The changes that matter to advertisers, with the sources behind them and a practical next step. Pick a topic and catch up at your own pace.
Microsoft Advertising
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."
Google Ads
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.
Google Merchant Center
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.
Amazon Ads
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.
Google Ads
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.
Display & Video 360
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.
Google Tag
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.
Google Ads
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.
Industry
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.
Microsoft Advertising
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.
Google Merchant Center
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.
Industry
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.
Anthropic
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.
TikTok Ads
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.
Google Merchant Center
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.
Meta 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.
Google Analytics
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.
Amazon Ads
Amazon has added an AI-powered audio ad generator to the DSP console, enabling users to create complete audio ads from product ASINs in seconds. The tool includes professional voiceovers, background music options, and call-to-action prompts: no studio, voice actors, or editing required.
Google Ads
Google Ads will allow advertising for prediction markets in the United States starting January 21, 2026, but only for federally regulated entities. Eligible advertisers must be authorised by the CFTC as a Designated Contract Market or by the NFA as a brokerage offering access to qualifying DCM products.
Amazon Ads
Amazon will stop automatically sharing reviews across all variations in a product family from February 12, 2026. Reviews will only be shared when differences are minor, such as colour, pack size, or scent variations.
Google Merchant Center
Google Shopping has updated its promotion policies to support additional promotion types starting January 2026. New supported promotions include subscription fee discounts (e.g., "Get first month free" or "95% off for 2 months"), common abbreviations such as BOGO, B1G1, MRP, and MSRP, and, in Brazil only, payment method-specific promotions, including cashback to digital wallets.
Meta Ads
Austria's Supreme Court has ruled that Meta must provide privacy campaigner Max Schrems with access to all of his personal data within two weeks. The decision ends an 11-year legal case and includes €500 in damages.
Google Ads
A hidden setting in Google Ads allows Google to use its own library of photos and videos in your campaigns. The setting is enabled by default in Shared Library > Location Manager > Settings > Google Owned Location Data.
Amazon Ads
Amazon Marketing Cloud has released additional no-code audience templates that sellers can use to create audiences without SQL. New audiences include frequent purchasers not enrolled in Subscribe & Save, customers who bought main products but not accessories, and seasonal ad exposure off-peak audiences with customisable time frames.
Google Ads
Google is sending deprecation emails to advertisers using Call Ads, signalling the format is being phased out. Advertisers should ensure Location Assets are set up to maintain call functionality after the transition.
OpenAI
OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated experience that enables users to connect medical records and wellness apps to deliver personalised health responses. Over 230 million people worldwide already ask ChatGPT health questions weekly, and this feature consolidates fragmented health data into a single place.
Meta Ads
Meta has updated how promotions appear in ads, now showing promo codes and offers within the ad creative itself without requiring a tap. In some cases, the CTA text may automatically change to "See offer."
Google Ads
Google Ads is testing "synthetic keywords," a feature that condenses long search queries into shorter phrases for reporting. Currently available for AI Max only, the feature addresses two problems: cluttered search term reports from lengthy AI-generated queries and hidden search terms due to privacy thresholds.
Google Ads
Google has added call asset support to Vehicle Ads, enabling click-to-call functionality directly within the ad format. Users can now call dealers directly from search results.
Microsoft Advertising
Microsoft Advertising has increased the search themes limit for Performance Max campaigns from the previous cap of 50 to 50. Search themes can be combined with LinkedIn profile targeting, audience signals, and Impression-Based Remarketing to guide campaign targeting.
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