Google Ads API v18 Launches with New Features for Developers

Google has announced the rollout of version 18 of its Google Ads API, bringing numerous new features and improvements to developers.

Key updates:

1. Optimized budget suggestions: A new GenerateRecommendations feature for Performance Max and Search campaigns.
2. Performance Max insights: Introduction of the performance_max_placement_view report for querying placement-specific data.
3. Flexible search settings: The former summary_row_setting and return_total_results_count are now replaced with more customizable search_settings.
4. Enhanced segmentation: Addition of new segments for hotel and search campaign reports based on specific destinations.
5. Travel Feed support: Integration of new click and asset types for Search Ads.
6. Partnership ads: Introduction of DataLinkService.CreateDataLink for linking Google Ads accounts to creator videos.
7. Content performance metrics: New content_criterion_view for Display, Demand Gen, and Video campaigns.

Why we care: These API updates provide enhanced tools for optimizing campaigns and analyzing performance across different campaign types. Innovations like budget suggestions for Performance Max and Search campaigns, placement-specific data insights, and flexible search settings offer more detailed control.

Between the lines: These updates demonstrate Google’s commitment to improving performance tracking, optimization capabilities, and cross-platform integration.

What’s next:

• Updated client libraries and code examples will be available next week.
• Developers will need to upgrade their client libraries and code to access v18 features.

The bottom line: Google Ads API v18 provides developers with increased control and insights, potentially leading to more effective ad campaigns and better ROI for advertisers.

About the author

Anu Adegbola has been the Paid Media Editor at Search Engine Land since 2024, focusing on paid search, paid social, retail media, video, and more. Anu’s career began in 2008, delivering digital marketing campaigns, primarily in Paid Search, by building strategies, maximizing ROI, automating repetitive processes, and enhancing marketing department efficiency through inspiring leadership across agency, client, and marketing tech sectors.

In addition to editing for Search Engine Land, she is the founder of PPC networking event PPC Live and the host of the weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup. Anu is also an international speaker, having presented on platforms such as SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna), and more.