New and Improved Google Ads in 2026

This week on the S.O.B. (Small Owned Business) Marketing podcast, Vivian and I are discussing how Google Ads are not only still relevant, but how it has recently changed thanks to AI and a change in the consumer mindset.  Even if you’re not ready to spend money on Google Ads, we want you SOBs to play around with the platform and maybe even build an ad campaign. Experimenting can help you prepare for future campaigns for your small business!   This week’s Marketing HOT TAKE: Sometimes all you need is an ad! Creativity is important in marketing, but don’t forget about a simple, tried-and-true ad. Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments!   Want to support this podcast? You can do so at buymeacoffee.com/sobmarketing OR by liking, subscribing, following, and leaving us a review!   Looking for a community of other S.O.B.s handling their marketing on their own? Join our S.O.B. Community! A membership includes: An extensive library of tutorials  A community of like minded small owned businesses Free downloads and templates for you to jumpstart your marketing A weekly hour long Zoom call with marketing professionals to talk shop or answer any questions you may have when it comes to marketing your small business.  Join our 𝐒.𝐎.𝐁 (𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬) 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: https://www.skool.com/sob  ____________________ Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to our 150th Episode! 03:42 Google Ads for Small Businesses 09:21 Targeting and Placement: Where Google Ads Appear 15:07 The Shift from Keywords in Google Ads 22:38 Bidding Strategies: Smart Bidding and Automation 25:40 Ad Creation and Optimization with AI 29:17 Tracking and Measuring Success in Google Ads 30:29 TLDL; New and Improved Google Ads in 2026 ____________________ 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓:   Are Google Ads Still Worth It In 2025? https://youtu.be/9vi6yxFEGoM    Support This Podcast: buymeacoffee.com/sobmarketing    𝐒.𝐎.𝐁 (𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬) 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲:  https://theseasonedmarketer.myflodesk.com/sob   S.O.B. Marketing Merch: https://theseasonedmarketer.com/swag-shop/   Episode Transcripts: https://sobmarketing.com/blog    Sign Up For Our Email Newsletter:  https://theseasonedmarketer.myflodesk.com/nb0wpptjjt  ____________________   If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://sobmarketing.com   This podcast is brought to you by THE SEASONED MARKETER. For more free marketing resources, follow us here: **Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeasonedMarketer **Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseasonedmarketer **Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theseasonedmarketer   COLLABORATION REQUESTS TO: [email protected]