Tag Archives: sunset

Combining Similar Bid Strategies

The v6 release of the Google Ads API added support for Maximize conversions and Maximize conversion value bid strategies in Search campaigns. This includes a new read-only MaximizeConversions.target_cpa field. Bid strategies having either this new target_cpa field or the read-only MaximizeConversionValue.target_roas field act identically to TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies, respectively. In the future, bid strategies for Search campaigns will be reorganized for simplification.

What’s Changing

For Search campaigns, TargetCpa and TargetRoas will no longer be separate from the MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies. Instead, they will be represented as MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies with their respective target_cpa and target_roas fields set. Use of TargetCpa and TargetRoas as separate strategies will be deprecated.

There will be no impact to bidding behavior due to these changes. The MaximizeConversions bid strategy using the new optional target_cpa setting will still behave like the TargetCpa strategy does today, and likewise, MaximizeConversionValue using the new optional target_roas setting will behave like TargetRoas.

Before After
TargetRoas MaximizeConversionValue.target_roas
TargetCpa MaximizeConversions.target_cpa


Starting in April 2021, the Google Ads UI will start allowing some users to create MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies with their target_cpa and target_roas fields set, in lieu of the old-style TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies. This change will gradually ramp-up to more accounts over time.

The target_roas and target_cpa will remain read-only to API users until a future version of the API enables mutate functionality.

What to Do
Developers should ensure their code treats Search campaigns that have MaximizeConversions with a set target_cpa field and MaximizeConversionValue with a set target_cpa field the same way it treats TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies, respectively.

We will publish an update on the blog when the above fields are mutable, along with several months' notice before TargetCpa and TargetRoas strategies are deprecated in Search campaigns.

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

Combining Similar Bid Strategies

The v6 release of the Google Ads API added support for Maximize conversions and Maximize conversion value bid strategies in Search campaigns. This includes a new read-only MaximizeConversions.target_cpa field. Bid strategies having either this new target_cpa field or the read-only MaximizeConversionValue.target_roas field act identically to TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies, respectively. In the future, bid strategies for Search campaigns will be reorganized for simplification.

What’s Changing

For Search campaigns, TargetCpa and TargetRoas will no longer be separate from the MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies. Instead, they will be represented as MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies with their respective target_cpa and target_roas fields set. Use of TargetCpa and TargetRoas as separate strategies will be deprecated.

There will be no impact to bidding behavior due to these changes. The MaximizeConversions bid strategy using the new optional target_cpa setting will still behave like the TargetCpa strategy does today, and likewise, MaximizeConversionValue using the new optional target_roas setting will behave like TargetRoas.

Before After
TargetRoas MaximizeConversionValue.target_roas
TargetCpa MaximizeConversions.target_cpa


Starting in April 2021, the Google Ads UI will start allowing some users to create MaximizeConversions and MaximizeConversionValue bid strategies with their target_cpa and target_roas fields set, in lieu of the old-style TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies. This change will gradually ramp-up to more accounts over time.

The target_roas and target_cpa will remain read-only to API users until a future version of the API enables mutate functionality.

What to Do
Developers should ensure their code treats Search campaigns that have MaximizeConversions with a set target_cpa field and MaximizeConversionValue with a set target_cpa field the same way it treats TargetCpa and TargetRoas bid strategies, respectively.

We will publish an update on the blog when the above fields are mutable, along with several months' notice before TargetCpa and TargetRoas strategies are deprecated in Search campaigns.

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

Changes to Showcase Shopping ads

On April 5, 2021, support for Showcase Shopping ads will be removed from the AdWords API. Users will no longer be able to create or update the following Showcase Shopping objects, and attempts to do so will result in the following errors.

Object Error
AdGroups

with adGroupType SHOPPING_SHOWCASE_ADS		 OPERATION_NOT_PERMITTED_FOR_CAMPAIGN_TYPE
AdGroupAds containing ShowcaseAds OPERATION_NOT_PERMITTED_FOR_AD_GROUP_TYPE


Any remaining Showcase ad groups will be set to REMOVED status, and remaining AdGroupAds containing ShowcaseAds will be set to DISABLED status and stop serving. Developers can still retrieve historical metrics for these ads and ad groups by fetching reports that explicitly filter to include REMOVED or DISABLED objects.

This change only affects AdWords API users. Management of Showcase Shopping ads is not supported by Google Ads API or Google Ads scripts.

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

Sunsetting Portofolio Enhanced CPC Bid Strategies

On March 22, 2021 we will begin to sunset portfolio (shared) Enhanced cost-per-click (ECPC) bid strategies. The following behaviors will be blocked in all versions of both the AdWords API and the Google Ads API:
  • Creating new portfolio ECPC strategies.
  • Attaching portfolio ECPC strategies to campaigns.
Note that standard (non-portfolio) ECPC strategies will not be affected.

Affected Portfolio Enhanced CPC Strategies
Google Ads API Bidding_strategy.type = BiddingStrategyType.ENHANCED_CPC
AdWords API SharedBiddingStrategy.type = MANUAL_CPC,

SharedBiddingStrategy.biddingScheme.enhancedCpcEnabled = TRUE


Change Description
Any operation creating new portfolio ECPC strategies, or attaching a portfolio ECPC strategy to a campaign, will generate one of the following errors:

Error Upon Creation Error Upon Attaching
Google Ads API BIDDING_STRATEGY_NOT_SUPPORTED CANNOT_ATTACH_BIDDING_STRATEGY_TO_CAMPAIGN
AdWords API BIDDING_STRATEGY_NOT_SUPPORTED CANNOT_ATTACH_BIDDING_STRATEGY_TO_CAMPAIGN


Migration Description
In the future, we will remove the portfolio ECPC strategy entirely, in favor of standard ECPC. In order to prepare for this change, you can proactively migrate all your portfolio ECPC strategies to standard ECPC strategies using the instructions below.

All remaining portfolio ECPC campaigns and strategies will be automatically migrated at a later date. We will post an update on this blog ahead of that migration.

Self-migration using Google Ads API
Update a campaign by using CampaignService.MutateCampaigns() to set its manual_cpc.enhanced_cpc_enabled field to true. Be sure to set the update_mask on your request to match: 

operations: [
  {
    update: {
      resource_mame: customers/CUSTOMER_ID/campaigns/CAMPAIGN_ID,
      manual_cpc: {
        enhanced_cpc_enabled: true
      }
    },
    update_mask: manual_cpc.enhanced_cpc_enabled
  }
]
Self-migration using AdWords API
Update a campaign by using CampaignService.mutate() to set its biddingStrategyType to MANUAL_CPC, and its biddingScheme.enhancedCpc field to true: 

<operations>
  <operator>SET</operator>
  <operand>
    <id>CAMPAIGN_ID</id>
    <biddingStrategyConfiguration>
      <biddingStrategyType>MANUAL_CPC</biddingStrategyType>
      <biddingScheme>
        <enhancedCpcEnabled>true</enhancedCpcEnabled>
      </biddingScheme>
    </biddingStrategyConfiguration>
  </operand>
</operations>
If you have any questions or need additional help, contact us via the forum or at [email protected].
Adam Ohren, Google Ads API Team

Sunset of the Ad Manager API v202002

On Monday, March 1, 2021, in accordance with the deprecation schedule, v202002 of the Ad Manager API will sunset. At that time, any requests made to this version will return errors.

If you’re still using v202002, now is the time to upgrade to a newer release and take advantage of additional functionality. For example, in v202011 we added the getTrafficData method to the ForecastService, which is capable of exploring historical and forecasted network-level data for a particular date range and targeting configuration.

When you’re ready to upgrade, check the full release notes to identify any breaking changes. Keep in mind that v202002 is the final version to use int types for Activity and ActivityGroup, and all later versions use type long. After you’ve considered all of the changes, grab the latest version of your client library and update your code.

As always, don't hesitate to reach out to us on the developer forum with any questions.
 - Donovan McMurray, Ad Manager API Team

Google Ads API v3 sunset reminder

Google Ads API v3 will sunset on February 10, 2021. After this date, all v3 API requests will begin to fail. Please migrate to a newer version prior to February 10, 2021 to ensure your API access is unaffected.

We've prepared various resources to help you with the migration:

If you have questions while you’re upgrading, please reach out to us on the forum or at [email protected].

 - Thanet Knack Praneenararat, Google Ads API Team

Upcoming sunset for DBM API v1, SDF Download and Line Item services

As announced in August, deprecated services in the DoubleClick Bid Manager (DBM) API, comprised of DBM API v1, the DBM API v1.1 SDF Download service, and the DBM API v1.1 Line Item service, will be sunset on February 26, 2021.

If you are still using the DBM API v1 Reporting service, you must migrate to the DBM API v1.1 Reporting service before the sunset date to avoid an interruption of service. Consult the API release notes for details of the changes between v1 and v1.1. Differences to note during this migration include:
  • Queries created and accessed through the Reporting service require more specific filters in the params.groupBy field in v1.1. You might have to add more values to the params.groupBy field in order to create the same report structure generated in v1.
  • Responses from queries.listqueries and reports.listreports calls are paginated in v1.1. You have to update your implementation to traverse multiple pages if you want to consume more than the first 100 items returned.

If you are using any version of any other DBM API service, you must migrate to the Display & Video 360 (DV360) API.
Guides are available to help you set up and start using the Display & Video 360 API to download SDFs and manage your line items.

If you encounter issues with your migration or want to report a separate issue, please contact us using our support contact form.
- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team

Upcoming sunset for DBM API v1, SDF Download and Line Item services

As announced in August, deprecated services in the DoubleClick Bid Manager (DBM) API, comprised of DBM API v1, the DBM API v1.1 SDF Download service, and the DBM API v1.1 Line Item service, will be sunset on February 26, 2021.

If you are still using the DBM API v1 Reporting service, you must migrate to the DBM API v1.1 Reporting service before the sunset date to avoid an interruption of service. Consult the API release notes for details of the changes between v1 and v1.1. Differences to note during this migration include:
  • Queries created and accessed through the Reporting service require more specific filters in the params.groupBy field in v1.1. You might have to add more values to the params.groupBy field in order to create the same report structure generated in v1.
  • Responses from queries.listqueries and reports.listreports calls are paginated in v1.1. You have to update your implementation to traverse multiple pages if you want to consume more than the first 100 items returned.

If you are using any version of any other DBM API service, you must migrate to the Display & Video 360 (DV360) API.
Guides are available to help you set up and start using the Display & Video 360 API to download SDFs and manage your line items.

If you encounter issues with your migration or want to report a separate issue, please contact us using our support contact form.
- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team

Upcoming sunset for DBM API v1, SDF Download and Line Item services

As announced in August, deprecated services in the DoubleClick Bid Manager (DBM) API, comprised of DBM API v1, the DBM API v1.1 SDF Download service, and the DBM API v1.1 Line Item service, will be sunset on February 26, 2021.

If you are still using the DBM API v1 Reporting service, you must migrate to the DBM API v1.1 Reporting service before the sunset date to avoid an interruption of service. Consult the API release notes for details of the changes between v1 and v1.1. Differences to note during this migration include:
  • Queries created and accessed through the Reporting service require more specific filters in the params.groupBy field in v1.1. You might have to add more values to the params.groupBy field in order to create the same report structure generated in v1.
  • Responses from queries.listqueries and reports.listreports calls are paginated in v1.1. You have to update your implementation to traverse multiple pages if you want to consume more than the first 100 items returned.

If you are using any version of any other DBM API service, you must migrate to the Display & Video 360 (DV360) API.
Guides are available to help you set up and start using the Display & Video 360 API to download SDFs and manage your line items.

If you encounter issues with your migration or want to report a separate issue, please contact us using our support contact form.
- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team

Sunset of deprecated Geo Region targeting options in Display & Video 360 API

Starting January 2021, over 1500 deprecated Geo Region targeting options will no longer be supported in Display & Video 360. This announcement, along with the full list of deprecated options, can be found on the Geography Targeting Help Center article. These deprecated targeting options reflect outdated geographical regions and, therefore, do not change the serving of line items.

How will this happen in the API?

This sunset will be reflected in the Display & Video 360 API through the following sequence of events:
  1. Starting today, we will begin removing deprecated targeting from older resources. These resources consist of Line Items or Insertion Orders that are currently archived or have been paused for more than six months.
  2. In February 2021, the deprecated targeting options will no longer be retrievable through the Targeting Options service and attempts at assigning or removing deprecated targeting through the Line Item Assigned Targeting Options service will return an error.
  3. After the deprecated targeting options are no longer able to be assigned, we will begin removing deprecated targeting from all remaining resources. Any line items only using deprecated targeting will be paused upon the removal of said targeting. This concludes the formal sunset of the deprecated targeting options.

What should I do to prepare for this?

In anticipation of this sunset, it is recommended that you do the following:

  1. Check to see if any existing Line Items utilize deprecated targeting options. Use advertisers.lineItems.targetingTypes.assignedTargetingOptions.list to list the assigned Geo Region targeting for each active line item and check the targeting against the deprecated targeting options. Remove or replace any deprecated targeting as soon as possible using advertisers.lineItems.bulkEditLineItemAssignedTargetingOptions.
  2. If you are storing oft-used targeting option IDs locally, cross-reference them against the list of deprecated targeting options. This will avoid errors caused by attempting to assign sunset targeting options.

Should I expect more deprecations in the future?

Users should expect the occasional deprecation and sunset of targeting options in Display & Video 360 in much smaller quantities than this deprecation. As such, future deprecations likely won’t be announced through a blog post or documentation change.

In order to account for these deprecations, it is recommended that you use targetingTypes.targetingOptions.get to confirm that a targeting option is still available before assigning it. This should be done before assigning any option not obtained through the Targeting Options service, including those stored locally or copied from existing targeting. This will avoid errors caused by attempting to assign deprecated targeting.

You can read more about the Targeting Options and Assigned Targeting Options services in our reference documentation and on the Set Targeting page of our Managing Line Items guide.
If you have questions or run into issues navigating this process, please contact us using our support contact form.
- Trevor Mulchay, Display & Video 360 API Team