achieve a successful campaign
PPC / SEM Tips for Franchises: A Guide for Google Ads
Key Takeaways If you’re running a franchise, keeping your brand consistent while still letting each location shine is the lifeblood of your business. That’s where franchise pay-per-click (PPC) advertising can help. With PPC advertising, you can drive targeted traffic, generate leads, and increase vi
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Search Breaks Usage Records, Social & Video Platforms Show In Search Console & More Google Ads, ChatGPT Ads & More
This week in search, we covered how Google's Nick Fox announced Google Search broke all usage records when Argentina scored its winning goal in the World Cup. Google Search Console now shows third-party platform content performance data from Instagram, TikTok...
Google Ads Now Show AI Creation/Edited Labels
Google Ads will now show if an ad was credited with AI or edited with AI across Search, YouTube and Discover. This AI notation will primarily show in the My Ad Center panel under "How this
Google Ads Tests Favicons In Sponsored Results Sitelinks
Google is testing placing favicons in the sitelinks portion of the sponsored results from Google Ads. Generally, we only see the favicon in the main sponsored or organic listing, but here Goo
ActiveCampaign adds Google Ads connector as 23% use AI end to end
Marketers build Performance Max campaigns via chat prompts, joining a Wix, Claude and WhatsApp connector lineup. Will chat replace the ads dashboard entirely?
Google Ads New AI Max FAQs
Google has posted some new <a href="https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/15910187#faqs&zippy=%2Chow-does-ai-max-differ-from-performance-max%2Cis-ai-max-a-new-campaign-t
Google Ads gives advertisers 6 weeks before CPA targets double
The Bid Target Adjustment Tool went live July 6, starting a 42-day countdown before budget-limited campaigns shift toward stated CPA and ROAS goals for good.
How to Improve Your Google Ads Lead Quality: 11 Expert Tips
See how you can turn more Google Ads leads into loyal customers with this guide to improving Google Ads lead quality. The post How to Improve Your Google Ads Lead Quality: 11 Expert Tips appeared first on <a href="https:
Google Ads reps gain opt-out link after years of spam complaints
Third-party Google Ads expert emails now carry a working unsubscribe link, a specialist confirmed, but Google's own sales reps stay excluded from the change.
Google Ads forces some CPAs to double starting August 17
Campaigns paying 5 dollars per acquisition against a stated 10 dollar target drift upward from August 17, and a new adjustment tool arrives first on July 6.
How competitors target your branded traffic with Google Ads
Learn how dyn
How campaign structure shapes Google Ads performance
Better automation starts wi
MacSync Stealer Hijacks macOS via Fake Claude Code Google Ads – Full Attack Chain Exposed
MacSync Stealer is a newly discovered macOS infostealer actively distributed through a sophisticated malvertising campaign on Google Ads that impersonates Anthropic’s Claude Code CLI. Security researchers from Beezlebub have uncovered the complete attack chain, revealing a multi-stage infection p
Google Ads Tests AI Generated Summaries Under Descriptions
Google is testing the placement of AI-generated summaries in Google Ads sponsored results, right below the description. Google did add the disclaimer to the ad, "Google Al responses are generated independently and can make mistakes, so double-check responses."
June 2026
Google Ads / Merchant Center Customer Match Uploaded Via Merchant API
We knew this was coming, Google Ads now allows you to upload your customer loyalty data, i.e. Customer Match data, via the Google Merchant API. Google told us this change was coming back in March and Google has finally updated its documentation to say this is possible.
Google Ads Tests Open In New Window Icon
Google is testing adding an open in new window icon on sponsored results within the Google Search results. This icon appears at the end of the URL in the Google search ads.
Google Ads CPL drops for first time since 2020 as CPC hits $5.42
WordStream's 2026 study of 13,474 US campaigns finds CPL at $66.69, down for first time since 2020. Can these efficiency gains hold as CPC climbs to $5.42?
Google Ads API v24.2: AI transparency and PMax segmentation finally arrive
Google Ads API v24.2 adds synthetic content labeling, multi-party approvals, PMax ad network segmentation, and campaign mix experiment types for advertisers.
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google June 2026 Spam Update Hits Hard, Google Ads Strength Match Labels, AI Reporting Access & More
This week, Google released the June 2026 spam update, Google said it was a normal spam update but it does feel like this one started a bit earlier and was a big one. Yes, we covered on Sunday what we thought was a Google update that focused on black hat techniques. Google Search Console's
LinkedIn Ads CPC benchmarks: How costs compare with Google Ads
A year of B2B campaign data reveals where LinkedIn commands a premium, where co
Google Ads API Version 24.2 Now Available
Google has released version 24.2 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes "critical security updates, new AI transparency features, reporting enhancements, and powerful planning insights," Google announced.
Google Ads Will Soon Allow Some Final URLs To Redirect To A Different Domain
Google is updating its Google Ads Destination Mismatch policy in early July 2026 to allow the final URL to redirect to a different domain in some cases, with prior approval from Google. This was previously not allowed, as ads generally should take you to the final destination URL, but in some cases,
Google Ads Shop Diagnostics: Shop Sales Eligibility
Google Ads is rolling out a new section under the Conversions section labeled "Shop diagnostics." It says, "This report helps diagnose shop sales reporting and optimization eligibility."
Walmart buys ‘the Google Ads of streaming’ Vibe in a deal tipped at a $1 billion-plus valuation
The deal would bring Vibe’s 10,000 SME advertisers to the platform, equipping Walmart to better compete with Meta and Pinterest.
Google Ads Tests Strongest & Strong Match Labels On Sponsored Results
Google has confirmed it is rolling out a limited test in the search results to add labels to the sponsored results. The labels will say "Strongest match" and "Strong match," which
Google Ads Clarifies AI Max For Search Campaigns Reporting
Google has updated the Google Ads help document on About reporting in AI Max for Search campaigns with a number of changes. The changes include documenting the <a href="https://w
Google Ads Provides More Tips On Pin Headlines & Descriptions
Google Ads updated its responsive search ads help document to expand on the tips section around pinning headlines and descriptions. It now warns against pinning identical or very similar text and suggests a hybrid strategy.
Google Ads Rolling Out Text Disclaimers To All
Last month, Google announced that it is rolling out text disclaimers within Google Ads globally, in all languages. Well, it seems to have rolled out for many last week, as many are seeing it in their Google Ads accounts.
Google Ads Smart Bidding Strategies Target CPA & Target ROAS Updates
Google Ads is updating how bidding strategies are labeled. Specifically, Target CPA and Target ROAS will show as standalone bidding strategy options, separating them from the "Maximize conversions" and 'Maximize conversion value' strategies.
Hackers Impersonate Node.js Installer in Google Ads to Deploy Infostealer Malware
Hackers are using fake Google Ads to push a brand-new malware loader that disguises itself as the popular Node.js installer. The campaign has been actively targeting Windows users in the United States, silently dropping a dangerous infostealer onto their machines after just a single click on what
Google Ads beta lets tags pull in CRM data to recover missing conversions
Google Ads is testing a feature that connects website tags to CRM and backend data sources to fill conversion gaps from browser restrictions and ad blockers.
Google Ads automatically enrols advertisers in conversion-based customer lists
Google is automatically giving eligible advertisers new audience-building capabilities powered by conversion data.
Laura Abreu talks about a client experience that made her quit Google Ads
Laura Abreu shares how one wrong client taught her lasting lessons about trusting her instincts and setting expectations
Google Ads Turning On Conversion-Based Customer Lists For Advertisers
Google will be turning on conversion-based customer lists for Google Ads advertiser accounts beginning on Jun 17, 2026, with data processing to begin on August 18, 2026. This will happen to all advertisers who have already adopted both Enhanced Conversions and Customer Match but haven't yet enabled
Google Ads launches beta for supplemental conversion data
Google is allowing advertisers to gain more complete measurement and improve bidding performance
Attackers abuse Google Ads, GitLab, and Claude to deliver malware
Threa
Google Ads to automatically classify conversion-based customer lists
Advertisers are now required to give Google's automated systems clearer signals about where audience
Google Ads shifts Demand Gen billing to CPM for some Discover campaigns
Google Ads will switch Demand Gen campaigns optimized for VTC on Discover from CPC to CPM billing start
Google Ads gets promotion mode and a major bidding overhaul this August
Google Ads is rolling out three updates: Smart Bidding Exploration for Performance Max, a promotion mode beta, and a bidding target change on August 17, 2026.
Google Ads Bidding Target Optimization Changing, Promotion Mode Beta, Smart Bidding Exploration Expands
Google Ads announced a number of updates and changes this morning including changes to bidding target optimization, expanding access to Smart Bidding Exploration and promotion mode beta rolling out. My biggest concern is with bidding target optimization, as Google said it will deliver more predictab
Google ads tease next Pixel Drop with Screen Reactions and Gemini Omni [Video]
We’re due for Google’s next Pixel Drop and, thanks to some early ads, we now know that Screen Reactions and some Gemini Omni-powere
Google Ads Sitelinks With Images
Google Ads is testing showing images within the sitelinks portion of the ad unit. I've seen plenty of images in the main portion of the sponsored search results but I don't believe I've seen images in the sitelinks area of the sponsored results.
Google Ads Testing Top Pages Links
Google seems to be testing new "top pages" links within the Google Ads sponsored listings. These look like sitelinks or those <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-snippets-tags-labels-aga
New Google Ads Campaign Guidance With Experiment Power Score
Google Ads has a new feature named Campaign Guidance that will give you an "Experiment Power" score that will show advertisers "the likelihood of achieving statistically significant results,
Operation FlutterBridge Uses Fake Google Ads to Spread macOS Backdoor
Operation FlutterBridge uses fake Google ads and shell companies to deploy FlutterShell, a new macOS backdoor targeting unsuspecting users.
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google May Core Update Done, AI Performance Reports & Controls, Google Ads, ChatGPT Ads, Microsoft Scout & Tools
This week, I recorded from Boston - sorry for the appearance. We covered the Google May 2026 core update rolling out. Google Search Console released to a few new AI performance reports and new AI controls. Bing Webmaster Tools will release more AI reporting tools very soon. A Microsoft e
Your #1 competitive advantage in Google Ads: Customer Match
Uploading your customer list to Google Ads can give Google’s AI a competitive advantage as privacy changes make t
Warning: Google Ads Phishing Attack For Google Accounts
It is not that uncommon, unfortunately, to see Google Ads that are designed to steal your login credentials for various platforms, including your Google account. Now, when you search for "my business," which is how many businesses login to their Google Business Profile account, you are presented wi
Google Ads gets branded search controls inside AI Max
Google Ads adds a native branded search toggle in AI Max to keep prospecting campaigns clear of brand and competitor queries, protecting key attribution data.
Google Ads gets a native leads screen that bypasses the CRM tab
Google Ads now has a Leads screen inside Conversions for Google-hosted form leads, tracking raw, qualified, converted, and lost status across a 60-day window.
Google Ads documents Invalid Activity Credit Report for the first time
Google publishes a help document for the Invalid Activity Credit Report, with adjusted metrics and credited clicks for Search and Performance Max campaigns.
Who else is watching? Google Ads starts counting co-viewers on June 2
Google Ads API transitions to Total Co-view reach metrics on June 2, 2026, counting all connected TV viewers including shared screens in seven campaign metrics.
Google Ads tells advertisers how their inputs will be used starting July 2026
Google Ads is updating its terms of service on July 1, 2026, covering how advertiser inputs and URLs are used in AI features, arbitration, and regional fees.
How Much Does Google Ads Cost?
All of the benchmarks, factors, and tips you need to determine your Google Ads costs. The post How Much Does Google Ads Cost? appeared first on WordStream .
Google Ads Invalid Activity Credit Report - New Help Document
Google added a new help document to the Google Ads help documentation section named About the Inva
May 2026
Google Ads will require passkeys for sensitive actions from July 15
Google Ads mandates passkeys for sensitive account actions from July 15, 2026, replacing passwords with biometric login to block phishing and account hijacks.
Anthropic’s nearly a trillion; Google ads under fire
Anthropic neared a trillion-dollar valuation following fresh funding. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google May Core Update Status, Buying AI Brand Mentions, Preferred Sources In AI Responses, Google Ads, Local & Legal
This week in search, we gave a status update on the Google May 2026 core update. Google strongly warned against buying mentions for AI or manipulating mentions for AI. Google removed the indexing lag between....
New: Google Ads Prospects Mode
Google Ads has expanded New Customer Acquisition with a new feature called Prospect Mode. Prospect mode also targets brand-unaware users, Google said. Those prospects who have not searched for, engaged with, or visited your site. Some call them cold prospects.
Google Ads To Delete Short Term Performance Data June 1st
As you know, Google updated its Google Ads data retention policy recently , which changed
How to get your Google Ads seen in AI Overviews
Here's how feeds, landing pages, and
Google Ads Real-Time Policy Reviews During Ad Creation
Google is rolling out what it calls Real-Time Policy Reviews within Google Ads for Responsive Search Ads and rolling out to other campaign types later in the year. Google wrote, "this feature provides instant feedback during the ad creation process, significantly reducing the time it takes for your
Scammers exploit Google Ads route to steal $400K+ from Uniswap users
Fraudsters have successfully stolen $400,000+ by using sponsored Google ads to push fake websites ahead of the real platform. The scam is designed so that anyone searching for Uniswap on Google sees the false ad first. Users who have clicked the near-clones of Uniswap’s interface, connected th
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google's New Search Box, Gemini 3.5 Flash Powers AI Mode, New Google Ads, Ranking Volatility & More I/O GML News
This week, we had both Google I/O and Google Marketing Live, so we have a lot of news. Google launched a new search box it is calling the intelligent search box. Google also launched Gemini 3.5 Flash, which is now powering AI Mode. Google showed off information agents in search, expanded
Google Ads costs keep rising, but conversion rates improved in 2025
Google Ads is getting more expensive, but advertisers improving conversion
Google Ads Benchmarks 2026: Competitive Data & Insights for Every Industry
See the latest Google Ads benchmarks for your industry plus exclusive expert insights on what this data means for your business. The post Google Ads Benchmarks 2026: Competitive Data & Insights for Every Industry</a
Google Ads API v24.1 adds mobile segments, passkeys, and new experiment types
Google Ads API v24.1 adds mobile device segmentation, passkeys, static DemandGen images, and four new experiment types including AI Max and Performance Max.
Google Ads API v24.1 brings direct A/B experiment stats and new test types
Google Ads API v24.1 adds direct experiment statistics and five new test types, covering AI Max, broad match, video, and Performance Max asset optimization.
Google Tag Manager moves inside Google Ads Data Manager - what changes
Google integrates Tag Manager into Google Ads Data Manager, letting advertisers manage tags without leaving the ads platform. Here is what changes technically.
Google is moving offline conversion imports out of the Google Ads API
Google is pushing developers to move offline conversion imports from the Google Ads API to t
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Ranking Volatility Heated, Discover Data Goes Missing, FAQ Rich Results Totally Gone & Google Ads AI Dashboards
This week in search I covered, yep, heated Google search ranking volatility kicking in the middle of this week. Google updated its spam policies to say it also applies to Google's AI responses in Search. Google Discover...
Google Ads Create Video With AI Beta
Google Ads is testing a new "Create video" beta feature that has the Gemini logo next to it. So this feature uses Gemini, Google's AI, to create the video for you for your Demand Gen campaigns. <
Google Ads DevCast: all 4 episodes on AI, APIs, and scale
Google's Ads DevCast covers MCP servers, Data Manager API, developer workflows, and advertising API integration best practices across all four 2026 episodes.
Google Ads adds Gemini-powered dashboards for real-time insights
Google is turning Ad
Mac users beware — scammers are hijacking Claude chats and Google ads to push malware
Fake Claude support pages are circulating, being advertised through Google Ads
Google Ads Certification Process Updated For Crypto
Google posted an update to its Google Ads certification process for several cryptocurrencies and complex speculative financial products.
Toolradar Research
See Google Ads in context: The SaaS Press Index 2026
We analyzed 6,704 press mentions across 290 outlets to rank which SaaS tools win coverage. Find Google Ads's position relative to the 488 most-covered tools.
Read the reportExplore Google Ads
Press coverage is one signal. See the full picture.