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Today’s round-up covers changes from the past week that small business advertisers should know about, mostly from Google, plus one from Microsoft and a Meta change that starts today.
Today’s quick list:
- Google Search ads now show AI-written review summaries, including in India
- Performance Max can now pull in your videos from other channels automatically
- Microsoft Ads lets you target, not just bid on, LinkedIn audiences
- Meta product browsing switches on for existing ads today
Google Search ads now show AI-written review summaries
Google has documented a feature that adds short, AI-generated summaries of online reviews to Search ads, sometimes shown under a “What customers love” heading. The summaries are positive only, and Google says it shows them when it predicts they’ll improve ad performance. Reports say the feature covers the US, UK, Australia and India. Google’s help page doesn’t say whether advertisers can switch it off. (PPC Land)
What to do: Your reviews could now appear in your ads, so keep an eye on your store ratings and Google reviews. Asking happy customers for reviews just got even more valuable.
Performance Max can now pull in your videos from other channels
Performance Max has a new “Sourced videos” setting. When it’s on, Google can find videos from sources you approve, such as your social media, your landing pages or your YouTube channel, and add up to 10 of them to an asset group. It’s on by default for new campaigns, and some existing campaigns may have been switched on automatically. The toggle sits in the asset optimisation section at campaign level, under “Use videos from other channels.” (Search Engine Roundtable)
What to do: Check your Performance Max campaigns this week. If you don’t want old or off-brand videos showing in your ads, review the approved sources or turn the setting off.
Microsoft Ads lets you target LinkedIn audiences directly
Microsoft Advertising has added a “Target and bid” option for LinkedIn profile targeting in Audience campaigns. Until now, LinkedIn data (company, industry and job function) could only adjust your bids. Now you can limit your ads to just those people. Search, Dynamic Search Ads and Shopping campaigns still have the bid-only option. (PPC News Feed)
What to do: If you sell to businesses, Microsoft Audience campaigns can now reach specific job functions or industries across Microsoft’s network. It’s worth a small test alongside your LinkedIn campaigns.
Meta product browsing switches on today
As covered earlier this week, Meta starts turning on in-app product browsing by default for existing ads today, October 28, unless you’ve opted out. (PPC Land)
What to do: If you missed the opt-out, you can still turn product browsing off for each ad in the Advantage+ Creative and Destination settings.
Key takeaways
- ✅ Ask happy customers for Google reviews now that AI summaries can appear in your ads
- ✅ Check the “Sourced videos” setting in each Performance Max campaign
- ✅ B2B advertisers: test Microsoft Audience campaigns with LinkedIn targeting
- ✅ Review Meta product browsing settings on your existing ads
Not sure how these changes affect your campaigns?
New defaults keep switching on across the ad platforms, often without much warning. BananaBlocks Solutions manages Google, Meta, Microsoft and LinkedIn ad campaigns for small and growing businesses, and keeps them up to date as the platforms change.
Book a free 30-minute ads review and we’ll check your account for anything you should adjust this season.
