Digital Marketing News 2025
🗞️ Welcome to your go-to hub for Digital Marketing News 2025! Stay updated with the latest trends, updates, and insights shaping SEO, social media, Google Ads, content strategy, and more. Whether you’re a marketer, business owner, or digital enthusiast, this page keeps you informed and ahead of the curve. 📈
👉 Need quick updates on what’s trending? Head to our Latest Digital Marketing News and Trends page.
📰 January 2025
💰 Airbnb Invests Up to $250M in Marketing for New Business Ventures
Airbnb plans to invest between $200 million and $250 million in marketing to promote new travel experiences like tours and tastings. The company aims to generate $1 billion in revenue from these ventures, diversifying beyond home-sharing.
🛍️ TikTok Shop Launches in Latin America
TikTok introduces its in-app shopping feature in Mexico, marking its first expansion into Latin America. Sellers get a 90-day commission-free period, driving early adoption and boosting platform e-commerce.
🎬 Instagram Unveils ‘Edits’ Video Editing App
Instagram is developing “Edits”, an AI-powered video editing app with advanced creative tools. The app will test features like background edits before rolling them into the main Instagram platform.
📺 YouTube Launches Cost-Per-Hour Masthead Pricing
YouTube introduces hourly pricing for Masthead ads, giving brands full control over timing and visibility. This approach is perfect for major launches or events, ensuring prime ad placement during key hours.
📰 February 2025
📈 LinkedIn Introduces Conversions API for Enhanced B2B Marketing
LinkedIn has launched its Conversions API, allowing B2B marketers to track campaign performance and measure ROI with greater accuracy. This tool connects first-party data to LinkedIn’s platform, enabling better audience targeting and lead qualification.
🔒 Meta Enhances Ad Blocklist Controls
Meta expands third-party ad blocklist support, helping brands avoid showing ads next to unsuitable content. Advertisers now have more control over ad placements to protect their brand reputation.
⭐ TikTok Introduces ‘Most-Loved’ Product Tag
TikTok launches a “Most Loved” badge to highlight top-rated products based on user reviews and returns. The feature helps users make better shopping decisions while boosting sales for trusted products.
🤖 Meta AI Scans DMs in Chats
Meta introduces AI assistance in Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, but it comes with a privacy catch. Chats using “@MetaAI” may be stored and processed, raising concerns over data security and transparency.
📊 Google Updates Ads Auction Process
Google has updated its ad auction documentation, clarifying that separate auctions determine ad placements at different positions on a page, such as top results vs. sidebar. This change helps advertisers optimize bidding strategies and improve ad placements.
📢 OpenAI Launches GPT-4.5, Its Most Advanced AI Model
OpenAI has introduced GPT-4.5, codenamed Orion, boasting enhanced computing power and data processing capabilities. This advancement is set to revolutionize AI-driven automation, content generation, and customer interactions, offering businesses improved personalization and efficiency.
📰 March 2025
🌐 Google Reveals It Now Processes 5 Trillion Searches Annually
This is the first official update since 2016, when Google last reported 2 trillion yearly searches — a massive leap in user activity.
📱 TikTok Plans Expansion into Local U.S. Services
TikTok is expanding its U.S. offerings by connecting local businesses with users and creators. This move aims to boost commerce and local advertising, enhancing TikTok’s role in community engagement and business growth.
🇪🇺 EU Digital Services Act Impacts Online Advertising
The EU’s Digital Services Act introduces transparency requirements and bans profiling-based advertising using sensitive data or targeting children. These regulations significantly affect online advertising and ad tech companies operating within the EU.
📈 Google Ads Raises Negative Keyword Limit for Performance Max Campaigns
Google Ads increases the negative keyword limit for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns from 100 to 10,000. This expansion aims to provide advertisers with greater control over their campaigns.
🔍 Google Rolls Out March 2025 Core Update
Google’s first core update of the year is live, focusing on surfacing more relevant, high-quality content. The rollout will take about two weeks, with improvements to highlight creator content throughout 2025.
Check live status updates here: Google Search Status Dashboard
🚫 Google May Deindex Low-Quality, Underused Pages
Martin Splitt confirms that pages can be removed from the index even after ranking if the content or user experience is lacking.
🤖 Google Replacing Assistant with Gemini
Google is phasing out Google Assistant and rolling out Gemini, its next-gen AI assistant, offering more advanced features and deeper integration.
📰 April 2025
🔍 Google Confirms You Can’t ‘Add’ EEAT to Your Pages
Google clarifies that EEAT isn’t something you can just insert on a page—it’s earned over time through high-quality content, authority, and trust signals.
🎮 Google Partners with Roblox for Video Ads
Google now offers rewarded video ads on Roblox, giving brands access to 85 million daily users—a major move to engage Gen Z audiences.
📢 Google Ads Policy Update: More Ads, New Rules
Google updates its Unfair Advantage Policy, now allowing businesses to display multiple ads in different placements—reshaping ad visibility strategies.
🤖 Microsoft Launches Copilot Search in Bing
The new AI-powered feature delivers fast, conversational answers with source links — now live after months of testing.
📦 Google Launches Automatic Marketing Content Extraction
Google will now auto-pull promo and product info from merchant content to boost visibility across Search and other platforms.
🗺️ Google Maps Blocked 240M Fake Reviews & 12M Fake Listings in 2024
Google cracked down on spam by removing millions of fake reviews, edits, and business profiles to protect Maps users and local SEO integrity.
🖥️ Google Discover Is Coming to Desktop Search
Google confirms that its AI-powered content feed will soon appear on desktop, bringing personalized Discover cards beyond mobile.
⚠️ Google Quality Raters Now Flag AI-Generated Content
New guidelines direct raters to mark AI-generated pages as lowest quality if content lacks originality or user value.
🔗 Google Adds Links in AI Overviews to Its Own Search Results
After testing, Google now includes internal links in AI Overviews to help users dive deeper into related topics directly from search.
📈 Google Performance Max Adds Customer Goals & Image Controls
New updates bring retention targeting, cost-per-acquisition insights, and AI-powered image enhancements for better ad performance.
🌍 Google to Redirect Country TLDs to Google.com
Google will phase out country-specific domains like google.fr or google.ca, unifying global Search under google.com for a consistent user experience.
🍏 Apple Rebrands Search Ads to Apple Ads
Apple broadens its digital ad focus, signaling expansion beyond App Store search into a wider advertising ecosystem.
🚫 TikTok Ads Introduces New Exclusion Lists
Advertisers can now block specific videos or profiles from appearing alongside their ads, giving more control over brand safety.
⚖️ Google Faces $6.6 Billion Lawsuit Over Search Ad Monopoly
A UK lawsuit alleges Google inflated ad prices by abusing its dominance and restricting competition in the search advertising space.
🚨 Google Removed 5.5 Billion Ads, Suspended 39M Advertisers in 2024
The Ads Safety Report reveals AI-driven enforcement led to record policy actions, boosting ad quality and platform trust.
🎬 Video Previews Now Available for Google Business Profile Verification
Businesses using video verification can now preview their video before submitting, making the process more user-friendly and accurate.
📍 Google Ads Will Now Appear in Both Top & Bottom Positions
A policy update allows the same advertiser’s ads to show at the top and bottom of search results, aiming for broader visibility without violating double-serving rules.
🌐 ChatGPT Search Hits 41M Monthly Users in the EU
OpenAI’s search tool sees rapid growth but still trails far behind Google in user volume and market dominance.
🧵 Meta Rolls Out Ads Globally on Threads Feed
Brands can now target Threads’ 300 million monthly users with Meta’s advanced advertising and audience tools.
🎥 YouTube Tests AI Overviews in Search Results
A new AI-powered carousel highlights the most relevant video clips for select search queries, aiming to enhance discovery.
🛍️ Meta Adds Dynamic Overlays to Advantage+ Catalog Ads
New sticker-style labels can now highlight prices, discounts, and free shipping in catalog ads to boost engagement.
🛒 Google Ads Brings Checkout on Merchant to Demand Gen Campaigns
Now available on YouTube, this feature streamlines the purchase process and aims to boost conversions.
📊 GA4 Adds Snapshot Templates & Improves Ad Attribution
Google Analytics 4 introduces quick-report templates and enhanced aggregate identifiers for better Google Ads tracking.
🛍️ OpenAI Adds Shopping Features to ChatGPT Search
Users can now browse products in categories like fashion and electronics—powered by structured data, not ads.
🔍 Google Disables Hack to View Discover Performance by Device
A hack allowing users to view Google Discover performance by desktop and mobile has been disabled. The data is no longer segmented by device.
🛍️ OpenAI Adds Shopping Features to ChatGPT Search
Users can now browse products in categories like fashion and electronics—powered by structured data, not ads.
🔍 Google Disables Hack to View Discover Performance by Device
A hack allowing users to view Google Discover performance by desktop and mobile has been disabled. The data is no longer segmented by device.
🧠 Google Merchant Center Adds AI-Powered Product Filtering
The new AI tools help advertisers quickly identify and resolve feed issues that could hurt campaign performance.
💡 Google Tests ‘Sponsored’ Labels for Commercial Query Links
In this experiment, results linking to commercial searches may show a “Sponsored” tag—even without paid clicks.
📰 May 2025
🤖 Google Tests Ads in AI Chatbot Conversations
Google is experimenting with placing ads inside third-party AI chat tools, expanding advertising beyond traditional search.
🔍 Google Expands Ad Transparency with Payer Info
Users can now see who’s funding ads via My Ad Center and Ads Transparency Center, based on advertiser payment profiles.
🍎 Apple Intelligence to Integrate Google Gemini AI
By late 2025, Apple will integrate Google’s Gemini and other AI services into Apple Intelligence for enhanced functionality.
📊 New Channel-Level Reporting for Google Performance Max
Performance Max now offers search term reports and detailed asset metrics, improving transparency and campaign insights.
🎯 Google Expands Search Themes Limit in Performance Max
Advertisers can now use up to 50 Search Themes in PMax campaigns, allowing better targeting while retaining automation benefits.
📱 Google Adds First-Party Data & iOS Conversion Tools
New tools improve iOS tracking and strengthen first-party data use, helping advertisers adapt to privacy changes and complex user paths.
🚀 Google Ads Launches AI Max for Search Campaigns (Beta)
AI Max helps advertisers quickly expand queries and auto-generate ads and assets with a single click, streamlining campaign creation.
🍏 Apple May Add AI Search Engines to Safari As Google Use Drops
Apple is reportedly revamping Safari to support AI-powered search like ChatGPT, potentially reducing reliance on Google’s $20B search deal.
🧪 Google Tests AI Mode Button On Search Bar
Google is experimenting with an “AI Mode” button in the search bar, replacing the “I’m Feeling Lucky” option to encourage more users to try AI-powered search.
🍽️ Google Business Profiles Launches ‘What’s Happening’
A new feature lets restaurants and bars highlight events, specials, and deals prominently to boost real-time engagement.
🖼️ Google Ads PMax Image Optimization Rolling Out
Google’s AI now auto-enhances images in Performance Max campaigns, including pulling visuals directly from landing pages.
📱💻 Google Ads Adds Device Targeting to PMax Campaigns
Advertisers can now control where PMax ads appear across phones, tablets, TVs, and computers.
📺🛍️ YouTube Launches Shopping Ads for TV Viewers
Interactive TV ads allow users to browse and shop directly from YouTube on the big screen.
💰 Google Rolls Out ‘Ads Funded By’ Labels
Google now displays payer names in search results via My Ad Center, enhancing ad transparency.
💵 Ads Arrive in Google AI Overviews
Google begins placing ads within AI-generated Overviews in desktop search results, signaling a new era in search monetization.
🎯 Google Lowers Customer Match List Minimum to 100 Users
Small advertisers can now use powerful audience targeting in Search campaigns with just 100 users in Customer Match.
🎮 Discord Launches Reward-Based Video Ads
Discord enters advertising with opt-in video ads targeting engaged communities—pausing playback if users switch tabs.
📊 Google Search Console to Track AI Mode, But Not Separately
AI Mode data will appear in Search Console, but performance won’t be broken out from other surfaces.
📈 Performance Max Gets Channel-Level Reporting
Google begins rolling out PMax channel performance reporting, giving advertisers clearer insights across networks for better campaign optimization.
🔍 Google Lens Comes to YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts now supports Google Lens image search, allowing users to circle parts of videos to instantly explore visual results — ad-free during beta.
📰 June 2025
👩💼 Navah Hopkins Joins Microsoft as Ads Liaison
Microsoft Advertising hires Navah Hopkins, marking a strategic move to strengthen its B2B/B2C ad communication. She departs Optmyzr after 4+ years as brand evangelist.
🎥 Google Expands Video Ads to Search, Shopping & Images
Google brings video ads to Search, Shopping, and Image tabs across the U.S. and Canada. The move boosts early product discovery via richer, visual ad formats.
📺 LinkedIn Launches First-View Video Ads & Adobe Integration
LinkedIn debuts premium video formats, including First Impression and CTV ads, plus Adobe Express integration. Aimed at helping B2B marketers make a bigger splash.
⚠️ Google Ads May Pause Accounts for Manager Violations
Google can now pause individual ad accounts linked to Managers violating third-party policy. Advertisers must carefully vet who handles their campaigns to avoid penalties.
📺 YouTube Tests 30-Second Non-Skippable Ads in Standard Campaigns
YouTube opens 30-second non-skippable ads to standard auctions, expanding access beyond premium Reservation buys.
🤖 Google Removes Robots.txt Guidance for Auto-Translated Pages
Google dropped specific guidance on blocking auto-translated pages via robots.txt, aligning docs with current spam policies.
📊 Microsoft Ads Launches Reporting Overhaul & PMax Updates
Microsoft’s updates improve cross-platform tools, introduce smarter reporting, and enhance Performance Max and Shopify integration.
📉 Google Drops Support for Multiple Rich Result Types
Google is simplifying search results by dropping support for Book Actions, Course Info, Estimated Salary, and more structured data types.
🔊 Google Tests Audio Overviews in Search Results
A new Labs feature offers AI-generated spoken summaries and links in Search results for hands-free browsing.
🔍 ChatGPT Search Adds Image-Based Queries and Smarter Responses
OpenAI upgraded ChatGPT Search to support image prompts, improve coherence in long chats, and better handle complex queries.
📈 Google AI Mode Traffic Now in Search Console
AI Mode clicks, impressions, and positions now appear in Search Console reports, with updated guidance on how the data is tracked.
📣 WhatsApp Adds Discovery Tools, Ads, and Subscriptions
WhatsApp’s Updates tab now supports promoted channels, paid subscriptions, and Status ads, helping brands grow reach among 1.5B daily users.
🎥 TikTok Launches AI Video Tools for Branded Content
New Symphony tools let advertisers instantly generate branded videos and AI avatars using product images or text prompts.
💬 Reddit Debuts Social Listening and Conversation Ads
Reddit’s new alpha tools include Reddit Insights for social listening and Conversation Summary Add-ons for built-in social proof under ads.
🎨 Meta Unveils AI Tools for Automated Video and Branding
Meta’s Advantage+ updates include AI-generated video from static images, auto-applied brand assets, and video highlights extraction.
🎙️ Google Launches “Search Live” in AI Mode Labs
Google is rolling out Search Live—a conversational, voice-based version of Search—within the Google App for U.S. users enrolled in the AI Mode experiment. It enables back-and-forth voice interaction while exploring real-time web results.
🎬 Veo 3 AI Video Tool Coming to YouTube Shorts
Google will integrate its Veo 3 text-to-video model into YouTube Shorts this summer. Brands and creators can generate short-form videos directly from text prompts—streamlining ad and content production.
🛍️ Google Expands Commerce Media Suite
Google is enhancing its Commerce Media suite across Search, YouTube, and Display, offering retailers and brands more AI-powered tools to optimize campaigns, track outcomes, and collaborate more effectively.
🚫 Display Network No Longer Auto-Enabled in Search Campaigns
Google Ads will no longer auto-opt Search campaigns into the Display Network, giving advertisers better control and preventing spend on irrelevant traffic.
📊 New Google Ads Metric: “Conv. Value (Incl. Predicted)”
A new, unannounced Google Ads metric — “Conv. value (incl. predicted)” — now appears in accounts. It combines actual and forecasted conversion value for a more predictive view of campaign performance.
🛒 1st Order Promotions Launch for Shopping Ads
Google Ads introduces 1st Order Promotions (aka New Customer Promotions) for Shopping ads, allowing merchants to automatically offer exclusive discounts to first-time customers.
📈 Google Merchant Center Revives Product Status History Report
The “product status changes” report is returning to Google Merchant Center, giving advertisers historical visibility into changes in product eligibility and feed issues.
🖼️ Bing Tests New 2-Row Image Carousel
Microsoft is experimenting with a revamped image carousel in Bing Search. The test includes two rows of images, expandable related search tags, and a bolder, square arrow interface for navigation.
👥 Microsoft Adds App Placement Controls to Audience Campaigns
Microsoft Advertising’s new Audience campaign controls give you visibility into mobile app placements and let you exclude underperformers.
🔗 Google Ads Tests URL Inclusions and Exclusions in Search Campaigns
Google Ads testing URL inclusions and exclusions should give you more control over which site pages influence ad generation.
📚 Google Search Tests ‘Preferred Sources’ Feature for Top Stories
Clicking on the star icon will show more news content from that site in Google Search. It is a Search Labs feature, and opt-in right now.
⚠️ Microsoft Removed Over 1 Billion Ads in 2024 for Policy Violations
Microsoft aggressively dealt with AI scams and policy abuse, removing a record number of ads and upgrading its enforcement tools.
📝 Microsoft Advertising Introduces Asset-Level Reviews for Ad Approvals
Microsoft Advertising now reviews ads at the asset level, allowing approved elements to continue running even if others are disapproved.
🔍 Google Releases New Search Console Insights Reports
Google has revamped its Search Console Insights, now integrated as a dedicated tab within the main Search Console interface, replacing the standalone beta version.
🔍 Google June 2025 Core Update Rolling Out Now
Google begins rolling out its second core algorithm update of 2025, expected to take up to 3 weeks to complete and cause broad changes in rankings.
Check live status updates here: Google Search Status Dashboard
🎥 Google Ads Rolls Out Built-In Video Analytics Dashboard
Google Ads launched a new native Video Analytics tool, giving advertisers centralized performance data for all video creatives across campaign types.
📰 July 2025
📉 Microsoft Consolidates Target CPA and Target ROAS into Maximize Conversions and Maximize Conversion Value
Effective August 4, Microsoft will retire Target CPA and ROAS strategies for new campaigns, shifting to Max Conversion and Max Conversion Value with optional target settings.
🔍 Bing Tests Sticky and Zoomable Related Searches in SERPs
Microsoft is experimenting with sticky and interactive related search elements to enhance user engagement and navigation in Bing Search.
🚫 Google Ads to Ban Pill Press and Encapsulation Equipment Ads Starting September 1
As part of its Dangerous Products policy update, Google will prohibit ads for pill presses and related machinery from September 2025.
📞 Google Ads to Require Phone Number Verification for Message Assets Starting August 1
Unverified phone numbers in message assets will be disapproved beginning August 1, aligning with existing ad asset policies.
🤖 Google Ads Rolls Out New “AI Max” Match Type in Search Term Reports
AI Max now appears as a distinct match type, offering advertisers clearer visibility into AI-automated keyword performance.
🔗 Google Ads Adds Zoho CRM Integration for Customer Match and Offline Conversions
Advertisers can now directly sync data from Zoho CRM to improve audience targeting, attribution, and lead tracking.
🛒 Tax Settings No Longer Required in U.S. Product Feeds on Google Merchant Center
Google now auto-applies tax rates based on shopper location, streamlining product feed setup for U.S. merchants.
📺 YouTube to Crack Down on Mass-Produced Content in Monetization Policy Update
Starting July 15, YouTube will tighten Partner Program rules to curb inauthentic, repetitious content and protect original creators.
🛠️ Google Ads Editor 2.10 Launches with Enhanced AI Features, Targeting Tools, and Streamlined Creative Workflow
Google Ads Editor 2.10 introduces improved AI tools, advanced targeting options, and creative asset updates for more efficient campaign management.
⚖️ Google Faces EU Antitrust Complaint Over AI Overviews
A coalition of European publishers alleges Google’s AI-generated summaries misuse content and threaten the sustainability of journalism.
📊 Google Upgrades Keyword Planner with Localized Forecasting at City, Region, and Device Level
Google Keyword Planner now provides granular forecasting breakdowns, enabling advertisers to tailor campaigns with more precision by geography and device.
📈 Google Ads Data Reveals Changing Query Patterns Post-AI Mode Rollout
Post-AI Mode launch, Google Ads data shows shifts in search query length, click-through rates, and conversion performance—indicating new user behaviors.
🇺🇸 TikTok Reportedly Building U.S.-Specific App Amid Divestiture Pressure, Target Launch September 5
TikTok is developing a standalone app for the U.S. market in response to government scrutiny over Chinese ownership, with the current app expected to shut down in the U.S. by March 2026.
💬 Google Search Console Adds New ‘Discussion Forums’ Filter to Performance Reports
Google Search Console now lets publishers filter performance data based on eligibility for Discussion forums rich results, giving more insight into community-driven content visibility.
🗳️ Google Ads to Update Political Content Policy with New Disclosure Rules, Verification Paths, and Format Eligibility
This month, Google will revise its Political content policy to include updated disclosure requirements, new verification options, and layout changes for greater clarity.
📈 Google Auto-Upgrades Video Action Campaigns to Demand Gen for Multi-Format Reach
Google is automatically transitioning Video Action Campaigns into Demand Gen campaigns, enabling advertisers to deliver multi-format ads across YouTube, Discover, and Gmail.
🛑 Google Ads API to Sunset Ad Sharing in October 2025 as Asset-Based Future Takes Hold
Google will deprecate ad sharing with the release of Ads API v22, pushing advertisers to adopt asset-based ad creation per ad group starting mid-October.
⚠️ Google Ads API v18 Support Ends August 20, Upgrade Required to Maintain Functionality
Developers using Google Ads API v18 must upgrade by August 20, 2025, or face failed API requests as support for the version will be officially discontinued.
🛒 Gmail Tests Demand Gen Ecommerce Ads Within Promotions Tab
Google experiments with a new Gmail ad format, turning the Promotions tab into a shoppable space with integrated product listings—expanding ecommerce ad reach.
🤖 Google Ads Moves Brand Controls Under AI Max in New Search Campaigns
Brand inclusions and exclusions are now only accessible via AI Max-powered Search campaigns, marking a key shift toward automated campaign management.
📉 Google CTRs Drop 32% for Top Organic Result After AI Overview Rollout
A new study shows a significant 32% drop in click-through rates for the #1 organic search result, falling from 28% to 19%, following the widespread rollout of AI Overviews in Google Search.
🧹 DuckDuckGo Adds Option to Filter Out AI-Generated Images
DuckDuckGo introduces a new filter in image search that lets users exclude AI-generated images, reinforcing its stance on privacy and user control in AI adoption.
💰 Microsoft Advertising Rolls Out Lifetime Budgets for Audience Ads
Advertisers can now set total campaign spend with Lifetime Budgets, offering enhanced long-term budgeting control, refund safeguards, and easier optimization for Audience Ads.
🔁 Microsoft Advertising Expands Remarketing List Sources to 20 Campaigns
Microsoft enhances its Impression-Based Remarketing capabilities, allowing advertisers to use audience lists across up to 20 campaigns for broader and more flexible retargeting.
📊 Google Launches Google Trends API (Limited Alpha Release)
Google debuts its first Google Trends API in limited alpha, finally meeting long-standing user demand for programmatic access to search trend data.
🛍️ Google Launches AI Shopping Tools with Virtual Try-Ons and Smarter Price Alerts
Google introduces new AI shopping features, including a virtual try-on tool, personalized price alerts, and AI-driven shoppable inspiration to streamline the shopping journey.
🏃 Amazon Pulls Out of Google Shopping Ads, Reshaping Retail Ad Landscape
Amazon abruptly exits Google Shopping ad auctions, sparking speculation about shifting ad budgets and creating new opportunities for competing retailers.
📊 Google Ads Adds RSA Headline Performance Data with Clicks and Conversions
Google Ads now shows real click and conversion metrics for individual Responsive Search Ad (RSA) headlines, moving beyond vague performance labels like “Best” or “Good.”
🌍 Google Expands AI Mode in Search to the United Kingdom
The UK becomes the third country to receive AI Mode in Google Search, with the feature now rolling out across desktop and mobile apps.
🚫 Google Cuts EU Conversion Tracking for Consent Mode Non-Compliance
Google is now disabling conversion tracking signals in the EU for advertisers who don’t meet Consent Mode requirements, impacting measurement and targeting.
🔍 Google Ads Rolls Out Search Term Categories for RSA Insights
A new “Search Term Categories” beta in Google Ads groups RSA queries into high-intent categories and subcategories, revealing previously hidden performance insights.
🎥 Google Search Live Adds Video Input; AI Mode Gains Uploads, Canvas, and Lens in Chrome
Google expands Search Live with video capabilities and upgrades AI Mode to support image/PDF uploads, a new Canvas workspace, and native Chrome Lens integration.
📰 August 2025
🕵️ Your ChatGPT Conversations May Be Visible in Google Search
Publicly shared ChatGPT links—including prompts and responses—are being indexed by Google Search, raising privacy concerns for non-Enterprise users.
🛡️ Microsoft Ads Rolls Out Website Exclusion Tools for Search and Audience Campaigns
Advertisers can now easily block thousands of low-performing or irrelevant sites from their campaigns using new centralized exclusion management tools in Microsoft Advertising.
📍 Google Ads Adds ‘Locations of Interest’ Targeting to AI Max for Search
A new targeting layer in AI Max for Search lets advertisers reach users based on where they intend to go or are interested in—not just their current location.
🧪 Google Ads Now Lets You A/B Test Images and Videos in Demand Gen Campaigns
A/B testing for creatives is being introduced to Demand Gen, allowing advertisers to compare different image and video assets directly within campaign settings.
🤖 Google Rolls Out AI-Powered Asset Optimization for Demand Gen Ads by Default
Starting September 4, all Demand Gen image ads will default to AI-powered optimization, automatically enhancing creatives for fit, format, and performance. Advertisers can opt out before rollout.
📎 Sitelinks Now Influence Ad Strength in Google Performance Max Campaigns
Google Ads now includes sitelinks in its ad strength calculations for Performance Max, encouraging advertisers to make them a priority for better scores.
🚫 Google to Enforce Sweeping Political Ad Restrictions in the EU Starting September
In compliance with EU Regulation 2024/900, Google will ban most political ads and require advertiser self-declaration for EU-targeted campaigns.
📊 Bing Webmaster Tools Expands to 24 Months of Data with New Country, Device, and Keyword Trendline Filters
Microsoft has enhanced Bing Webmaster Tools, adding longer historical data, segmentation by country/device, and keyword trendline insights.
💬 X to Insert Ads Inside Grok AI Chatbot Responses
X will soon monetize Grok’s AI-generated answers by embedding targeted ads directly in responses, offering brands a new high-intent ad channel.
🗳️ Google to Enforce EU Political Ad Rules in Ads API and Scripts Starting September 3
Advertisers must update API and script workflows to self-declare EU political ads or risk failed calls and blocked updates under the new regulation.
🛒 Google Ads Launches Cart Data Conversion Diagnostics Tool
The new tool helps advertisers detect and fix errors in item-level conversion tracking before they impact campaign performance.
📰 Google Rolls Out Preferred Sources Feature in U.S. and India
After testing in Search Labs, Google is now letting users choose which sites appear more often in Top Stories, giving more control over search experience.
🎥 YouTube Expands Promote Tools, Allowing Video Boosting Without Google Ads
Creators can now run promotions directly in YouTube Studio, with more community post image slots, better auto-dub editing, and new CTA buttons.
📊 Google Ads Adds ‘Share of Cost’ Toggle to Performance Max Reporting
New reporting toggle reveals exact PMax budget allocation across channels, giving advertisers deeper scaling insights.
📱 Google Boosts iOS App Campaigns with New Formats and AI Tools
Fresh formats, smarter bidding, and privacy-preserving measurement roll out to improve iOS app marketing performance.
🎤 LinkedIn Expands Thought Leader Ads to Promote Event Posts
Advertisers can now sponsor member posts linking directly to LinkedIn Event Pages to drive engagement and credibility.
🌐 Google Ads to End Manual Language Targeting in Search Campaigns
Manual language settings will be phased out in favor of AI-driven automatic language detection by end of year.
✳️ TikTok Limits Posts to Five Hashtags
Creators and brands must prioritize relevance over volume as TikTok caps hashtag use per post.
🛒 Google to Replace Content API for Shopping with New Merchant API by 2026
Merchants must migrate before the Content API shutdown on August 18, 2026.
🔍 Google Adds Transparency to Search Partner Network Placements
Advertisers now gain site-level impression data for Search, Shopping, and App campaigns on SPN.
📈 Ahrefs Launches Traffic Tracker Comparing Google vs. ChatGPT Referrals
New dashboard measures AI search as a channel by comparing referral traffic trends from Google and ChatGPT.
🇮🇳 OpenAI Announces Low-Cost Subscription Plan ‘ChatGPT Go’ in India
Priced at 399 INR ($4.57 USD) per month, ChatGPT Go offers a cheaper entry point for users in India.
🎨 Google Ads Rolls Out Asset Studio Beta as Built-In Creative Hub
AI-powered Asset Studio surfaces in accounts, streamlining ad creative production and scaling.
📊 Google Expands Performance Max Channel Reporting to Account Level
Advertisers gain cross-campaign visibility with new account-wide PMax Channel Reporting.
🛡️ Google Releases August 2025 Spam Update
First spam update in 8 months begins rolling out, following June’s core update.
Check live status updates here: Google Search Status Dashboard
🎁 Google Ads Adds Loyalty Features to Boost Shopper Retention
New loyalty integrations highlight member-only pricing and perks directly in ads and listings.
📰 September 2025
🐞 Bing Webmaster Tools Bug: Sitemaps Index Coverage Button Missing for Some Users
SEOs report missing Index Coverage button in Bing Webmaster Tools Sitemaps report.
📅 Google Ads API Switching to Monthly Release Cycle Starting 2026
Advertisers will see more frequent updates as Google moves to a monthly API release schedule.
⚖️ EU Fines Google $3.5 Billion Over Anti-Competitive Ad-Tech Practices
European Commission ruling may force Google to divest ad-tech business; Google plans to appeal.
🔎 Google Ads Adds New Reporting for AI Max Campaigns
AI Max now reveals traffic driven by expanded keyword matches and landing pages.
🌐 Google Ads Links Web and App Campaigns With New Cross-Platform Features
Unified reporting and tools connect web + app activity for clearer performance insights.
▶️ Google Adds YouTube Placement Breakdowns for Demand Gen Campaigns
Advertisers can now view separate metrics for YouTube In-Stream, In-Feed, and Shorts.
📉 Amazon Experiences Drop in Google Search Visibility
Audience Key data shows a significant decline following Amazon’s Google Shopping changes.
🎨 Google Ads Rolls Out New Creative and Omnichannel Tools
Includes Demand Gen optimizations for in-store sales, loyalty features, and flexible total budgets.
🧪 Bing Tests Microsoft Sponsored Ads With Three Dots by URL
Microsoft Advertising experiments with vertical three-dot indicators instead of dropdown arrows in Bing ads.
🌍 Google AI Max for Search Goes Global in Beta
Global beta adds one-click experiments and upcoming text-guideline controls for brand-safe creative.
📊 Google Ads Rolls Out Suggested Plans in Performance Planner
Pre-built forecasts across Search, PMax, Shopping, and App campaigns accelerate planning.
📢 Reddit Launches Pro Tools for Publishers
New suite helps publishers track stories, auto-import content, and engage Reddit communities.
🏷️ Google Tag Manager Adds Event Parameters to Ads and Floodlight Tags
GTM now supports custom event parameters directly, matching manual gtag() flexibility.
📊 FTC Probes Google and Amazon Over Ad Pricing Disclosures
Regulators investigate whether ad auction terms and pricing were properly disclosed to advertisers.
🎥 Reddit Debuts 6-Second Engaged Video Views Goal for Ads
New optimization boosts completion rates and cuts costs by charging only for meaningful views.
💬 Meta Expands WhatsApp Status Ad Options With Click-to-Message Integration
Brands gain more ways to spark chats and engagement through combined ad placements.
▶️ YouTube Monetization Updates Across Long-Form, Shorts, and Live
Dynamic sponsorship swaps, side-panel live ads, and AI-powered shopping tools reshape creator revenue.
📰 Google Discover Lets You Follow Publishers & See More Social Posts
Google Discover now lets users follow favorite publishers and shows more content from X, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. This update aims to boost visibility for creators and publishers.
🛍️ Google Adds New Store Widgets for Websites
Merchants can now add two new Google store widgets to showcase products on their sites. These join the existing Top Quality store widget to enhance e-commerce visibility.
🤖 Google AI Mode Comes to Chrome
Chrome’s new AI Mode lets users ask long questions and interact with content directly on any webpage. The feature integrates AI assistance into the browsing experience via the address bar.
📉 77% of Sites Lose Keyword Visibility After Google Drops num=100
Google’s removal of the num=100 parameter caused major drops in impressions, rankings, and keyword visibility. A study of 319 sites found 87.7% saw decreased impressions in Search Console.
❌ Google Confirms “Results Per Page” Parameter No Longer Supported
The change to limit search results per page is intentional, not a bug. Rank-checking tools and Search Console data have been affected by this update.
⚡ Microsoft Ads Rolls Out Supplemental Feeds for Easier Product Updates
Supplemental Feeds let merchants update product details quickly without re-uploading entire catalogs. The feature is now available globally for faster ad management.
📢 Google’s August 2025 Spam Update Fully Rolled Out
Google’s first spam update of 2025 took just under 27 days, finishing on Sept 22. This broad, routine update follows three similar rollouts in 2024.
📈 Google Adds Seasonal Bid Adjustments for App Campaigns
A new beta lets app marketers flag short-term spikes so Smart Bidding can adapt faster. Ideal for flash sales and product launches, boosting conversion potential.
🔗 LinkedIn API Connects Ads to Pipeline & Revenue
The new Company Intelligence API ties ad engagement directly to B2B sales outcomes. Marketers can now show clearer ROI proof linking campaigns to revenue.
🤝 Microsoft Nonprofit Ad Grant Program Waitlisted
Microsoft Ads for Social Impact offers ad credits across Bing, MSN, and Outlook. However, nonprofits must waitlist to join the program for now.
🛍️ Google Tests Brand Profiles in Merchant Center Next
Google is piloting Brand Profiles, letting retailers highlight their story, values, and promotions directly in Search results—giving shoppers richer context and brands stronger visibility.
🎤 Google Search Live Launches in the U.S.
Search Live lets users talk directly with Google and share camera views for AI-powered, real-time answers. Previously in Labs, it’s now live in the Google app.
⚖️ Google Ads Cracks Down on Dishonest Pricing
Starting October 28, 2025, Google Ads’ updated Misrepresentation policy requires advertisers to disclose payment models, full expenses, and prevent misleading pricing to ensure transparency for users.
🚀 OpenAI Prepares ChatGPT for Advertising Future
OpenAI is hiring for a new growth team to build tools for campaign management, attribution, and ad platform integration—hinting at in-app ads for ChatGPT’s 700M weekly users.
💳 Meta Rolls Out No-Ads Subscriptions in the UK
Meta is launching paid no-ads options for Facebook and Instagram in the UK. Users can choose between personalized ads or subscriptions, reshaping advertiser reach and targeting strategies.
🌍 TikTok Launches Travel Ads for Trip-Planning Shoppers
TikTok introduces Travel Ads powered by Smart+, letting brands target high-intent travelers with AI-optimized campaigns. The feature helps drive discovery and bookings during planning and decision-making moments.
🛒 ChatGPT Gets Instant Checkout for In-Chat Shopping
OpenAI launches Instant Checkout in ChatGPT for U.S. users. Powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol and Stripe, it enables direct purchases from Etsy, ushering in agentic ecommerce.
🔝 Pinterest Rolls Out Top of Search Ads
Pinterest’s Top of Search ads place brands in the first 10 search slots and Related Pins, capturing high-intent, unbranded shoppers and boosting potential clicks for discovery-driven campaigns.
🧪 Google Ads Introduces Labs for Experimental Features
Google Ads pilots a centralized Labs hub, giving advertisers early access to experimental tools and insights to test campaigns, optimize strategies, and stay ahead in digital marketing innovation.
📊 Google Ads Performance Max Gains Advanced Reporting
Performance Max now offers asset and channel reporting, ROI columns, and diagnostics, helping advertisers optimize budgets, spot underperforming elements, and maximize results across Search, Display, YouTube, and more.
📰 October 2025
✉️ Google Ads Tightens Message Asset Requirements
Advertisers must update and verify Google Ads message assets by October 30. New stricter policies aim to ensure compliance and avoid potential ad blocking across campaigns.
🎧 Spotify Expands Programmatic Ads via Amazon & Yahoo
Spotify partners with Amazon DSP and Yahoo DSP, granting advertisers broader programmatic access to its global audio and video inventory, streamlining campaigns across multiple platforms.
🤖 Meta Unveils Business AI & Generative Tools
Meta launches Business AI concierge, generative video, AI music, and creative tools designed to accelerate content creation, personalization, and efficiency for advertisers at scale.
⚠️ Google Search Faces Service Disruption
Google reports partial Search outages due to a data center issue, affecting page serving in certain locales. Engineers are investigating, with updates promised within 24 hours.
📈 Google Analytics Adds Unnormalized Benchmarking Metrics
Google Analytics expands Benchmarking to 20 new metrics like New Users and Total Revenue, enabling businesses to compare absolute performance against industry peers more effectively.
🚫 Google to Retire Call-Only Ads by 2027
Google will phase out Call-Only Ads, ending new creation in 2026 and full retirement in 2027, urging advertisers to switch to Responsive Search Ads with Call Assets.
💔 Microsoft Ends Ads for Social Impact Grant Program
Microsoft is closing its nonprofit ad grant program in December, leaving organizations to either pause campaigns or cover costs, with final grants available until November 30, 2025.
🏢 New Bing Places for Business Goes Live
Microsoft launches an updated Bing Places for Business with a fresh interface, improved URLs, and commendations, aiming to help business owners thrive in local search through user-focused design.
🚫 Meta Halts Political Ads Across the EU
Meta suspends all political, electoral, and social issue ads across the European Union in response to new Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) rules effective Oct. 10.
📝 Google Tests AI-Powered Search Snippets
Google is experimenting with AI-generated descriptions for search results, either fully replacing meta descriptions or providing AI summaries, aiming to enhance relevance and improve user search experience.
📺 YouTube Launches Activation Partners Program
YouTube introduces the Activation Partners program, connecting advertisers and agencies with vetted third-party experts in media buying and campaign management for more efficient and effective advertising.
🔒 Google Replaces Ad Network Blocking with Authorized Buyers
Google updates AdSense and Ad Manager controls, replacing “Ad networks” blocking with “Authorized Buyers,” giving publishers more transparency and precision over programmatic ad bidding and inventory safety.
🤝 Microsoft Partners with Amazon DSP for Advertising
Microsoft winds down its DSP, Microsoft Invest, and partners with Amazon DSP, giving advertisers access to premium inventory and data-driven targeting while ensuring a smooth transition starting Feb. 2026.
📸 Google Ads Flags Low-Quality Images to Boost Creative Impact
Google Ads now gives image quality recommendations in the Recommendations tab, guiding advertisers to upgrade weak visuals. This aims to improve engagement and overall ad performance.
🛍️ Google Tightens Clarity on Misrepresentation Policy for Shopping Ads
Google updated its Misrepresentation policy for Shopping ads and free listings. While enforcement stays the same, it adds clearer examples and guidance to help advertisers meet compliance standards.
💡 Google Unveils Global “Sponsored Results” Label
Google is rolling out a unified “Sponsored results” label across desktop and mobile. This update clarifies ad visibility, potentially reshaping user interaction and CTR across Search and Shopping results.
🌍 Google Expands AI Overview Ads Worldwide
Google will extend ads in AI Overviews beyond the U.S. to select English-speaking markets by late 2025, challenging advertisers to adapt to evolving AI-driven search experiences.
🖼️ Google Lens Gets “Nano Banana” Image Generation
Google integrates its Gemini-powered “Nano Banana” image creation tool into Lens within Search, allowing users to generate and transform images directly on Android and iOS apps.
🧩 Bing Adds Support for “data-nosnippet” HTML Attribute
Microsoft Bing now supports the data-nosnippet tag, enabling brands to block specific content from snippets and AI answers—without harming rankings or visibility in search and Copilot.
💊 Google Eases Prescription Drug Ad Restrictions
Google Ads will now allow limited, non-promotional use of prescription drug terms, updating its healthcare policy to offer more contextual flexibility while keeping certification rules unchanged.
🛒 Google Opens Shopping Ads to Product Subscriptions
U.S. merchants can now sell physical goods through subscription models in Google Shopping ads—unlocking new recurring revenue streams, loyalty opportunities, and shopping convenience.
🗑️ Google Ads to Permanently Delete Canceled Accounts After 6 Months
Google Ads will now permanently delete canceled accounts after six months. Advertisers lose indefinite reactivation, signaling stricter data retention and storage policy enforcement from Google.
🔍 Google Adds “Sources” Column to AI Max Reports
Google introduces a “Sources” column in AI Max Search Term Reports, helping advertisers see exactly where AI-driven traffic originates and how automation matches user queries.
🗺️ Google Maps Ads Get Scrollable Sitelinks
Google has introduced scrollable sitelinks under promoted pins in Maps ads—giving brands extra clickable space to drive traffic to specific pages directly within the Maps interface.
🎥 Google Ads to Auto-Generate Videos from Images
Google’s Demand Gen campaigns will now auto-convert image and text ads into dynamic videos across aspect ratios—enhancing creative reach and engagement across Google’s ad ecosystem.
🧱 Google Officially Shuts Down Privacy Sandbox
After years of trials, Google ends its Privacy Sandbox project, abandoning its third-party cookie replacement efforts and leaving the future of privacy-first advertising strategies uncertain.
⚙️ Google Tests Auto-Setting “New Customer Value”
Google Ads is quietly testing automatic “New Customer Value” settings in acquisition campaigns—raising transparency concerns as advertisers report values being applied without their explicit input.
✍️ Google Ads Rolls Out AI Text Guidelines Feature
Google is releasing its new Text Guidelines tool, letting advertisers instruct AI on tone, messaging, and compliance—adding much-needed control to AI-generated ad copy.
🧭 Google Merchant Center Adds Centralized Issue Details Page
Google Merchant Center launched an Issue Details Page to help advertisers quickly identify, prioritize, and fix product or account issues—streamlining troubleshooting and keeping listings active.
⚖️ Reddit Sues Perplexity and SerpApi for Data Scraping
Reddit has sued four companies—including Perplexity and SerpApi—accusing them of disguising bots to scrape Reddit data from Google Search at “industrial scale.”
🌐 OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Atlas Web Browser
OpenAI unveiled its first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, available on Mac. Surprisingly, its built-in search appears powered by Google, not Microsoft Bing—its long-time partner.
📱 Google Tests “Get Google QR Code” for Business Profiles
Google is testing a “Get Google QR” button in Business Profiles, letting owners easily generate review or profile QR codes directly within their Search management interface.
🧠 Elon Musk Unveils Grokipedia as AI-Powered Wikipedia Rival
Elon Musk’s xAI launched Grokipedia, claiming Version 1.0 will be “10X better” than Wikipedia. Users can now access the AI-driven knowledge platform directly at Grokipedia.com.
📊 Google Merchant Center Next Adds New Promotion Analytics
Google Merchant Center Next introduced two new analytics views—”Your promotions at a glance” and “Performance in the last 28 days”—to help advertisers quickly measure promotional performance within Google Search.
🏠 Google Begins Early Access Rollout of Gemini for Home Voice Assistant
Google is rolling out early access to its Gemini for Home voice assistant in the U.S., compatible with all Google smart speakers and displays since 2016, with global expansion planned for 2026.
🚫 Google Ads Bans Sweepstake Casinos from Advertising
Google updated its Gambling & Games policy to clarify that sweepstake casinos are not classified as social casino games, effectively banning them from advertising on Google Ads as of October 28, 2025.
📰 November 2025
🧭 Google Adds New “Google-CWS” User Agent for Chrome Web Store Fetches
Google introduced a new user agent, Google-CWS, to represent user-triggered fetches from the Chrome Web Store. It’s now officially listed in Google’s user agent documentation.
📱 YouTube Removes Close Button from Mobile Ad Sidebars
YouTube has locked sidebar panels on some mobile horizontal video ads, eliminating the “close” option. Shoppable panels and sitelinks now stay fixed throughout video playback for greater ad visibility.
🤖 Google AI Mode Rolls Out Agentic Booking Features in Search Labs
Google’s AI Mode now supports agentic bookings, letting users reserve restaurants, buy event tickets, or book wellness appointments directly. Available in the U.S. for Labs testers and AI Pro & Ultra subscribers.
🚗 Google Expands PMax Reach with Waze Ads
Google’s latest PMax update adds Waze ad inventory, allowing advertisers to target drivers and gain deeper campaign performance insights through new channel-level reporting for store goal campaigns.
🎥 Google Merchant Center Adds “Creative Content” with Video Assets
A new “Creative Content” section in Google Merchant Center lets brands upload and map video assets to products, enhancing ad visibility and engagement across paid and organic Google surfaces.
💰 Google Ads Introduces “Investment Strategy” for Budget-Limited Campaigns
Google Ads is rolling out an “investment strategy” tool, helping advertisers model potential performance improvements from larger budgets and optimize limited spending with data-driven planning recommendations.
🔍 Microsoft Boosts Copilot with AI Search and Clickable Citations
Microsoft upgrades Copilot to deliver richer, source-backed answers featuring prominent, clickable citations and aggregated sources—bringing the best of AI-powered search directly into the Copilot experience.
⚠️ Google Clarifies Policy on False Info in Advertiser Verification
Google updated its Circumventing Systems policy, warning that providing false information during advertiser verification now explicitly violates rules and may result in immediate account suspension.
🧩 Google Adds Asset-Level Reporting to Display Campaigns
Advertisers can now see how each creative asset performs in Display campaigns. This update improves optimization and brings Display transparency closer to Performance Max’s reporting depth.
🚫 Google Cracks Down on Fraud-Linked Phone Numbers in Ads
Google Ads will block phone numbers connected to fraud or past violations. Advertisers must verify contact details to maintain compliance and avoid disapprovals under updated Destination requirements.
📸 Google Expands Image Search Ads with Mobile Carousel Format
Google now serves AI-powered ad carousels in mobile image searches across all categories, offering brands more visual exposure and engagement opportunities beyond shopping-related placements.
⚙️ Google Ads Editor 2.11 Adds Campaign-Level Negatives and Smarter Automation
The latest Editor release introduces campaign-level negative keywords, enhanced search term reporting, and advanced automation — boosting control, efficiency, and transparency for large-scale advertisers.
🔍 Microsoft Makes Clarity Mandatory for Publishers
Microsoft now requires all third-party publishers to use its Clarity analytics tool, promoting transparency, brand safety, and better filtering of noncompliant ad traffic within Microsoft Advertising.
🚀 Google Launches AI-Powered Ads & Analytics Advisors
Google introduces Ads Advisor and Analytics Advisor, Gemini-powered assistants offering conversational insights, faster data analysis, and simplified campaign optimization. Rolling out to all English-language Google Ads and Analytics accounts in early December.
🤖 AI Now Sends 1% of Website Traffic — Mostly from ChatGPT
A new Conductor benchmark shows AI referrals contribute just over 1% of site visits, led overwhelmingly by ChatGPT. AI highlights different brands than Google, while organic search remains dominant.
🎥 Google Ads Tests Social Video Imports for PMax
Google Ads is experimenting with pulling social platform video assets—like those from X—into PMax creative suggestions, simplifying campaign setup but sparking concerns over data access, ownership, and cross-platform privacy.
📉 YouTube Tests Retroactive Cost Cuts for Weak Demand Gen Campaigns
YouTube is piloting automatic retroactive cost reductions for underperforming Demand Gen Target CPA (tCPA) campaigns, helping advertisers stay closer to target CPA during early fluctuations and reducing risk during the learning phase.
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