Google Drops $50K Requirement for Lead Forms — 8 Updates Every Business Needs to Know

$0minimum spend — Lead Form assets now open to all advertisers
Aug 31Local Inventory Ads enabled by default for all Shopping campaigns
6monew Google Ads policy appeal deadline — act within 6 months
41%of LinkedIn posts now show signs of AI generation
In this article
  1. Google Drops $50K Requirement — Lead Form Assets Now Free for Everyone
  2. Google Local Services Ads Moving Into Google Ads Platform
  3. Local Inventory Ads Enabled by Default from August 31
  4. Google Search Now Powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite
  5. Google Tag Manager Gets Guided Setup for Conversion Tracking
  6. Google Ads Policy Appeals Now Limited to 6 Months
  7. 41% of LinkedIn Posts Show Signs of AI — What This Means for Your Brand
  8. Google Ads Moves Missed Opportunities to Recommendations Tab
  9. What Every Business Should Do Right Now
  10. Frequently Asked Questions

This week in digital marketing has delivered a mix of genuinely useful new features, important deadline reminders, and a few changes that require immediate action from businesses running Google Ads. There’s also a notable data point about AI-generated content on LinkedIn that every business using social media needs to know about.

Here’s everything that matters this week — with clear action steps for each update.

New this week worth acting on immediately: Google has removed the $50,000 minimum spend requirement for Lead Form assets — one of the most impactful Google Ads features is now accessible to businesses of any size. If you haven’t used Lead Form assets before, this week is the time to set them up.

1. Google Drops $50K Requirement — Lead Form Assets Now Free for Everyone

This is the most actionable update this week. Google has expanded access to its native lead generation format by removing the $50,000 ad spend requirement and introducing new integrations and simplified eligibility criteria.

What Changed

Lead Form assets are now available to every Google Ads advertiser

Lead Form assets (formerly Lead Form extensions) let users submit their contact details directly within Google’s search results — without ever visiting your website. A user sees your ad, taps “Get a quote” or “Book a call”, fills in their name, email and phone number, and submits — all without leaving Google.

Why this matters for small and medium businesses:

  • Previously only available to advertisers spending $50,000+ on Google Ads
  • Now available to every advertiser regardless of spend level
  • Eliminates the landing page step — reducing friction and improving conversion rates
  • Works especially well on mobile where typing a URL is inconvenient
  • New integrations allow leads to flow directly into your CRM or email system

What to do right now:

  1. Go to your Google Ads account
  2. Select any Search or Performance Max campaign
  3. Go to Assets → Add asset → Lead form
  4. Create a form with your headline, description, and the fields you need (name, email, phone)
  5. Set up a webhook or CRM integration so leads go directly to your sales team
  6. Set up an instant email notification so you can follow up within 5 minutes

Lead Form assets work best for service businesses — law firms, plumbers, medical practices, agencies, real estate — where the goal is a direct enquiry rather than a website visit.

2. Google Local Services Ads Moving Into Google Ads Platform

Google Local Services Ads are transitioning to the main Google Ads platform. This is a significant structural change for any local service business that runs Local Services Ads.

What’s Changing

Local Services Ads will be managed inside Google Ads — not separately

Until now, Local Services Ads (LSAs) — the “Google Guaranteed” ads that appear at the very top of local search results — were managed through a completely separate platform at ads.google.com/local-services-ads. They’re now moving into the main Google Ads dashboard.

What this means practically:

  • All your ad campaigns — Search, Display, Performance Max, and now LSAs — in one place
  • Unified reporting across all campaign types
  • Easier budget management across all Google advertising
  • Potential for better cross-campaign optimisation as Google’s AI sees all your data together

What to do: If you run Local Services Ads, watch for migration notifications from Google. The transition should be automatic but check your LSA dashboard regularly during the transition period to ensure campaigns continue running without interruption.

3. Local Inventory Ads Enabled by Default from August 31

This update is specifically relevant for businesses with physical retail locations. Google confirms Local Inventory Ads will be automatically enabled for all Shopping campaigns starting from August 31st, aiming to enhance local shopping experiences.

Action Required by August 31

Shopping campaigns will automatically show local inventory — opt out if needed

Local Inventory Ads show users that a product is available to buy in a nearby physical store — including real-time stock levels and store location. From August 31 this will be switched on automatically for all Shopping campaigns.

This is good news if:

  • You have a physical retail location
  • Your inventory data is accurate and up to date in Google Merchant Center
  • You want to drive foot traffic as well as online sales

This needs attention if:

  • Your inventory data in Google Merchant Center is outdated or inaccurate
  • You are an online-only retailer with no physical store
  • You don’t want to advertise local stock availability for any reason

What to do before August 31: Check your Google Merchant Center inventory feed. If your stock data is accurate and you have physical locations — great, no action needed. If your data is inaccurate or you’re online-only, go to your Shopping campaign settings and opt out of Local Inventory Ads before the automatic enablement date.

Google Search has integrated the Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite AI model for enhanced search experiences. This is the latest and most efficient version of Google’s Gemini AI — replacing the previous model powering AI Overviews and AI Mode.

What This Means

Faster, smarter AI answers — and new citation card placements being tested

Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is faster and more efficient than its predecessor — which means AI Overviews will load faster and potentially appear on more queries. Google AI Mode and ChatGPT are also testing new citation card placements — meaning how your business gets cited in AI answers could look different soon.

What to do: The same content principles that helped you get cited before still apply — clear structure, direct answers, strong authorship signals. No immediate action needed, but monitor your Search Console impressions over the next 30 days to see if AI Overview appearances change for your key topics.

5. Google Tag Manager Gets Guided Setup for Conversion Tracking

GTM’s new guided setup simplifies Google Ads conversion tracking by automatically configuring key measurement components. This is a genuinely useful update for businesses struggling with conversion tracking setup.

New Feature

Conversion tracking setup just got significantly easier

Setting up Google Ads conversion tracking through Google Tag Manager has historically required technical knowledge — understanding triggers, variables, and tag firing rules. The new guided setup walks you through the process step by step, automatically configuring the key components.

Who this helps most:

  • Small businesses without a dedicated developer
  • Businesses that have been putting off setting up conversion tracking
  • Agencies onboarding new clients who need tracking set up quickly

What to do: If your Google Ads conversion tracking isn’t set up yet — now is the easiest time to do it. Go to Google Tag Manager, look for the guided setup option for Google Ads, and follow the steps. Accurate conversion tracking is the single most important technical foundation for any Google Ads campaign.

6. Google Ads Policy Appeals Now Limited to 6 Months

Starting July 21, 2026, the option to appeal a policy decision directly from your Google Ads account will not be available for policy decisions made more than 6 months prior.

New Rule

You have 6 months to appeal any Google Ads policy decision

If Google flags one of your ads or your account for a policy violation, you now have a 6-month window to appeal that decision directly from your Google Ads account. After 6 months, the in-account appeal option disappears — though you may still be able to contact support through other channels.

What to do:

  • Check your Google Ads account for any existing policy violations or disapproved ads
  • If you have any policy decisions older than 5 months that you haven’t appealed — do it now before the window closes
  • Going forward, address any policy violations promptly — don’t let them sit unresolved
  • Go to Policy Manager in Google Ads to see all current and historical policy decisions

7. 41% of LinkedIn Posts Show Signs of AI Generation — What This Means for Your Brand

A recent report from Pangram estimated that 41% of posts on LinkedIn showed signs of AI generation, highlighting a growing problem across all apps. And at the recent Cannes Lions Festival, Reddit’s EVP of community told brands to “act like a citizen, not like a billboard.”

The Bigger Picture

AI-generated content is flooding social media — and audiences are noticing

When nearly half of LinkedIn posts are AI-generated, the feed becomes homogenous. Every post sounds the same. Every insight feels recycled. Users scroll past without engaging because nothing feels genuine.

This creates a significant opportunity for businesses willing to show up as real humans with real opinions and real expertise.

What separates content that gets engagement in 2026:

  • Specific real-world examples — “We ran this campaign for a law firm last month and here’s what happened” beats any generic tip
  • Genuine opinions — take a position, disagree with conventional wisdom, share what you actually think
  • Behind-the-scenes reality — show the process, the mistakes, the iterations — not just the polished outcome
  • Client results with specifics — “Generated 47 leads in 30 days at $28 CPL” is infinitely more compelling than “we help businesses grow”

Use AI to help you write faster — but always add your own voice, your own experience, and your own specific examples. That’s what 59% of LinkedIn is not doing right now. It’s your competitive advantage.

8. Google Ads Moves Missed Opportunities to Recommendations Tab

Google Ads has relocated the “Missed Opportunities” report to the Recommendations tab. This is a minor interface change but worth knowing so you can find it.

Interface Change

Where to find Missed Growth Estimates in your Google Ads account

The Missed Opportunities report — which shows you estimated performance you could have achieved with different budget, bidding, or targeting settings — has moved from its previous location to the Recommendations tab in Google Ads.

What to do: Go to Recommendations in your Google Ads account. You’ll now see both Google’s optimization suggestions and the missed growth estimates in the same place. Review these monthly — they can highlight genuine opportunities to improve campaign performance, though treat Google’s suggestions with appropriate scepticism since some recommendations benefit Google’s revenue more than your results.

What Every Business Should Do Right Now

This Week’s Action Plan

7 things to do — in order of impact

  1. TODAY — Set up Lead Form assets
    Go to Google Ads → any Search campaign → Assets → Lead form. Create a form and set up instant lead notifications. This is now available to everyone and could immediately increase your lead volume.
  2. THIS WEEK — Check for unappealed policy violations
    Go to Policy Manager in Google Ads. If you have any violations older than 5 months — appeal them now before the 6-month window closes on July 21 decisions.
  3. BEFORE AUGUST 31 — Review Local Inventory Ads setting
    If you run Shopping campaigns, check whether automatic Local Inventory Ad enablement is right for your business. Opt out if your inventory data is inaccurate or you’re online-only.
  4. THIS WEEK — Set up GTM conversion tracking if not done
    Use the new guided setup in Google Tag Manager to get conversion tracking properly configured. This is the most important foundation for any Google Ads campaign.
  5. ONGOING — Watch your Local Services Ads during migration
    If you run LSAs, monitor them through the transition to the main Google Ads platform. Ensure campaigns don’t drop during migration.
  6. ONGOING — Make your social content genuinely human
    With 41% of LinkedIn posts AI-generated, standing out is easier than ever — just be real. Add specific examples, genuine opinions, and real client results to everything you post.
  7. ⚠️ REMINDER — August 17 bidding deadline is 26 days away
    If you haven’t checked your budget-limited campaigns yet — do it today. Lower your Target CPA or ROAS targets to match your actual performance before August 17.
This week’s theme: Google is opening up powerful features that were previously only available to big-spending advertisers — Lead Form assets being the best example. Small and medium businesses now have access to the same tools as enterprise advertisers. The playing field is levelling. The businesses that move fast to implement these features while competitors are still unaware will gain a meaningful edge.

Want Help Implementing These Updates?

Book a free strategy call with Zexers. We’ll set up Lead Form assets, check your conversion tracking, and make sure your campaigns are ready for every upcoming deadline — no fluff, no obligation.

Book My Free Strategy Call

Free call. No commitment. Response within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Google Lead Form assets and how do they work? ⌄
Lead Form assets are a Google Ads feature that lets users submit their contact details directly within the search results page — without visiting your website. When someone clicks your ad, a form appears asking for their name, email, and phone number. They submit it without ever leaving Google. You receive the lead instantly via email notification or CRM integration. They work especially well on mobile and for service businesses where the goal is a direct enquiry.
How do I check for Google Ads policy violations in my account? ⌄
Go to your Google Ads account and click on Tools in the top navigation. Look for Policy Manager under the Setup section. This shows all current and historical policy decisions on your account — including disapproved ads, account-level violations, and any decisions you haven’t yet appealed. Review this monthly to stay on top of any issues before they affect your campaigns.
Will Local Inventory Ads affect my online-only Shopping campaigns? ⌄
If you are an online-only retailer with no physical store, Local Inventory Ads won’t show for your products because there’s no local store inventory to display. However it’s worth checking your Shopping campaign settings after August 31 to confirm the automatic enablement hasn’t caused any unexpected changes to your campaigns.
Should I use AI to write my social media posts? ⌄
Yes — but don’t publish raw AI output. Use AI to draft, structure, or speed up your writing — then add your own specific examples, real client results, genuine opinions, and personal voice before posting. The 41% of LinkedIn posts that read as purely AI-generated get significantly less engagement because they lack specificity and personality. AI efficiency plus human authenticity is the winning combination.
Z
Zexers Performance Team

Performance marketing agency specializing in Google Ads, SEO, and lead generation. We monitor every major platform update so our clients can act on new opportunities before their competitors even know they exist.

7 Google Ads Updates Every Business Must Act On This July (August 17 Deadline)

Aug 17Google bidding change deadline — action required
19%more conversions with Smart Bidding Exploration
Jul 6Bid Target Adjustment Tool rolling out now
Feb 27Standalone call ads stop serving entirely
In this article
  1. ⚠️ August 17 Deadline — Google Bidding Change You Must Act On
  2. New Bid Target Adjustment Tool Rolling Out July 6
  3. Smart Bidding Exploration — 19% More Conversions
  4. New Promotion Mode for Peak Periods
  5. 4 Attribution Models Being Removed Mid-July
  6. Call Ads Being Retired — What to Do Now
  7. Ask Advisor — Google’s New Unified AI Agent
  8. What Every Business Should Do Right Now
  9. Frequently Asked Questions

July 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest months for Google Ads changes in recent memory. There are two hard deadlines coming up — one in mid-July and one on August 17 — that require action from every business running Google Ads. On top of that, Google has rolled out several powerful new features that can meaningfully improve your campaign performance if you use them correctly.

Here’s everything you need to know — with clear action steps for each update.

⚠️ Urgent: The August 17 bidding change is the most important update in this article. If you have budget-limited campaigns running on Target CPA or Target ROAS, this change could quietly increase your costs from August 17. Read Section 1 first and act before the deadline.

1. ⚠️ August 17 Deadline — Google Bidding Change You Must Act On

This is the most urgent update this month. From August 17, 2026, Google is changing how Smart Bidding works for budget-limited campaigns — and it could quietly raise costs on your best-performing campaigns if you don’t act before the deadline.

What’s Changing

Budget-limited campaigns will be pulled back toward their Target CPA or ROAS

Here’s the situation many advertisers have been benefiting from without realising it:

You set a Target CPA of $50. But because your campaign is limited by budget, Google has actually been delivering leads at $30 — significantly better than your target. This happens because budget constraints force Google to be more selective about which auctions to enter.

From August 17, Google is closing this gap. Budget-limited campaigns will be pulled back toward their stated targets — meaning if your target is $50, Google will stop delivering at $30 and move toward $50 instead. For many advertisers this means costs going up without any change in budget.

What to do before August 17:

  1. Go to your Google Ads account and identify every campaign marked “Limited by budget”
  2. For each limited campaign, check your actual CPA or ROAS vs your target — is there a gap?
  3. If your actual performance is better than your target, lower your target to match your actual performance before August 17 to lock in the better results
  4. Alternatively, increase your budget so the campaign is no longer budget-limited
  5. Use the new Bid Target Adjustment Tool (rolling out July 6) to make this process faster
Example: Your campaign targets $50 CPA but is actually delivering at $30. Before August 17, lower your Target CPA to $30. This locks in the better performance and prevents Google from drifting costs upward after the change. Don’t leave this until the last minute.

2. New Bid Target Adjustment Tool Rolling Out July 6

Google is rolling out a Bid Target Adjustment Tool starting July 6 — which is this week. You’ll receive a notification in your Google Ads account when it becomes available.

New Tool

What the Bid Target Adjustment Tool does

This tool is designed specifically to help advertisers prepare for the August 17 bidding change. It shows you:

  • Each campaign’s historical actual CPA or ROAS performance
  • The gap between your stated target and your actual performance
  • Recommended target adjustments based on your history
  • A one-click way to apply the updated targets across multiple campaigns

This makes the August 17 preparation significantly faster — instead of manually checking each campaign, you can review and update all targets in one place.

What to do: When you receive the notification in your account, open the tool immediately. Review every campaign flagged and apply the recommended target adjustments before August 17.

3. Smart Bidding Exploration — 19% More Conversions

Alongside the bidding changes, Google has launched Smart Bidding Exploration — a new feature that lets your campaigns chase conversions from search queries they are not currently reaching.

New Feature

Find new profitable demand without losing control of your targets

Smart Bidding Exploration works by allowing you to set a ROAS tolerance — a range within which Google can explore new query categories that your campaigns haven’t been winning before. Rather than only bidding on queries you already know convert, it intelligently tests new territory within your defined risk tolerance.

The results so far are significant:

  • Campaigns using Smart Bidding Exploration see an 18% lift in unique converting query categories
  • Average of 19% more conversions compared to campaigns not using it
  • Already live in all Performance Max campaigns without product feeds globally
  • Beta rolling out to Shopping and feed-based Performance Max campaigns

What to do: If you run Performance Max campaigns, check if Smart Bidding Exploration is available in your account. Enable it with a conservative ROAS tolerance first — test for 30 days, then adjust based on the quality of new conversions coming in.

Important caveat: Smart Bidding Exploration works best when your conversion tracking is accurate and your landing pages convert well. If you have tracking issues or a weak landing page, enabling exploration will find new traffic — but it won’t convert and you’ll waste budget. Fix those foundations first.

4. New Promotion Mode for Peak Periods

New Feature

Temporarily boost performance during sales, launches, and peak periods

Google has launched Promotion Mode — a new feature that lets you temporarily loosen your ROAS tolerance and increase budget for a defined period, then automatically return to normal settings afterwards. It’s currently in beta for Search and Performance Max campaigns.

This is particularly useful for:

  • Product launches or service promotions
  • Seasonal peaks — Black Friday, Christmas, end of financial year
  • Limited-time offers where you want to maximise reach for a short window
  • Flash sales or time-sensitive campaigns

What to do: If you run seasonal promotions, add Promotion Mode to your toolkit. Set it up before your next peak period rather than scrambling to adjust settings manually in the middle of a promotion.

5. 4 Attribution Models Being Removed Mid-July

This one has a mid-July deadline and affects how Google measures which of your ads are driving conversions.

Action Required

First click, linear, time decay, and position-based attribution are being removed

Starting mid-July 2026, Google is removing the ability to select these four attribution models for conversions in Google Ads:

  • First click — credits the first ad click in the journey
  • Linear — splits credit equally across all touchpoints
  • Time decay — gives more credit to clicks closer to the conversion
  • Position-based — gives 40% credit each to first and last click, 20% to the middle

Going forward, only two attribution models will be available: Data-driven attribution (the default and recommended option) and Last click.

What to do:

  • Go to Google Ads → Tools → Conversions
  • Check which attribution model each of your conversion actions is using
  • If any are set to the four models being removed, switch them to Data-driven attribution before mid-July
  • Data-driven attribution is Google’s recommended model — it uses machine learning to assign credit based on actual conversion path data from your account

6. Call Ads Being Retired — What to Do Now

If you use standalone call ads to generate phone leads — this update directly affects you.

Deprecation

Standalone call ads stop serving entirely by February 2027

  • From February 2026 — no new standalone call ads can be created
  • Existing call ads continue running for now
  • From February 2027 — all standalone call ads stop serving entirely

The replacement: Add your phone number as a call asset to your existing Responsive Search Ads. This achieves the same result — your phone number appears directly in the ad — but within the more flexible RSA format that supports all other ad assets too.

What to do right now:

  • Check if you have any standalone call ad campaigns running
  • Create Responsive Search Ads for those campaigns if you haven’t already
  • Add a call asset with your phone number to those RSA campaigns
  • Don’t wait until February 2027 — the sooner you migrate, the more performance data your new RSAs can accumulate

7. Ask Advisor — Google’s New Unified AI Agent

Google has introduced Ask Advisor — a new unified AI agent built with Gemini that spans Google Ads, Google Analytics, Merchant Center, and Google Marketing Platform in one interface.

New Tool

Your always-on AI strategic partner across all Google marketing tools

Think of Ask Advisor as a marketing assistant that can see across all your Google products simultaneously. You can ask it questions like:

  • “Why did my conversions drop last week?”
  • “Which campaigns are most efficient at driving revenue?”
  • “What should I do to improve my Performance Max results?”
  • “Show me which landing pages have the highest bounce rate from paid traffic”

Rather than switching between Google Ads, Analytics, and Merchant Center separately, Ask Advisor connects the dots across all of them and gives you a unified answer in plain language.

Our take: This is genuinely useful for saving time on cross-platform analysis. The quality of its answers depends entirely on the quality of your tracking and data setup. If your conversion tracking is broken or your Analytics is misconfigured, Ask Advisor will give you confident-sounding but misleading answers. As always — fix your data foundations first.

What Every Business Should Do Right Now

Action Plan

Your July 2026 Google Ads checklist — in order of urgency

  1. TODAY — Check budget-limited campaigns
    Identify every campaign marked “Limited by budget.” Check actual CPA/ROAS vs target. If actual is better than target, lower your target now — before the August 17 change raises your costs.
  2. JULY 6 — Use the Bid Target Adjustment Tool
    When you get the notification in Google Ads, open the tool and apply recommended target adjustments across all affected campaigns.
  3. MID-JULY — Update attribution models
    Switch any conversion actions using first click, linear, time decay, or position-based attribution to data-driven attribution before Google removes them.
  4. THIS MONTH — Test Smart Bidding Exploration
    If you run Performance Max, enable Smart Bidding Exploration with a conservative ROAS tolerance. Monitor for 30 days.
  5. THIS MONTH — Migrate call ads
    If you run standalone call ads, create RSA equivalents with call assets now. Don’t wait until February 2027.
  6. ONGOING — Try Ask Advisor
    Start using Ask Advisor for cross-platform reporting questions. It saves significant time on analysis if your data is clean.
The common thread in all these updates: Google is automating more and giving advertisers less manual control — but only advertisers with clean conversion tracking, strong landing pages, and clear campaign goals benefit from this automation. If your foundations are weak, more automation just makes problems happen faster. Fix your foundations first — then let Google’s AI work for you.

Not Sure If Your Campaigns Are Ready for These Changes?

Book a free strategy call with Zexers. We’ll audit your Google Ads account, check your budget-limited campaigns before the August 17 deadline, update your attribution models, and make sure you’re set up to benefit from the new features — not hurt by them.

Book My Free Google Ads Audit

Free audit. No commitment. Response within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don’t act before the August 17 bidding deadline? ⌄
If you have budget-limited campaigns delivering better performance than their stated targets, those campaigns will drift toward their targets after August 17. This means your cost per lead or cost per acquisition could increase without any change in your budget. The fix is simple — lower your targets to match your actual performance before August 17. Use the Bid Target Adjustment Tool rolling out July 6 to do this efficiently.
What is data-driven attribution and why is Google switching to it? ⌄
Data-driven attribution uses machine learning to analyse the actual paths customers take before converting and assigns credit to each touchpoint based on its real contribution to the conversion. Google is switching to it because it’s more accurate than rule-based models like first click or linear attribution, and it feeds better signals to Smart Bidding algorithms. The more accurate your attribution, the better Google’s AI can optimise your campaigns.
Should I enable Smart Bidding Exploration on all my campaigns? ⌄
Start with one Performance Max campaign that already has strong conversion data and a well-converting landing page. Set a conservative ROAS tolerance, run for 30 days, and review the quality of new conversions. If results are good, expand to other campaigns. Don’t enable it on campaigns with tracking issues or poor landing pages — it will find traffic but won’t convert it.
I run call ads for my business — do I need to do anything urgently? ⌄
Not urgently — existing call ads continue running until February 2027. But we recommend migrating now rather than later. Create Responsive Search Ads for those campaigns and add your phone number as a call asset. The sooner you switch, the more performance data your new RSAs will accumulate, which helps Google’s AI optimise them better over time.
How is Ask Advisor different from Gemini already in Google Ads? ⌄
Gemini inside Google Ads focuses on campaign-level insights and reporting within Google Ads specifically. Ask Advisor is broader — it connects Google Ads, Google Analytics, Merchant Center, and Google Marketing Platform in one unified interface. You can ask questions that span multiple platforms and get a single connected answer rather than having to check each platform separately.
Z
Zexers Performance Team

Performance marketing agency specializing in Google Ads, SEO, and lead generation. We monitor every Google Ads update so our clients never get caught out by deadline changes or miss new features that could improve their results.

90% of Brands Are Invisible in AI Search — 6 Updates Every Business Needs to Know

90%of brands not appearing in AI search results
54%consumer trust in AI dropping from 82% last year
SeptDynamic Search Ads auto-upgrade to AI Max
2026biggest shift in how Google indexes websites
In this article
  1. 90% of Brands Are Invisible in AI Search — Are You One of Them?
  2. Consumer Trust in AI is Falling — What This Means for Your Marketing
  3. Dynamic Search Ads Auto-Upgrading to AI Max in September
  4. Gemini AI Now Inside Google Ads Dashboard
  5. Google Warns Against AI-Built Websites — What You Need to Know
  6. The llms.txt File — Should You Care?
  7. What Every Business Should Do Right Now
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

This week in digital marketing has been one of the most information-dense in recent memory. From a shocking study showing 90% of brands are invisible in AI search, to falling consumer trust in AI, to Google auto-upgrading your ads in September whether you’re ready or not — there’s a lot to unpack.

Here’s everything that matters, explained clearly, with exactly what to do about each update.

The big theme this week: AI is everywhere — but the businesses winning aren’t the ones chasing every new AI feature. They’re the ones doing the fundamentals brilliantly: clear content, clean tracking, strong offers, and structured websites that both humans and AI can understand easily.

1. 90% of Brands Are Invisible in AI Search — Are You One of Them?

A new study has dropped a number that should get every business owner’s attention: 90% of brands are not appearing in AI search results. With Google AI Overviews now reaching 2.5 billion users globally, being invisible in AI search is no longer a minor inconvenience — it’s a serious business problem.

What the Study Found

AI citation is driven by accessibility and search rank — not brand size

According to a meta-analysis by well-known SEO Cyrus Shepard, who reviewed over 50 studies on AI search citations, the strongest indicators for whether content gets cited by AI come down to two things:

  • Accessibility — can AI crawlers actually find and understand your content?
  • Search rank — how well does your content rank on traditional Google search?

This means the path to AI visibility runs directly through traditional SEO. You don’t need a separate “AI SEO” strategy — you need your existing content to be well-structured, clearly written, and accessible to crawlers.

The brands winning AI citations right now are investing in:

  • Structured data markup on all key pages
  • Clear authorship signals — who wrote this and why are they credible?
  • Substantive content that goes deeper than surface-level answers
  • Clean website architecture that AI can navigate easily
Good news for Zexers readers: Every blog post we publish is structured exactly the way AI prefers — clear headings, direct answers, FAQ sections, author boxes, and structured data. You are already ahead of 90% of businesses on this.

2. Consumer Trust in AI is Falling — What This Means for Your Marketing

Here’s an important counterpoint to all the AI hype — and it’s one most marketing agencies won’t tell you. A new study by Fractl and Search Engine Land has found that consumer trust in AI tools is falling fast.

Key Numbers

The trust gap is growing — and your customers notice

  • Just one year ago, 82% of consumers said they enjoyed AI-powered search
  • That number has dropped to just 54% in 12 months
  • 54% of Gen Z consumers said it would negatively affect their trust in a brand if that brand used AI in its marketing
  • 84% of consumers want AI-generated content clearly labelled as such

What this means for your business: AI tools are powerful for efficiency — but using them without human oversight, without transparency, and without adding genuine value is starting to backfire with consumers. The businesses building trust right now are the ones combining AI efficiency with genuine human expertise and honest communication.

Important for your content strategy: Don’t publish raw AI-generated content without reviewing, editing, and adding your own expertise and real-world experience. Google’s own guidance emphasises people-first content — and your customers are now demanding the same thing. Human oversight of AI output is not optional anymore.

3. Dynamic Search Ads Auto-Upgrading to AI Max in September

This is the update with the most immediate practical impact for businesses running Google Ads. Google has officially announced that starting in September 2026, legacy Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) will automatically upgrade to AI Max.

Action Required

You have until September — here’s what to do before then

Dynamic Search Ads automatically generated ads based on your website content. AI Max is significantly more powerful — but also more AI-driven and requires clean inputs to perform well.

What to do before September:

  1. Audit your website content — AI Max uses your website to generate ads. If your key pages have weak copy, outdated information, or unclear headlines, AI Max will generate poor ads from them. Fix your website copy now.
  2. Set up conversion tracking properly — AI Max optimises based on your conversion data. Without accurate tracking, it has nothing to learn from.
  3. Review your negative keyword lists — AI Max has broader reach than DSA. Without tight negative keywords, it will show ads for irrelevant searches.
  4. Test AI Max now — don’t wait until September. Start testing it alongside your current DSA campaigns so you understand how it performs for your business before the forced migration.

4. Gemini AI Now Inside Google Ads Dashboard

Google has brought Gemini AI directly into the Google Ads dashboard — and it’s genuinely useful. Advertisers can now enter a plain language prompt and receive real-time data analysis in charts, graphs, and tables without manually setting up reports.

New Feature

What Gemini inside Google Ads can do for you

  • Ask questions in plain English — “Which campaigns had the best CPL last month?”
  • Get instant visual reports — charts and graphs generated automatically
  • Analyse performance across campaigns without exporting to spreadsheets
  • Get recommendations based on your specific account data

Our take: This is genuinely useful for saving time on reporting. But remember — AI analysis is only as good as your underlying data. If your conversion tracking is broken or incomplete, Gemini will analyse bad data and give you misleading recommendations. Fix your tracking first, then use Gemini to analyse it.

5. Google Warns Against AI-Built Websites

In a candid episode of Google’s Search Off the Record podcast, Google’s John Mueller and Martin Splitt issued a warning that should be heard by anyone who has used AI tools to build their website.

Google’s Warning

AI-built websites often miss critical SEO foundations

Google’s engineers compared building a website with AI tools to working with a developer who doesn’t specialise in search. The sites might look great visually, but AI tools frequently miss or skip:

  • Canonical tags — preventing duplicate content issues
  • Sitemaps — helping Google find and index all your pages
  • robots.txt — controlling which pages Google can access
  • Structured data — helping Google understand your content
  • Page speed optimisation — critical for both rankings and user experience

The fix: If your website was built with AI tools or by a developer without SEO knowledge, run a technical SEO audit to check these fundamentals. Google Search Console will flag the most critical issues for free.

6. The llms.txt File — Should You Care?

A new file type called llms.txt has been getting a lot of attention in marketing circles this week, after Google added support for it in its Lighthouse website auditing tool. Some marketers are calling it the “robots.txt for AI.” Should you add it to your website?

Our Take

Don’t panic — but pay attention to the direction of travel

Google itself has stated that llms.txt is not required for AI search visibility right now. However the fact that Google is prioritising structured, accessible, machine-readable websites is a clear signal about where things are heading.

What to do:

  • Don’t rush to add llms.txt — it won’t meaningfully affect your rankings right now
  • Do focus on making your website content clear, structured, and easy for AI to understand
  • Use proper heading structure, clear paragraphs, and structured data on key pages
  • Revisit llms.txt in 6 months when best practices are clearer

What Every Business Should Do Right Now

Action Plan

6 things to do based on this week’s updates

  1. Check if your site is visible in AI search — search for your main service on Google and see if your website appears in AI Overviews. If not, your content structure needs work.
  2. Review your AI-generated content — add human expertise, real examples, and genuine insights to any AI-drafted content before publishing. Don’t publish raw AI output.
  3. Prepare for DSA to AI Max migration — audit your website copy and set up conversion tracking before September. Don’t wait until Google forces the change.
  4. Try Gemini in your Google Ads dashboard — it’s now available to all advertisers. Use it to save time on reporting and spot performance issues faster.
  5. Run a technical SEO check — especially if your site was built with AI tools. Check canonicals, sitemap, robots.txt, and page speed in Google Search Console.
  6. Don’t label your marketing as “AI-powered” — 54% of Gen Z says this reduces their trust in a brand. Let your results speak for themselves.
The businesses winning right now are not the ones who have adopted every new AI feature. They are the ones who use AI tools to work faster while maintaining human quality, genuine expertise, and honest communication. That combination — AI efficiency + human quality — is the competitive advantage that’s hardest to copy.

Is Your Business Visible in AI Search?

Book a free strategy call with Zexers. We’ll check your AI search visibility, review your Google Ads setup ahead of the September AI Max migration, and give you a clear action plan — no fluff, no obligation.

Book My Free Strategy Call

Free call. No commitment. Response within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my business to appear in Google AI Overviews? ⌄
The research is clear — AI citation correlates most strongly with traditional search rank and content accessibility. Focus on ranking well for your target keywords, structure your content with clear headings and direct answers, add structured data markup, and make sure AI crawlers are not blocked in your robots.txt. There is no shortcut — good SEO fundamentals are the path to AI visibility.
What happens to my Dynamic Search Ads in September? ⌄
Google will automatically upgrade all Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max starting September 2026. Your campaigns will continue to run but under AI Max’s broader targeting and AI-generated ad copy system. To prepare: audit your website copy, tighten your negative keyword lists, and set up proper conversion tracking before the migration happens.
Should I tell customers my content is AI-generated? ⌄
84% of consumers want AI content labelled. Our recommendation is to be transparent where AI played a significant role, but more importantly — ensure every piece of content has genuine human expertise added to it. The goal is not to hide AI use, but to ensure AI is a tool that enhances human quality, not a replacement for it.
Is Gemini inside Google Ads available to everyone? ⌄
Yes — Gemini AI is now available inside the Google Ads dashboard for all advertisers. You can access it to ask questions about your campaigns, generate reports, and get performance insights in plain language without needing to build custom reports manually.
Z
Zexers Performance Team

Performance marketing agency specializing in Google Ads, SEO, and lead generation. We monitor every major platform update so our clients’ campaigns stay ahead of the curve — not behind it.

Google Search Has Changed Forever — 4 Updates Every Business Needs to Know

27%more conversions with AI Max vs manual campaigns
2-4sentence queries now common on Google Search
FAQrich results being removed by Google this month
June2026 — biggest shift in search advertising ever
In this article
  1. How People Search on Google Has Fundamentally Changed
  2. AI Max is Now Delivering Real Results — 27% More Conversions
  3. Good News — AI Max Migration Has Been Delayed
  4. Google is Removing FAQ Rich Results This Month
  5. Meta Ads Gets Major AI Update Too
  6. What Every Business Should Do Right Now
  7. Frequently Asked Questions

The second half of June 2026 has brought a fresh wave of digital marketing updates — and unlike some months where the news is mostly noise, these ones have real practical implications for any business running Google Ads, investing in SEO, or advertising on Meta.

Here’s everything you need to know — explained clearly, without the jargon.

Bottom line upfront: Google is making search smarter, faster, and more conversational. Businesses with clear content, strong offers, and proper tracking are winning. Those relying on outdated tactics are falling behind faster than ever.

One of the most important insights from Google Marketing Live 2026 came from Google SVP Nick Fox, who leads Search, Maps, Commerce, and Ads. His message was clear — the way people search has permanently changed.

People are no longer typing short keywords like “plumber London” or “Google Ads agency.” They are now asking detailed, conversational questions like:

  • “I’m running Google Ads but my cost per lead keeps going up, what should I do?”
  • “Which marketing agency in Vadodara can help me get more leads for my law firm?”
  • “My website gets traffic but nobody fills the contact form, how do I fix this?”

Google is now seeing two, three, or four-sentence queries from users who are looking for nuanced, highly personalized answers to their questions — not just keyword matches.

What This Means

Your content and ads need to match how people actually talk — not just keywords

The old way: write content and ads around short keywords — “Google Ads management”, “SEO services”, “lead generation”.

The new way: write content and ads that answer real questions in natural language — “how to get more leads from Google Ads”, “why your website isn’t converting visitors”, “what to do when your Google Ads aren’t working”.

According to Google, the content that performs best in AI Search is content that goes one or two levels deeper and is genuinely helpful — not generic, commodity information that could come from anyone.

Good news for Zexers readers: Every blog post we publish follows this exact formula — real questions, deep answers, practical fixes. You are already aligned with where Google is heading.

2. AI Max is Now Delivering Real Results — 27% More Conversions

We covered AI Max when it launched at Google Marketing Live. Now the first real performance data is in — and the numbers are significant.

New Data

Advertisers using AI Max seeing 27% more conversions than manual campaigns

According to Google, advertisers using AI Max for Search are seeing 27% more conversions compared with manual campaigns. That’s a meaningful number — especially for businesses where every lead counts.

But here’s the important caveat: AI Max only delivers these results when three things are in place:

  • Clean conversion tracking — AI Max needs accurate data to learn from. No tracking = AI optimises for nothing
  • Strong landing pages — AI Max can find the right audience but can’t fix a landing page that doesn’t convert
  • Clear business signals — your campaign structure, ad copy, and offer need to be clear so AI knows what it’s optimising for

The businesses winning with AI Max are treating it as a force multiplier on top of clean data and clear strategy — not a substitute for either.

Warning: If you turn on AI Max without proper conversion tracking set up, you are handing Google’s AI a blank cheque with no goal. It will spend your budget efficiently — but efficiently towards nothing. Set up conversion tracking first, always.

3. Good News — AI Max Forced Migration Has Been Delayed

Many advertisers were concerned about being forced to migrate their existing campaigns to AI Max on Google’s timeline. Good news — Google has postponed the AI Max migration, giving advertisers extra breathing room before the next round of adjustments begins.

This means:

  • Your existing Search campaigns continue to run as normal
  • You have more time to test AI Max before committing fully
  • You can migrate on your own timeline rather than Google’s
Our recommendation: Use this extra time wisely. Set up conversion tracking properly, test AI Max on one campaign with a small budget, and compare results with your existing manual campaign before making any full migration decisions.

4. Google is Removing FAQ Rich Results This Month

This one is easy to miss but important — Google is deprecating FAQ rich results this month, with the search appearance filter and Rich Results Test support being removed.

FAQ rich results were the expanded search snippets that showed individual questions and answers directly in Google search results. Many websites — including many marketing agencies — built content specifically designed to trigger these rich results.

Action Required

What to do if your site uses FAQ schema

If you added FAQ schema markup to your website or blog posts specifically to get rich results in Google search — those rich results will stop appearing this month.

What to do:

  • Check if your site uses FAQ schema — look in your page source for FAQPage schema markup
  • The FAQ content itself is still valuable — keep it on the page for users
  • The schema markup no longer helps for rich results — but it doesn’t hurt either, so you don’t need to remove it
  • Focus your schema efforts on Article, LocalBusiness, and Review schema instead — these still generate rich results

Important: This does NOT affect your regular Google rankings. It only affects the expanded FAQ display in search results. Your pages will still rank the same way.

5. Meta Ads Gets Major AI Update Too

Google isn’t the only platform making big moves. Meta’s latest update package includes AI connectors that let advertisers manage Meta ads through external AI platforms and workflow tools — and the Meta AI business assistant in Ads Manager is now in beta for every advertiser and agency worldwide.

For businesses running both Google Ads and Meta Ads this means:

Meta Update

Meta AI assistant now available in Ads Manager globally

  • AI Ads Manager assistant — ask questions about your campaigns in plain language and get actionable recommendations
  • AI connectors — manage Meta ads from third party tools using AI — useful for agencies managing multiple clients
  • Advantage+ improvements — Meta’s automated campaign type continues to get smarter, especially for e-commerce and lead generation

Our take: Meta’s AI tools are genuinely useful for campaign management efficiency. But like Google’s AI Max — they perform best when your creative, offer, and targeting strategy are already solid. AI amplifies good strategy. It can’t create one.

6. What Every Business Should Do Right Now

Action Plan

5 things to do based on this week’s updates

  1. Audit your content for conversational search — rewrite your key service pages and blog posts to answer real questions in natural language. Think “how to” and “why does” not just keywords.
  2. Test AI Max on one campaign — pick your best-performing campaign, duplicate it, enable AI Max on the duplicate, and run both in parallel for 30 days. Compare CPL and conversion rate.
  3. Verify your conversion tracking — before touching AI Max or any smart bidding, confirm your conversions are tracking correctly. Check Google Ads → Tools → Conversions.
  4. Check your FAQ schema — if you have FAQ schema on your site, note that rich results are going away this month. No action required but don’t build new content strategy around FAQ rich results.
  5. Don’t spread budget across too many platforms — with Google, Meta, and ChatGPT all updating simultaneously, it’s tempting to try everything. Master one platform first. For most service businesses that’s Google Ads.
The big picture: Every update from Google this month points in the same direction — be helpful, be specific, be clear. The businesses that write genuinely useful content, run honest ads with clear offers, and track their results properly are the ones AI is designed to reward. That has always been the right strategy. Now it’s the only strategy.

Keeping Up With Google Changes is a Full Time Job

Let Zexers handle it. We monitor every Google update and make sure your campaigns and content stay ahead — so you can focus on running your business.

Book My Free Strategy Call

Free call. No commitment. Response within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I switch to AI Max campaigns right now? ⌄
Not immediately. Test AI Max on one campaign alongside your existing manual campaign for 30 days. Make sure conversion tracking is properly set up first. If AI Max delivers better CPL after 30 days, start migrating other campaigns gradually. Don’t switch everything at once.
Will my rankings drop because of the FAQ rich results removal? ⌄
No. The removal of FAQ rich results only affects the expanded display in search results — not your actual page rankings. Your pages will continue to rank exactly as before. The only change is that the accordion-style FAQ answers will no longer appear directly in search results.
How do I optimise my content for conversational search queries? ⌄
Write content that answers complete questions rather than just targeting keywords. Use natural language in your headings — “Why your Google Ads aren’t converting” rather than just “Google Ads conversion.” Include FAQ sections with real questions your clients ask. Go deeper than surface-level information — Google’s AI rewards content that provides genuinely useful, specific answers.
Is Meta Ads worth running alongside Google Ads? ⌄
For most service businesses, Google Ads should come first because it targets people actively searching for your service right now. Meta Ads work well for building awareness and retargeting people who’ve visited your website. A typical approach: run Google Ads for direct lead generation, run Meta retargeting ads for people who visited but didn’t enquire.
Z
Zexers Performance Team

Performance marketing agency specializing in Google Ads, SEO, and lead generation. We monitor every major platform update so our clients’ campaigns stay ahead of the curve — not behind it.

Google’s Biggest Update of 2026 Just Dropped — Here’s What Changed for Your Business

2.5BAI Overview users on Google
38%Top rankers cited in AI results (down from 76%)
1B+Monthly users on Google AI Mode
2026Biggest Google update of the year
In this article
  1. What Just Happened — Google May 2026 Core Update
  2. AI Overviews Are Changing Who Gets Traffic
  3. Google Marketing Live 2026 — What’s New for Ads
  4. ChatGPT Now Runs Ads — What This Means
  5. What Every Business Should Do Right Now
  6. Frequently Asked Questions

If you run a website, run Google Ads, or care about where your business shows up online — the last two weeks have been the most important in digital marketing in years. Google just dropped its biggest update of 2026, held its annual Marketing Live event packed with AI announcements, and ChatGPT launched self-serve ads. All at the same time.

Here’s everything that happened, what it means for your business, and exactly what to do about it.

Why this matters to you: These changes affect how your website ranks, how your Google Ads perform, and how potential clients find you online. Businesses that adapt quickly will gain a significant edge over competitors who don’t.

1. What Just Happened — Google May 2026 Core Update

Google rolled out its May 2026 Core Update — and it’s being called the biggest search update of the year. But unlike previous updates that simply reshuffled rankings, this one changed something more fundamental: how Google decides what content to show and where.

The update ran in parallel with Google I/O, where Google announced that AI Mode — the new AI-powered search experience — has now crossed 1 billion monthly active users. AI Overviews, the summaries Google shows at the top of search results, are now reaching 2.5 billion users globally.

The big shift: Traditional Google rankings and AI Overview visibility have officially decoupled. Being ranked #1 on Google no longer guarantees you appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode results. They are now two separate things — and both matter.

This means your SEO strategy in 2026 needs to work on three levels simultaneously:

  • Traditional ranking — appearing in the regular blue link results
  • AI Overview citation — being cited as a source in Google’s AI summaries
  • AI Mode visibility — appearing in Google’s conversational AI search results

2. AI Overviews Are Changing Who Gets Traffic

Here’s the number that should get every business owner’s attention: in mid-2025, the top 10 Google results accounted for 76% of AI Overview citations. By early 2026, that share had dropped to just 38%. Google’s AI is now pulling from a much wider range of sources — not just the top ranked pages.

This is actually good news for smaller businesses and newer websites. You no longer need to be ranked #1 to get cited in AI Overviews — but you do need to write content in a specific way.

What Changed

What Google’s AI looks for when choosing sources to cite

Google has now published official guidance on how AI search selects content. The key factors are:

  • Passage structure — content broken into clear, direct, answerable sections
  • Information consistency — the same facts appearing consistently across multiple sources
  • Direct answers — content that answers questions clearly without burying the answer
  • Clean formatting — proper headings, short paragraphs, bullet points
  • Content available to AI crawlers — no blocks on Googlebot or AI crawlers

Backlink count — the old gold standard of SEO — now matters significantly less for AI citation than content structure and clarity.

Good news for Zexers readers: Every blog post we publish is already structured this way — clear headings, direct answers, short paragraphs, FAQ sections. This is exactly the format Google’s AI prefers for citations. You’re already ahead.

3. Google Marketing Live 2026 — What’s New for Ads

Google Marketing Live is Google’s annual event where they announce everything new in Google Ads. This year’s event was dominated by one theme: AI everywhere. Here are the biggest announcements and what they mean for your campaigns.

Announcement 1

AI Max Campaign Type

Google announced AI Max — a new campaign type that uses AI to automatically expand your keyword targeting, rewrite your ad copy, and select the best landing page from your site — all in real time based on each individual search query.

What this means for you: More automation, potentially more reach — but also less control. Businesses with strong landing pages and clear conversion tracking will benefit most. Those without proper tracking will hand Google a blank cheque.

Announcement 2

Display Ads Move to Demand Gen

Google Display Ads now has a new home inside Demand Gen campaigns. This isn’t just a cosmetic change — it signals that Google is pushing advertisers toward AI-driven, cross-channel campaigns rather than manually managed display placements.

What this means for you: If you currently run Display campaigns, you’ll need to migrate to Demand Gen. The good news is Demand Gen includes YouTube, Gmail, and Discover placements in one campaign — more reach for the same budget.

Announcement 3

AI-Powered Creative with Asset Studio

Google launched Asset Studio — a tool that uses AI to generate ad images, headlines, and descriptions directly inside Google Ads. You provide your brand guidelines and it creates ad creative automatically.

What this means for you: Faster ad creation, more variations to test. But Google’s own guidance recommends a testing phase before relying on AI creative — human oversight still matters for brand consistency and quality.

Announcement 4

Smart Bidding & Budget Updates

Google announced new Smart Bidding improvements and budget allocation tools — giving advertisers more control over how AI manages spend across campaigns. The new tools allow you to set guardrails on AI decisions while still benefiting from automated optimisation.

What this means for you: Smart bidding is getting smarter — but it still needs conversion data to perform. If you don’t have conversion tracking set up, these improvements won’t help you at all.

4. ChatGPT Now Runs Ads — What This Means

In a move that would have seemed impossible a year ago — ChatGPT has launched self-serve advertising. Ads are now available with no minimum spend, making it accessible to businesses of any size.

The platform rewards intent-matched, specific offers over generic brand messaging. ChatGPT users are in a conversational, research mindset — so ads that match the context of the conversation perform significantly better than standard banner-style ads.

Important caveat: ChatGPT Ads measurement is limited right now — standard click attribution doesn’t work the same way as Google Ads. Start with a small test budget and build your own measurement approach before scaling.

For most businesses, ChatGPT Ads are worth a small test — but Google Ads remains the highest-intent, most measurable paid channel for lead generation in 2026.

5. What Every Business Should Do Right Now

Action Plan

5 things to do this week based on these updates

  1. Audit your content structure — reformat your key pages and blog posts with clear H2 headings, short paragraphs, and direct answers. This improves both traditional rankings and AI Overview citations.
  2. Check your Google Ads conversion tracking — with more AI automation in Google Ads, accurate conversion data is more critical than ever. Without it, AI bidding optimises for the wrong thing.
  3. Review your Display campaigns — if you run Google Display, start planning your migration to Demand Gen before Google forces the transition.
  4. Don’t panic about AI search — businesses with well-structured, helpful content are actually benefiting from these changes. Focus on writing clear, direct, useful content and you’ll be fine.
  5. Hold off on ChatGPT Ads for now — unless you have budget to experiment. Google Ads still delivers the best ROI for most service businesses in 2026.
Bottom line: The fundamentals of good marketing haven’t changed. Clear content, strong landing pages, proper tracking, and a compelling offer still win — in Google Search, in AI Overviews, and in Google Ads. The businesses that panic and chase every new AI feature will fall behind the ones that execute the basics brilliantly.

Not Sure How These Changes Affect Your Business?

Book a free strategy call with Zexers. We’ll review your current Google Ads and SEO setup, identify what needs updating based on these changes, and give you a clear action plan.

Book My Free Strategy Call

Free call. No commitment. Response within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Google May 2026 Core Update hurt my rankings? ⌄
It depends on your content quality. Sites with helpful, well-structured, people-first content generally benefit from or are unaffected by core updates. Sites with thin, keyword-stuffed, or low-quality content typically see drops. If your rankings dropped, focus on improving content depth, structure, and relevance rather than chasing technical fixes.
Do I need to change my Google Ads campaigns because of Google Marketing Live announcements? ⌄
Not immediately. The new AI Max campaign type and Asset Studio are additions, not replacements. Your existing campaigns continue to run. However if you run Display campaigns, start planning your migration to Demand Gen — Google will eventually sunset standalone Display campaigns.
Should I start advertising on ChatGPT? ⌄
It depends on your budget and risk tolerance. ChatGPT Ads are new, measurement is limited, and best practices haven’t been established yet. If you have a small test budget ($200–$500) and want to be an early mover, it’s worth testing. If budget is tight, stick to Google Ads where ROI is proven and measurable.
How do I get my content cited in Google AI Overviews? ⌄
Structure your content with clear H2 and H3 headings that directly answer questions. Use short paragraphs. Include FAQ sections. Make sure your content is factually consistent with other authoritative sources. Ensure Googlebot and AI crawlers are not blocked in your robots.txt file. These structural factors now matter more than backlink count for AI citation.
Z
Zexers Performance Team

Performance marketing agency specializing in Google Ads, SEO, and lead generation. We monitor every major Google update and marketing industry change so our clients never get caught off guard.