Matthew Umbro - Practical Ecommerce https://www.practicalecommerce.com/author/matthewumbro Independent analysis and strategy for online merchants Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:05:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.4 Notes on Google Ads New Strategy Tool https://www.practicalecommerce.com/notes-on-google-ads-new-strategy-tool Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:05:25 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1558514 The new "Investment Strategy" feature is akin to Google's existing budget simulators, with two main differences.

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]]> Merge Google Ads Campaigns for Better ROAS https://www.practicalecommerce.com/merge-google-ads-campaigns-for-better-roas Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:48 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1557694 AI-driven optimization works best with abundant data. A single entity with 10,000 impressions is better than 10 with 1,000 each.

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]]> Better Audience Targeting in Google Ads https://www.practicalecommerce.com/better-audience-targeting-in-google-ads Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:00:10 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1556965 The search giant has enhanced its targeting capabilities to resemble those on Meta, LinkedIn, and other social channels.

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]]> Google PMax Unveils Optimization Tools https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-pmax-unveils-optimization-tools Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:26:55 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1556204 Lack of transparency and flexibility frustrate Performance Max advertisers. Google is listening.

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]]> Google Ads Unveils RSA Asset Stats https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-unveils-rsa-asset-stats Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:31:12 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1555379 In a helpful reporting update, Google Ads now shows click and conversion data for each headline and description line of Responsive Search Ads.

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]]> Google, Microsoft Clarify Ad Bidding https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-microsoft-clarify-ad-bidding Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:34:38 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1554462 Google and Microsoft are rolling out updates to improve transparency while removing redundant (and confusing) bidding features.

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]]> How Google Ads Fits into AI Overviews and AI Mode https://www.practicalecommerce.com/how-google-ads-fits-into-ai-overviews-and-ai-mode Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:47:46 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1553719 At this year's "Marketing Live" event, Google announced many updates to Ads. Most were AI-driven.

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]]> Google’s AI Max Ads Hone Search Intent https://www.practicalecommerce.com/googles-ai-max-ads-hone-search-intent Sun, 11 May 2025 09:00:37 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1552764 "AI Max for Search," Google Ads new campaign type, aims to understand searchers' intentions beyond keywords.

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]]> Google Ads Recommendations Worth Doing https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-recommendations-worth-doing Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:16 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1551605 Some recommendations from Google Ads can improve performance. Others, not so much.

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]]> Create Google Ads Scripts via GenAI https://www.practicalecommerce.com/create-google-ads-scripts-via-genai Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:00:07 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1550409 Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and others are fast and thorough, although not perfect.

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]]> Essential Google Ads Settings for 2025 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/essential-google-ads-settings-for-2025 Sun, 09 Feb 2025 10:00:34 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1549184 Five campaign settings can make or break performance and often require overriding Google's suggestions.

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]]> Ad Strategies for Competitor Keywords https://www.practicalecommerce.com/ad-strategies-for-competitor-keywords Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:21:43 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1547558 Google's ad platform has evolved, and so has bidding on competitor keywords.

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]]> Keywordless Search Ads Are Coming https://www.practicalecommerce.com/keywordless-search-ads-are-coming Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:58:45 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1545776 The "death of the keyword" prediction isn't new, and Search campaigns without keywords already exist.

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]]> Dynamic Search Ads Tap Informational Queries https://www.practicalecommerce.com/dynamic-search-ads-tap-informational-queries Mon, 11 Nov 2024 10:00:21 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1544844 DSAs can attract valuable top-of-funnel shoppers to nurture and convert into customers.

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]]> My Top Google Ads Automated Rules https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-automated-rules-for-better-management Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:59:07 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1543348 Automated rules can send alerts and adjust settings, resulting in streamlined oversight.

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]]> Holiday Promotions in Google Text Ads https://www.practicalecommerce.com/holiday-promotions-in-google-text-ads Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:00:26 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1542359 Promoting holiday sales and events in text ads is tricky when Google picks the headlines and descriptions.

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]]> Google’s Search Tie-ups Are Illegal, Judge Rules https://www.practicalecommerce.com/googles-search-tie-ups-are-illegal-judge-rules Thu, 08 Aug 2024 13:14:28 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1540901 Google pays billions to Apple and other providers for being the default search engine.

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]]> Google Ads Alters Design, Broad Match, Payments https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-alters-design-broad-match-payments Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:11:11 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1539681 Three recent updates impact all advertisers to varying degrees, although the new interface design is the most obvious.

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]]> Google Ads Updates from Marketing Live 2024 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ad-updates-from-marketing-live-2024 Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:14:21 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1538132 Google announced over 30 new advertising features at this year's event. Here are the most impactful for merchants.

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]]> 4 Google Ads Scripts to Free Up Time https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-scripts-to-streamline-oversight Sun, 12 May 2024 09:00:25 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1536987 Automating mundane tasks frees up time for account strategy and critical optimizations.

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]]> Google Ad Updates Reflect New SERPs https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ad-updates-reflect-new-serps Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:20:30 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1535310 An ad's postion on the search results page is less important than its prominence, per Google.

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]]> Optimizing Google Ads without Keywords https://www.practicalecommerce.com/optimizing-google-ads-without-keywords Sun, 10 Mar 2024 16:02:58 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1534073 Google's AI detects seachers' intent, lessening the need for keyword bidding.

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]]> Understanding YouTube Campaign Types https://www.practicalecommerce.com/understanding-youtube-campaign-types Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:00:53 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1533041 Google Ads offers seven YouTube campaign subtypes, ranging from reaching users while browsing to driving conversions.

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]]> How to Forecast PPC Costs and Revenue https://www.practicalecommerce.com/how-to-forecast-ppc-costs-and-revenue Sun, 07 Jan 2024 14:39:09 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1531937 Does increased spend on Google Ads produce more revenue? Here's a framework to help decide.

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]]> Google Ad Tactics for 2024 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-tactics-for-2024 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:26:07 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1530890 Google Ads is already incorporating AI into its interface. More changes are coming, including the elimination of third-party cookies.

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]]> Google Ads Holiday Timesavers https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-holiday-timesavers Sun, 12 Nov 2023 14:44:46 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1529400 Don't waste time on menial advertising tasks. Here are four handy productivity boosters.

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]]> Value-based Bidding Drives Google Ads Success https://www.practicalecommerce.com/value-based-bidding-drives-google-ads-success Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:45:31 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1527842 Automated bid strategies based on conversion values and target ROAS produces the most profits.

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]]> Unpacking ‘Demand Gen’ Google Ads https://www.practicalecommerce.com/unpacking-demand-gen-google-ads Sun, 03 Sep 2023 13:51:37 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1526083 Google's new top-of-funnel campaign type includes in-feed ads in YouTube Shorts.

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]]> Google Ads Streamlines Switch to Performance Max https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-streamlines-switch-to-performance-max Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:49:43 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1525465 Gradual is better when upgrading Dynamic Search and Display campaigns to Performance Max.

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]]> Google Ads Improves Brand Settings https://www.practicalecommerce.com/google-ads-improves-brand-settings Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:26:15 +0000 https://www.practicalecommerce.com/?p=1524239 Google sometimes co-mingles ads for brand and non-brand queries. The new settings ensure traffic and reporting are funneled to the right campaigns.

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