Google has rolled out a new set of Demand Gen ads features: AI-powered product help on YouTube, one-click image ads on YouTube Shorts and Gmail, and promoted location pins in Google Maps. They all aim to shorten the path from seeing an ad to buying or visiting.
YouTube is adding AI-powered assistance alongside in-stream product feeds. Viewers can ask the Ask YouTube bot about products shown in a clip without leaving playback. YouTube announced the feature at its Made On event.
Google is rolling out single-tap image ads on YouTube Shorts and in Gmail. On Shorts, advertisers get one-click experiences when they upload 9:16 full-bleed image ads.
The Gmail number stands out. Google says advertisers adding Gmail to their Demand Gen campaigns on average see their image creatives achieve a 40% increase in conversions at the same ROI.
Google is also adding affiliate location extensions in Google Maps, letting businesses promote their locations in the map display. It is similar to Snapchat’s promoted places on Snap Map and can help drive interest from nearby consumers.
The updates began rolling out within Demand Gen in late September.
Shorts one-click ads require full-bleed vertical images. Brands without video budgets can still reach the Shorts placement with strong vertical stills.
If you’ve excluded Gmail from Demand Gen, it’s worth switching it back on and comparing. The 40% figure is a Google average, so run a short test in your own account before scaling.
Franchises and local businesses that depend on store visits now have another option in Google Maps location promotion.
Every major ad platform is using AI to shorten the conversion path. See Amazon Ads Agent Unifies DSP and Ads Console — Full-Funnel Campaigns, DVA+ and Conversational AI and Reddit Lead Gen Ads Get AI Max Campaigns, In-Market Audiences and a HubSpot Integration.
AI-powered product assistance in YouTube, one-click image ads on YouTube Shorts and Gmail, and affiliate location extensions in Google Maps.
Upload 9:16 full-bleed image ads to get the one-click experience on Shorts.
Google says advertisers adding Gmail see image creatives achieve a 40% increase in conversions on average at the same ROI. Test it in your own account to confirm.
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