Category Archives: Ads Developer Blog

The official blog for information about the AdWords, AdSense, DoubleClick and AdMob APIs and SDKs

Broad match modifier upcoming changes in Google Ads

On February 4, 2021, we announced changes to phrase match and broad match modifier (BMM). As advised in that post, as of today all Google Ads languages have now been updated to use the new phrase match definition. Also as of today, all legacy BMM keywords will continue to serve but will now behave as phrase match keywords. Creation of new BMMs using the legacy BMM notation (+keyword) and modifications to existing BMM keyword text will no longer be permitted as of August 2, 2021 (AdWords API, Google Ads API, Google Ads scripts).

Updates of other targeting criteria fields (such as status, bid, url, labels) will still be permitted.

Partners are encouraged to follow the guidance in this article. As detailed in the article, if you choose to convert BMM keywords to phrase match, performance statistics will not carry over to the new instances. Smart bidding users are encouraged to use the broad match type.

Note: The changes to phrase match and BMM will not impact exact match, broad match, or negative keyword match types. Learn more about keyword matching options.

If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum.
, Google Ads API Team

Asset-based Extensions: Updated Availability and new ValueTrack Parameter

As previously announced, all ad extensions are migrating to the new Asset-based extension paradigm. You must update extensions support in your implementation and migrate existing Feed-based extensions to Asset-based extensions. See the migration schedule for important sunset dates.

What has changed

The following Asset-based extension types are now available to all accounts:
Though originally scheduled for release later this year, Asset-based Image extensions will not be available in the Google Ads API until 2022. When available, we will publish an updated sunset timeline for Feed-based Image extensions to this blog and in our extension migration documentation.

Lastly, the new {extensionid} ValueTrack parameter will be available beginning June 24, 2021. You can use this parameter to track clicks on your Asset-based extensions. The {extensionid} parameter for Asset-based extensions mirrors the behavior of the existing {feeditemid} parameter for Feed-based extensions.

What you need to do

Migrate Callout, Promotion, Sitelink, and Structured Snippet extensions in your accounts to Asset-based extensions using the Google Ads API. We encourage you to do so as soon as possible so as to continue to be able to modify your extensions; Callout, Promotion, Sitelink, and Structured Snippet Feed-based extensions will automatically migrate to Asset-based extensions on October 20, 2021. You will soon be able to opt individual Google Ads client accounts out of this auto migration; the opt out process will be announced on this blog when available. Please see our extension migration guide for the most up-to-date and relevant information. Note that Asset-based extensions are not supported in the AdWords API.

You can now use the {extensionid} ValueTrack parameter to track clicks on any Asset-based extensions that you have created. The {feeditemid} parameter does not apply to any clicks on Asset-based extensions, and {extensionid} does not apply to clicks on Feed-based extensions. To continue attributing clicks correctly, you should update any URLs that currently use the {feeditemid} ValueTrack parameter to also include the new {extensionid} ValueTrack parameter. You should therefore set both {feeditemid} and {extensionid} in the same URL, though only one will be populated depending on the source of the click.


If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum or at [email protected].
- Andrew Burke, Google Ads API Team

Deprecation of Entity Read Files

Today we’re announcing the deprecation of Entity Read Files (ERFs). Users currently retrieving Display & Video 360 resource information from ERFs should begin migrating to using the Display & Video 360 (DV360) API or Structured Data Files (SDFs).

With this deprecation, we will no longer support ERFs through documentation updates or bug fixes. ERFs will continue to be generated and available for download for the immediate future. However, users should be prepared for ERFs to sunset at a later date. We will announce a sunset date in a future blog post and publish a notice on the ERF documentation page far in advance of the sunset.

Refer to our ERF to API Migration guide for more detailed information about the differences between ERFs and the DV360 API and how ERF information maps to the API resources and services.

If you run into issues, need help with your migration, or have any questions, please contact us using our support contact form.


- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team

Filtering Non-video Resources from Video Reports in the Google Ads API

Beginning on August 4, 2021, all video-related performance reports will begin filtering out campaigns, ad groups, and ad group ads that are not part of video campaigns (advertising_channel_type = VIDEO). This change will cause performance metrics retrieved from the video resource to change across all supported Google Ads API versions.

If you would like to generate reports that combine metrics from video and non-video resources, you should use the respective resource-specific performance report, for instance: campaign, ad_group, or ad_group_ad.

If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us through the forum or at [email protected].
- Ben Karl, on behalf of the Google Ads API Team

Standalone Gmail campaigns becoming read only in Google Ads

Starting on July 8, 2021, all standalone Gmail campaigns will become read-only. This means that you will not be able to create new campaigns or create ad groups in existing campaigns of this type after that date. This applies not only to the Google Ads and AdWords APIs, but also to any other interface you use to manage your Google Ads accounts.

Specifically, the types of campaigns that would be affected are those with an AdvertisingChannelSubType of DISPLAY_GMAIL_AD, where the following operations will fail with an OPERATION_NOT_PERMITTED_FOR_CONTEXT error and a trigger of DISPLAY_GMAIL_AD:
  • Creating a new Gmail campaign.
  • Creating a new Gmail ad group.
  • Creating or updating Gmail ads.
Existing campaigns’ data will still be available.

There is no general workaround for API users to continue to be able to target Gmail specifically. If you would like to continue to target Gmail, you can use Discovery campaigns, which include Gmail ads, in the Google Ads web interface.

If you have any questions, please leave a post on our forum so that we can help.
- Mike Cloonan, Google Ads API Team

Deprecating Url Performance Report and Automatic Placements Performance Report in the AdWords API

Starting July 12, 2021, we will be deprecating Url Performance Report and Automatic Placements Performance Report in the AdWords API. The two reports will return empty results in the AdWords API after the deprecation.

To continue accessing these two reports, please migrate to Google Ads API and use the following views: For migrating reports to Google Ads API, refer to the report migration guide.

If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum.
Fei Xiang, Google Ads API Team

Call Ads Replace Call Only Ads in the Google Ads API

In the Google Ads API v8, Call Only Ads are replaced by Call Ads. You can still create Call Only Ads in the AdWords API v201809 and the Google Ads API v6 and v7, but we encourage you to use v8 to create new Call Ads.

Call Only Ads will continue to serve until the AdWords API Sunset on 27 April 2022.

Prior to v8, Call Only Ads only offered users the ability to call. Users and advertisers have said they want the ability to go directly to the website from these ads. The addition of the final URL in Call Ads enables advertisers to use calls as the primary (i.e. headline) action, while still providing users with a means to visit an advertiser’s website prior to or instead of calling.

What you need to do
  • Use the ad type CallAd instead of CallOnlyAd to create new Call Ads.
  • Filter on ad.type = 'CALL_AD' to retrieve information for existing ads regardless of what ad.type was used to create the ad. For example, using the Google Ads API to query 

        SELECT ad_group_ad.ad.call_ad.country_code,
               ad_group_ad.ad.call_ad.phone_number
        FROM ad_group_ad
        WHERE ad_group_ad.ad.type = 'CALL_AD'
    will return ads created as CALL_ONLY_AD and CALL_AD.
What has changed
Fields added
ad_group_ad.ad.final_urls This is where you specify the URL of your website.
path1 First part of text that may appear appended to the url displayed in the ad.
path2 Second part of text that may appear appended to the url displayed in the ad. This field can only be set when path1 is set.
Field removed
ad.display_url We removed the display_url for Call Only Ads.
The URL that will be displayed alongside your
ad will now be based on ad_group.ad.final_urls
if provided, or phone_number_verification_url
if ad_group.ad.final_urls is blank, as well
any additional text you specify in path1 and path2.
Field verification
phone_number_verification_url This field is now required if ad_group.ad.final_urls is empty.

AdWords API Reporting: There is no change in the AdWords API.

Google Ads API Reporting: In the Google Ads API you can include these new fields in your queries
Where to get help
If you have questions about Call Ads, please reach out to us on the forum or at [email protected].

Bob Hancock, Google Ads API Team

Announcing v8 of the Google Ads API

Today, we’re announcing the v8 release of the Google Ads API. To use v8 features, you will need to upgrade your client libraries and client code. The updated client libraries and code examples will be published next week. For more information on breaking changes, see the migration guide.
Here are the highlights: Where can I learn more?
The following resources can help you get started: If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum.
Thanet Knack Praneenararat, on behalf of the Google Ads API Team

Live Webinar: Migrating to the Google Ads API


The Google Ads API Developer Relations team will be hosting a live webinar on Migrating to the Google Ads API, on June 16 at 10 AM EST (2 PM GMT).

Agenda

This webinar helps AdWords API developers jumpstart their migrations to the new and improved Google Ads API. The webinar builds upon our Migration Guide, so we recommend reading that guide before watching this webinar. We will also host a Q&A at the end with members of the Google Ads Developer Relations and Engineering teams. The webinar will cover the following topics:
  • High level differences between the AdWords and Google Ads APIs
  • Migrating Reporting
  • Migrating Mutates
  • New & Improved Features
  • Migration Best Practices

Reminders

Feel free to add the event to your calendar. In addition, you can set a reminder for the event on YouTube by clicking the “Set reminder” button on the YouTube event page.

We look forward to sharing our knowledge of the Google Ads API with you and answering your questions. If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum or at [email protected].


- Sasha Friedenberg, Google Ads API Team

Live Webinar: Migrating to the Google Ads API


The Google Ads API Developer Relations team will be hosting a live webinar on Migrating to the Google Ads API, on June 16 at 10 AM EST (2 PM GMT).

Agenda

This webinar helps AdWords API developers jumpstart their migrations to the new and improved Google Ads API. The webinar builds upon our Migration Guide, so we recommend reading that guide before watching this webinar. We will also host a Q&A at the end with members of the Google Ads Developer Relations and Engineering teams. The webinar will cover the following topics:
  • High level differences between the AdWords and Google Ads APIs
  • Migrating Reporting
  • Migrating Mutates
  • New & Improved Features
  • Migration Best Practices

Reminders

Feel free to add the event to your calendar. In addition, you can set a reminder for the event on YouTube by clicking the “Set reminder” button on the YouTube event page.

We look forward to sharing our knowledge of the Google Ads API with you and answering your questions. If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum or at [email protected].


- Sasha Friedenberg, Google Ads API Team