Blog

Notes on Google Ads, tracking, and what actually moves the needle for local businesses and ecommerce brands.

Showing all 27 posts

September 16, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Tag Manager Now Writes Your Version Descriptions With AI

When you publish a GTM container version now, an AI writes the version name and a structured, tag-by-tag description of exactly what changed, without you typing a word. Here's what I saw in a live account and what it actually means for anyone reviewing that history later.

September 10, 2026Platform Updates & News

How to Set Up Conversion Tracking on OpenAI Ads Manager (ChatGPT Ads)

ChatGPT Ads uses the same pixel-plus-Conversions-API pattern as Meta and Google, with OpenAI's own flavor. Here's how to create a data source, install the pixel, fire events, and add server-side tracking that survives ad blockers.

September 1, 2026Platform Updates & News

ChatGPT Ads Self-Serve Goes Live in Europe, and the Platform Got a Lot More Capable

Self-serve Ads Manager access opened to European advertisers on August 31, closing the gap I flagged when Europe first got ChatGPT Ads. The bigger news for US advertisers: how much the platform itself has matured since spring.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Clicks to Call: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Clicks to Call tracks every 'Call' click on your Business Profile after someone sees your ad. It's biddable, but only in Performance Max. Here's what it measures and how to set it up.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Directions: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Directions tracks every 'Directions' or 'Start navigation' click on your Business Profile after someone sees your ad. Here's what triggers it, which campaigns can bid on it, and how to set it up.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Menu Views: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Menu Views tracks menu clicks on your Business Profile, but only if your listing has a menu link configured. Here's what it measures and how to set it up.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Orders: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Orders tracks 'Order' clicks on your Business Profile, but only if your listing has the Order click option enabled. Here's what it measures and how to set it up.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Other Engagements: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Other Engagements tracks Share Location, Save, Photos, More Info, Place Exploration, and similar clicks on your Business Profile. Here's exactly what it covers and how it's set up.

August 25, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions - Website Visits: What It Means and How to Set It Up

Local Actions - Website Visits tracks 'Website' clicks on your Business Profile after someone sees your ad. It's reporting-only, not biddable, and it's easy to confuse with regular website conversion tracking.

August 20, 2026Account Access & Sharing

How to Share CallRail Access

Share CallRail access in a few steps, what each of the four user types can actually do, and the one permission that catches people off guard.

August 19, 2026Platform Updates & News

ChatGPT Ads Expands to 31 European Markets, Here's What US Advertisers Should Know

OpenAI is rolling ChatGPT Ads out to 31 European markets starting August 24, its largest expansion yet. The bigger story for US small businesses: self-serve access is already live, and the $50,000 minimum spend is gone.

August 19, 2026Platform Updates & News

Claude Now Watermarks Every Text Response and File It Generates

Anthropic is embedding invisible watermarks in Claude's text output and signed C2PA metadata in generated files, worldwide, with no opt-out. Here's what actually gets marked and why.

August 18, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Is Removing Language Targeting From Search Campaigns

Starting September 2026, the campaign-level language targeting setting disappears from Search campaigns and the Search portion of Performance Max. Here's what actually changes and what doesn't.

August 14, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Local Actions Conversions Explained

What local actions conversions actually track (directions, calls, website visits, and more from your Business Profile), what's required to set them up, and how they differ from store visits and standard website conversion tracking.

August 14, 2026Platform Updates & News

What Is a Google Ads Conversion, and How Do You Set One Up?

A conversion is a specific action you've told Google Ads to count as valuable, not a click or a visit. Here's what actually counts, how tracking works, and a step-by-step setup guide.

August 12, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads AI Max Becomes Default on September 1

From September 1, 2026 Google auto-upgrades Search campaigns using automatically created assets or campaign-level broad match to AI Max.

August 11, 2026Account Access & Sharing

How to Share Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Access

Share GA4 access in four steps, what each of the five roles can do, and the difference between account and property level access.

August 11, 2026Account Access & Sharing

How to Share Google Ads Account Access

Share Google Ads access in four steps, what each of the five access levels can do, and when to use a manager account instead.

August 10, 2026Account Access & Sharing

How to Share Google Tag Manager Access

Share Google Tag Manager access in four steps, plus which of the five permission levels to actually give someone and why it matters.

August 7, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Ads Bid Targets Get Enforced Starting August 17

Starting August 17, 2026, Google Ads bids up to your actual CPA/ROAS target instead of undershooting it. Here's what that means for your budget.

August 7, 2026Platform Updates & News

Google Maps Sponsored Pins: How to Get One

Google Maps sponsored pins (branded pins) explained: what they are, what they cost, and how to actually get one running for your business.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

Google Guaranteed Is Gone. Meet Google Verified.

The Google Guarantee and Google Screened badges were retired on October 20, 2025, replaced by one Google Verified checkmark. Here is what changed.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

How Bad Leads Get Credited in Local Services Ads

Here is how lead credits and disputes actually work in Local Services Ads today, and what to expect when a lead is clearly not valid.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

How Local Services Ads Ranking Actually Works

Local Services Ads ranking is not just about your bid. Here are the real factors Google uses, straight from its own documentation.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

Local Services Ads Mistakes That Waste Your Budget

Seven common Local Services Ads setup mistakes, straight from Google's own performance guidance, that quietly waste budget.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

Local Services Ads or Search Ads: Which First?

Local Services Ads and Google Search Ads solve different problems for home service businesses. Here is how to decide which to run first.

August 7, 2026Local Services Ads

LSA to Performance Max: What's Changing in 2026

Google is migrating Local Services Ads into Performance Max starting August 2026. Here's what changes, what stays the same, and what to expect.