Google seems to be testing a new format for local ads in the search results. These look more like that older card format test we saw a year or so ago. There are these two local cards at the top and when you click on them, the local panel for that Google Business Profile opens up. This test was spotted by Khushal Bherwani who shared some screenshots on X.
Google Ads announced new features "aimed at bridging this gap" between your advertising across both your website and app. There are new unified workflows and reporting with in-product nudges, unified conversions, and a combined overview card. Plus a new way to measure app installs from web campaigns. You can now direct Google Ads campaigns (Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Demand Gen) to both your website and app, creating a consistent experience for customers.
If neither Google Business Profile nor Chain stores work for you, you can select up to 10 locations from Google Maps to link with your Ads account. These Google Maps locations must be yours, or they may be disapproved. Go to Location manager within the Tool menu, under the Shared library. Select the plus button, and choose "Our locations". Select Continue. You can enter the physical address or a key phrase to search your locations.
The ad kicks off by trying to instill some nostalgia by telling us that Ted, our aimless everyman, was born in 1998, the 'year of the first Google search.' Fast forward to him as a kid, Googling 'james blunt music video.' The song 'You're Beautiful' plays as his life, in the form of Google queries, flashes forward until he's an unfortunate 26-year-old, who has a huge house to himself, soul-searching in our age of predatory dating apps and AI sexbots.
On September 1, 2025, the Google Ads Dangerous products or services policy and Google Shopping Dangerous products policy will be updated to restrict ads for pill presses, encapsulating machines and related components.