Paid Media News (Week 8)
Paid Media News (Week 8)
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.
[Reminder] Demand Gen Lookalikes shift from strict targeting to suggestion mode.
Google is fundamentally changing how Lookalike segments work in its advertising platform, moving from strict audience targeting to a more flexible, signal-based approach. The change, first spotted by Dario Zannoni last week, means that Lookalike audiences will increasingly serve as optimisation signals rather than hard-targeting constraints, following the pattern Google has established with other audience types.
Read this update in detail →Google will spend your full monthly budget regardless of the ad schedule
Google has begun notifying advertisers of a significant change to how ad scheduling interacts with budget pacing. Starting in March, the system will attempt to spend the full monthly budget regardless of when campaigns are scheduled to run.
Read this update in detail →YouTube reporting adds the Attributed Branded Searches metric
Google Ads has introduced a new YouTube reporting metric that addresses one of the channel's longest-standing measurement challenges: the gap between ad exposure and subsequent brand search behaviour. The metric, called Attributed Branded Searches, measures how many people saw a YouTube ad, did not click, and then later searched for the brand on Google.
Read this update in detail →Conversion attribution is now tied to the install date rather than ad interaction
Google has changed how it attributes conversions for app campaigns, now crediting the day of install rather than the day of the ad interaction. The shift should reduce discrepancies between Google Ads data and mobile measurement partner (MMP) reporting, which has long been a source of frustration for app marketers trying to reconcile figures across platforms.
Read this update in detail →PMax Landing Page Images feature now shows usage examples
Google has added visual examples that demonstrate how the "Landing Page Images" optimisation works in Performance Max campaigns. When enabled, the feature allows Google to automatically pull images from your landing pages and transform them into ad creatives - effectively making your website a direct input into the PMax creative system.
Read this update in detail →PMax "Where Ads Showed" report is finally populating with data
After years of opacity around where Performance Max ads actually appear, the "Where Ads Showed" report is beginning to populate with data in some accounts. Thomas Eccel reports seeing placement information for the first time, including the surprising appearance of Ecosia as a Google Search Partner.
Read this update in detail →Shop visits are now available as an account-level goal in Google Ad Grants
Nonprofits using Google Ad Grants can now set shop visits as an account-level goal - a capability that previously returned an error in Ad Grant accounts. For organisations with physical locations, such as museums, community centres, or service locations, this enables optimising campaigns based on actual footfall rather than proxy metrics.
Read this update in detail →Google Merchant Centre renames "Destinations" to "Marketing methods"
Google Merchant Centre has updated its terminology, renaming "Destinations" to "Marketing methods." The change aims to better reflect the options merchants have to control product visibility and distribution across Google's surfaces.
Read this update in detail →Support form now requires a mandatory authorisation checkbox
Google Ads has updated its support request process to require an "Authorisation" checkbox before submission. The checkbox grants Google Ads specialists access to your account and the ability to make changes for troubleshooting purposes.
Read this update in detail →[Update from last week] Google Ads' "Low activity" bulk tool now auto-enables paused keywords
Google Ads' internal "Low activity system bulk changes" tool can now enable keywords, not just pause them. Francesco Cifardi reported seeing paused keywords being automatically reactivated in Change History: the first time he'd observed this behaviour.
Read this update in detail →Google Ads API v23.1 event scheduled for February 26
The Google Ads API team has scheduled a release highlights event for v23.1 on February 26 at 11:00 AM EST, available on Discord and YouTube. The release is a minor update with additional features that don't require major migration.
Read this update in detail →Google releases Data Manager API v1.5 with full user list management
Google has released v1.5 of the Data Manager API, introducing end-to-end user list management and expanded audience ingestion capabilities. The UserListService now allows advertisers to manage the complete lifecycle of user lists: create, retrieve, update, and delete: entirely through the API, providing full control over audience management workflows without leaving the programmatic environment.
Read this update in detail →Crypto certification is now available directly in Google Ads accounts
Google is streamlining access to crypto and complex speculative financial product advertising by allowing some advertisers to apply for certification directly within their Google Ads accounts. Previously, certification required a separate application process outside the platform - an administrative hurdle that added friction for legitimate advertisers in the space.
Read this update in detail →Multi-placement auctions may be distorting CTR metrics
A reminder surfaced this week about how Google's multi-placement auctions can create misleading performance metrics. When an ad appears at both the top and bottom of the same search results page, it generates multiple impressions but typically only one click, causing CTR to drop even when nothing has changed about campaign quality.
Read this update in detail →Ad preview hub for Audience ads
A new preview hub lets advertisers see how ads appear across the Microsoft Advertising Network. You can preview ads on specific publishers (currently MSN and Outlook, with more coming), select individual assets, toggle between device views, and switch between full-page context and isolated ad view.
Read this update in detail →Performance Max customer acquisition goals now GA
The new customer acquisition goals, previously in open beta, are now generally available globally for advertisers using "purchase" conversion goals.
Read this update in detail →Performance Max self-serve negative keywords in open beta
Advertisers can now add negative keywords to PMax campaigns directly via Campaigns → Negative keywords. This addresses one of the key control gaps that has frustrated advertisers in Google's PMax implementation.
Read this update in detail →Google account sign-up
New advertisers can now sign up for Microsoft Advertising using their Google accounts, available globally except in mainland China and India.
Read this update in detail →Why the Bing AI Performance report matters for paid media
Navah Hopkins made the case this week for why paid media professionals should pay attention to the AI Performance report in Bing Webmaster Tools. The report shows how often pages are cited by AI assistants and reveals the queries those assistants run in the background when responding to human questions.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Advertising ramps up sales outreach via Teleperformance
Microsoft Advertising is expanding its sales outreach through Teleperformance, with representatives now contacting advertisers to offer "free consultations." The approach mirrors Google's aggressive sales tactics that many in the industry have found intrusive.
Read this update in detail →Microsoft Ads launches Performance Max learning path and badge
Microsoft Advertising has released a new scenario-based learning path for Performance Max in its Learning Lab, covering setup, optimisation, and troubleshooting across three courses. Advertisers who complete the programme can earn a verifiable badge via Credly to showcase on LinkedIn.
Read this update in detail →Multi-Images Ads arrive in Microsoft Shopping
Microsoft Advertising has introduced Multi-Images Ads in Shopping, allowing multiple product images within shopping ad placements. The feature offers richer creative options for e-commerce advertisers on the Microsoft network, where visual differentiation can help products stand out in a less crowded environment than Google Shopping.
Read this update in detail →Google is offering a $600 credit for activating conversion tracking
Google is reportedly offering some advertisers $600 in ad credit for activating conversion tracking. The promotion appears targeted at accounts that haven't yet set up conversion measurement: a friction remover for small businesses who have been putting off the technical setup.
Read this update in detail →AI Overview Map Pack merges organic links into business profiles
Google is testing a new AI Overview Map Pack format that merges organic links to external websites directly into Google Business Profiles. Clicking the links opens a card at the bottom of the mobile screen that shows different linked entities: effectively layering third-party content onto local business results.
Read this update in detail →Brand logos are now visible in Google Shopping results
Google Shopping has begun displaying brand logos next to merchant names: a small visual change with potentially significant implications for brand advertisers. The logo serves as an immediate trust signal, distinguishing established brands from generic resellers in a results page where products often appear nearly identical aside from price.
Read this update in detail →ChatGPT ads spotted live in the United States
The Adthena team has identified the first confirmed ads appearing in ChatGPT for signed-in desktop users in the US. The sighting, which Glenn Gabe compared to "seeing Bigfoot in the wild," confirms that OpenAI's advertising pilot has moved from announcement to execution.
Read this update in detail →GA4 Insights appear on the homepage
Google Analytics 4 is now surfacing Insights directly on the homepage, providing immediate visibility to automated observations about account performance. Brais Calvo Vázquez expressed scepticism about the value, noting that GA4 Insights have historically generated more noise than actionable signals.
Read this update in detail →Search Console AI-powered configuration now available to all
Google Search Console's AI-powered configuration feature is now available to everyone. The feature provides automated assistance with Search Console setup and configuration, making the tool more accessible to users who may not have deep technical SEO expertise.
Read this update in detail →Meridian Scenario Planner brings no-code MMM to marketers
Google has launched Scenario Planner for Meridian, addressing one of the persistent barriers to Marketing Mix Modelling adoption: the technical expertise required to extract actionable insights. According to a recent Harvard Business Review Analytic Services report, nearly 40% of marketers surveyed say their organisations struggle to connect MMM outputs to real-world business decisions.
Read this update in detail →BigQuery Global Queries enable cross-region joins
BigQuery has launched Global Queries in preview, allowing analysts to join datasets across different regions in a single SQL statement without manually moving data. Alicia Williams tested the feature by joining bike-sharing data from Austin (stored in the US region) and London (stored in the EU region) to compare rental patterns by hour.
Read this update in detail →BigQuery adds a persistent bytes processed limit
BigQuery Studio now allows users to set a persistent "maximum bytes processed" limit that follows their user profile across projects. The setting acts as a personal safety net, preventing massive data scans triggered by typos or exploratory queries from generating unexpected costs.
Read this update in detail →Manus AI tools integrate directly into Meta Ads Manager
Meta has begun rolling out Manus AI tools directly within Ads Manager, embedding generative AI and workflow automation into the campaign management environment. Rather than switching between platforms to access AI capabilities, advertisers can now leverage these tools within the native interface for campaign analysis, report generation, audience insights, and performance recommendations.
Read this update in detail →Manus AI enables competitive research via Meta Ad Library
Manus AI, now part of Meta, has access to the Meta Ad Library for competitive research purposes. Bram Van der Hallen shared an example prompt: "Analyse active ads in [COUNTRY] through Meta Ads Library for the following advertisers: [Competitor 1], [Competitor 2], [Competitor 3].
Read this update in detail →Excluded placements still receive spend by default
Bram Van der Hallen highlighted two overlooked settings in Meta Ads Manager that can undermine placement exclusions. First, when excluding placements at the ad set level, Meta defaults the "allow limited spend" option to enabled - meaning excluded placements can still receive budget unless the advertiser explicitly disables the setting.
Read this update in detail →Meta releases Graph API v25.0 and Marketing API v25.0 with major deprecations
Meta has released Graph API v25.0 and Marketing API v25.0 with significant changes for advertisers and developers. Most notably, Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns (ASC) and Advantage+ App Campaigns (AAC) can no longer be created or updated via the Marketing API from v25.0 onward, with this change extending to all API versions by May 19, 2026.
Read this update in detail →Reddit tests AI-powered shopping carousels in search results
Reddit is testing a new AI-powered search feature that surfaces community-recommended products with pricing, images, and direct purchase links. When US-based users search for product-related queries like "best noise-cancelling headphones," they'll see interactive product carousels at the bottom of search results.
Read this update in detail →Shoppable Collections ending February 27
Amazon is discontinuing Shoppable Collections on February 27, 2026. The beta feature will disappear from Product Detail Pages and A+ Content Manager, with Brand Story automatically replacing it for sellers who had implemented it.
Read this update in detail →Dentsu and WPP exit The Trade Desk's OpenPath
Two of the world's largest advertising holding companies have quietly pulled back from The Trade Desk's OpenPath initiative. Trishla Ostwal reports that both Dentsu and WPP cited concerns over transparency, control, and undisclosed costs as reasons for their withdrawal.
Read this update in detail →Spotify completes marketplace strategy with SeatGeek partnership
Spotify's new partnership with SeatGeek allows fans to purchase primary event tickets without leaving the app, completing what Dean McElwee describes as a full marketplace strategy. The premise: streaming is lead generation that hauls in traffic, while additional revenue comes from the broader fan economy.
Read this update in detail →Perplexity officially exits advertising, citing trust concerns
Perplexity has confirmed it is winding down its advertising operations with "no plans to pursue advertising further.
Read this update in detail →Disney fined $2.75M for ignoring consumer opt-outs
The California Attorney General has fined The Walt Disney Company $2.75 million for failing to stop selling and sharing consumer data after users explicitly opted out. The enforcement action reflects California's increasingly aggressive approach to privacy violations under the CCPA.
Read this update in detail →US Shopify stores face automated ADA and privacy lawsuits
Plaintiff attorneys are using automated tools to scan US Shopify stores for ADA accessibility violations and data privacy breaches, filing quickly and pushing for settlements of $15,000 to $75,000 before legal fees. Emmanuel Flossie reports that most store owners have no idea they're at risk: and that most violations can be fixed in an afternoon.
Read this update in detail →Claude Sonnet 4.6 released with near-Opus capabilities
Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 4.6, described as the most capable Sonnet model to date. The release represents a full upgrade across coding, computer use, long-context reasoning, agent planning, knowledge work, and design, with a 1M token context window available in beta.
Read this update in detail →Nonprofits receive free access to Claude Opus 4.6
Anthropic has extended free access to Claude Opus 4.6 for nonprofits on Team and Enterprise plans. The company's rationale: Nonprofits tackle difficult societal problems with limited resources, and frontier AI tools can help maximise their impact.
Read this update in detail →Claude in PowerPoint reaches Pro plan with connector support
Claude in PowerPoint is now available on Anthropic's Pro plan and includes support for connectors, allowing context from other tools to flow directly into slide creation. Through March 19, usage limits for both Claude in PowerPoint and Claude in Excel are doubled across all paid plans.
Read this update in detail →Claude Code integrates with Figma via MCP
Claude Code can now push prototypes directly to Figma using the latest version of Figma's MCP server. The integration allows developers to take a working prototype built in Claude Code and send it to a Figma canvas, enabling exploration of different design directions without branching code or rebuilding from scratch.
Read this update in detail →OpenAI releases EVMbench for smart contract security
OpenAI has introduced EVMbench, a benchmark measuring how well AI agents can detect, exploit, and patch high-severity smart contract vulnerabilities. The benchmark tests three capabilities: vulnerability detection in real-world contract code, exploitation in realistic attack scenarios, and safe patching with fixes that hold up under testing.
Read this update in detail →Claude Code adds server previews and automated code review
Anthropic has shipped significant updates to Claude Code on desktop, introducing server previews, automated code review, and PR monitoring with auto-fix capabilities. Server previews allow Claude to start development servers and preview running applications within the desktop interface, read console logs, catch errors, and iterate automatically.
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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