Paid Media News (Week 3)
Paid Media News (Week 3)
Explore every update from this edition, with the original reporting and contributor credits.
A digest of the original edition. Updates and availability reflect what was reported at the time.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: AdsToAI
I've been part of Mike Rhodes' AdsToAI community, and it's one of the few places focused on practical AI for Google Ads: scripts, automation systems, and tools you can actually use.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads launches campaign total budgets for Search, PMax, and Shopping
Google has released campaign total budgets in open beta for Search, Performance Max, and Shopping campaigns. The feature allows setting a total budget over a specific time period, from a few days to a few weeks, rather than managing daily budgets manually.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads adds account-level placement exclusions across all campaign types
Google Ads now supports account-level placement exclusions, allowing advertisers to block unwanted inventory across all campaigns from a single list. Previously, exclusions had to be managed individually at the ad group or campaign level.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads streamlines manual CPC bidding selection
Google has made it easier to select manual CPC bidding when creating campaigns. The option is now more accessible in the campaign setup flow.
Read this update in detail →Performance Max video capacity increases from 5 to 15 videos per asset group
Google has silently tripled the video capacity for Performance Max asset groups. Advertisers can now upload up to 15 videos per asset group, up from the previous limit of 5.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads updates Call and Messaging Ad terms with recording disclosure requirements
Google has updated the terms for Call and Messaging Ads with significant changes. Google now records all live chats, text messages, phone calls, and other communications initiated through ads.
Read this update in detail →Google introduces the Business Agent feature in the Merchant Centre for agentic shopping
Google is rolling out Business Agent in Merchant Centre Next for US accounts. The feature lets retailers claim their brand and customise an AI agent to answer customer questions, recommend products, and more.
Read this update in detail →Google sets deadlines for Content API to Merchant API migration
Google mandates migrating from the Content API to the new Merchant API, with deadlines of February 28, 2026, for Beta users and August 18, 2026, for Content API users. Check your setup in Settings > Data Sources > Primary Sources.
Read this update in detail →Google Merchant Centre moves logo upload to the new Marketing section
Google has relocated the logo upload location in Merchant Centre, causing confusion for merchants and agencies. The logo setting has moved from Settings > Business Info > Logo to Settings > Marketing > Brand > Logo.
Read this update in detail →Google Merchant Centre automatic import shows significant update delays
Testing reveals that Google Merchant Centre's automatic import feature, which claims 24-hour updates, is showing 9-10-day delays. Product data was last updated on January 4th and checked on January 13th.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Performance Max adds new customer acquisition goal in open beta
Microsoft Advertising has launched a new customer acquisition feature for Performance Max campaigns. Advertisers can now target new customers specifically, with options to either increase bids for new customers or focus exclusively on acquiring them.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft PMax adds Share of Voice metrics with historical data to November
Microsoft Advertising has added Share of Voice metrics to Performance Max campaigns. New metrics include impression share, click share, impression share lost to budget, and impression share lost to rank.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft PMax now supports asset group-level tracking templates
Microsoft Advertising has added URL options and tracking templates at the asset group level for Performance Max campaigns. Advertisers can now submit tracking parameters and custom parameters to split data by asset group, extending functionality previously available only at the campaign and ad group level.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft PMax improves Google import with enhanced asset group handling
Microsoft Advertising has improved the Performance Max import process from Google Ads. Asset groups with images that don't meet size requirements, exceed the previous 25-image limit, or include auto-generated logos will now import all eligible assets rather than failing entirely.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Audience Ads Content Targeting reaches general availability
Microsoft Advertising has made Content Targeting generally available for Audience ads. Placement targeting serves ads exclusively on premium Microsoft properties, including MSN, Outlook, Microsoft Casual Games, and Microsoft Edge.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Advertising expands location targeting coverage
Microsoft Advertising has improved location targeting with broader coverage, more reliable Google import data, and enhanced campaign activation. Fewer campaigns will remain paused or inactive after import due to location targeting issues.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft enables autogenerated text assets by default for new Responsive Search Ads
Microsoft Advertising now enables the generation of autogenerated assets when creating new Responsive Search Ads globally, excluding China and South Korea. The feature uses website content to create additional headlines and descriptions if you haven't filled all 15 headlines and 4 descriptions.
Read this update in detail →Google Shopping Ads testing product title and image A/B testing in Merchant Centre
Google is testing a new A/B testing feature for Shopping Ads within Google Merchant Centre Next. The Experiments tab under Products allows select merchants to run experiments on product titles and images.
Read this update in detail →Google tests LSA profiles with varied trust qualifier displays
Google is testing Local Services Ads profiles that display different trust qualifiers for the same advertisers. Some profiles show "Passed License Check," others show "Number Of Recent Bookings," "Passed Background Check," or "Has Business Insurance."
Read this update in detail →Google tests account creation with pre-built campaign option in MCC
Google is testing a new "Create an Account with Campaign for Faster Set Up" option when creating accounts within an MCC. For you, this means potentially faster account setup when onboarding new clients who need an immediate campaign structure.
Read this update in detail →PMax asset group ads are now previewable directly from the table view
Google Ads now allows you to preview Performance Max asset group ads directly from the table by clicking on the images. For you, this means faster creative review without having to navigate to the asset group editor.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads Advisor expands with AI-powered conversion summaries below graphs
Google Ads has enhanced the Ads Advisor panel under performance graphs to include a conversion summary alongside AI-driven suggestions. Advertisers now see a quick performance recap showing total conversions and top-performing campaigns before exploring recommended questions.
Read this update in detail →Guide: How to enable Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) in Google Merchant Centre
A detailed implementation guide explains how to enable Universal Commerce Protocol payments in your Google Merchant Centre feed. UCP is Google's new open standard enabling AI agents to complete purchases on behalf of users.
Read this update in detail →Google publishes official enhanced conversions for leads implementation checklist
Google has released a comprehensive checklist for implementing enhanced conversions for leads correctly. The guide covers prerequisites, including customer data terms acceptance and auto-tagging, website tagging requirements for PII collection, data preparation with SHA-256 hashing and normalisation standards, and the data import process.
Read this update in detail →Smarter Ecommerce releases free Google Ads Benchmarks dashboard
Smarter Ecommerce has released a Google Ads Benchmarks dashboard to help advertisers validate their metrics against the wider ecosystem. The dashboard provides clarity on channel-specific performance, market pressure from major players such as Amazon and Temu, and key metrics, including AOV, ROAS, and click volume comparisons.
Read this update in detail →Display & Video 360 adds biddable live sports CTV capabilities with NBCUniversal Olympics inventory
Google has announced new biddable live sports features in Display & Video 360, including access to NBCUniversal's programmatic inventory for the Olympic Winter Games. New capabilities include unified reach combining Google's audience signals with live sports CTV inventory, cross-device frequency management with household-level signals to prevent ad fatigue, AI-powered cross-device conversion tracking connecting CTV impressions to purchases, and a redesigned Marketplace for one-click live sports package activation.
Read this update in detail →GA4 adds multi-channel budgets, Yield Curves, and attribution reports in beta
GA4 is rolling out new features in the Advertising area, currently in beta. Budgets now allow projections and scenario planning to forecast how budget allocation affects results.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads adds Data Transmission Control settings for granular consent management
Google Ads now includes Data Transmission Control, a new layer on top of Advanced Consent Mode. Advertisers can independently restrict advertising, behavioural analytics, and diagnostic data at the tag level.
Read this update in detail →Google Data Manager adds Google Drive as a supported source for offline conversions and Customer Match
Google has expanded the supported data sources in Data Manager to include Google Drive. Advertisers can now use files stored in Google Drive to import offline conversion data or upload customer lists via direct connection workflows.
Read this update in detail →Google Trends Explore page redesigned with Gemini-powered insights
Google has reimagined the Trends Explore page with Gemini capabilities to make it easier to find insights. When researching a topic, a new side panel automatically identifies and compares up to eight relevant search terms.
Read this update in detail →Meta Ads adds Reels trending topic breakdown for campaign analysis
Meta has added a new breakdown option, "Reels trending topic," in Ads Manager. When running Reels trending ads, you can now view campaign results broken down by the trending topics your ads appeared alongside.
Read this update in detail →Meta Ads introduces Business AI breakdown for conversion attribution
Meta has released a new breakdown, "Business AI," that shows whether its AI tools helped drive conversions. The breakdown indicates if Advantage+ creative, automatic text and format optimisation, and delivery optimisation contributed to results.
Read this update in detail →Meta Ads Manager now supports direct messaging from Instagram comments
Meta has added the ability to send direct messages from comments directly within Ads Manager. Previously available in Business Suite and through Manychat, the feature is now native to the ads interface for Instagram messaging campaigns.
Read this update in detail →Meta Ads now allows manual selection of website highlights shown on ads
Meta has expanded its control over the website highlights feature, which pulls content from your website to display in ads. You can now disable the option entirely or manually select which website highlights Meta can apply to your ads.
Read this update in detail →Meta Lead Forms add trust signals, incentives, and social proof to intro sections
Meta has upgraded Lead Form intros with new conversion elements. You can now add trust signals for credibility, incentives like free trials or consultations, "how it works" explanations, product highlights, and social proof, including reviews, certifications, and media mentions.
Read this update in detail →Instagram expands "Your Algo" feature globally for algorithm customisation
Instagram has rolled out "Your Algo" to all English-speaking users globally, allowing them to tune their algorithm in the Reels tab by adding and removing topics based on their interests. For a limited time at the start of 2026, users can also select their top three interests to see more of throughout the year.
Read this update in detail →TikTok launches Channel Sales Partner Program for SMB at scale
TikTok has launched the Channel Sales Partner Program as part of its Marketing Partners Program. The programme recognises partners that meet TikTok's technical, operational, and go-to-market standards while driving SMB adoption through their platforms.
Read this update in detail →Amazon Prompts tab begins showing data at the ad group level
The Prompts tab in Amazon Ads is finally displaying data after being empty for months since its launch. Data is now appearing at the ad group level.
Read this update in detail →Amazon announces enhanced attribute model for view-based campaign measurement
Amazon has retroactively announced changes to view-based attribution for VCPM campaigns, including some Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display types. The enhanced attribute model uses algorithmic signals and a shorter tracking window than the previous 14 days.
Read this update in detail →Google introduces Universal Commerce Protocol for AI-powered checkout
Google has announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), enabling AI agents to execute purchases on behalf of users. Instead of providing links, Gemini can now find items, verify stock, apply shipping preferences, and handle checkout without leaving the conversation.
Read this update in detail →Disney announces vertical video coming to streaming platforms
Disney has announced vertical video integration for its streaming environment. The format will complement landscape mode rather than replace it, designed as a native fit for mobile environments.
Read this update in detail →France's CNIL publishes guidance on cross-device cookie consent requirements
France's data protection authority, the CNIL, has issued recommendations on cross-device consent for cookies and trackers. When users consent to cookies on one device, that consent can apply across all devices connected to their account, but there are strict conditions.
Read this update in detail →Italy's Data Protection Authority warns AI undressing tools may violate GDPR
Italy's Data Protection Authority has warned that using AI to process personal data, including voice or image data, without consent can be illegal. The warning specifically references tools like Grok that make it easy to misuse images and voices of third parties.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI announces ads in ChatGPT with US testing starting soon
OpenAI has announced plans to test advertising in ChatGPT for logged-in adults in the US on free and Go tiers. Ads will appear at the bottom of answers when there's a relevant sponsored product or service based on the conversation, clearly labelled and separated from organic responses.
Read this update in detail →Google and Apple announce multi-year AI partnership for Apple Intelligence
Google and Apple have announced a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalised Siri coming this year.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 Codex for advanced agentic coding tasks
OpenAI has released GPT-5.2 Codex in the Responses API, the same model available in Codex. The model handles long-running background tasks, including large refactors, code migrations, and multi-step feature builds.
Read this update in detail →Claude Code now included with all Anthropic Team plan subscriptions
Anthropic has announced that Claude Code is now included with every Team plan seat at no additional cost. Teams can use Claude Code to accelerate coding workflows including debugging, refactoring, and shipping features.
Read this update in detail →Anthropic launches Cowork for non-technical task automation
Anthropic has released Cowork, a tool that lets users complete non-technical tasks similar to how developers use Claude Code. Cowork accesses a folder on your computer to read, edit, or create files.
Read this update in detail →The advertiser takeaway
Each update reflects the source reporting at the time. Open an individual update for its full description, original links and media.
Explore the original edition
Every update from this edition is linked above. Explore the original newsletter for its full context, contributor credits and reporting links.
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