Google has announced that at the beginning of 2024, the Search Ads 360 (SA360) interface that we all know (one of the most popular tools of the Google Marketing Platform [GMP] marketing suite) will cease to exist for good and be replaced by a new SA360 interface. Google created the new interface to improve the experience for advertisers and to help achieve better results with better management of search campaigns across multiple channels.
While it may seem straightforward, not migrating to the new interface can negatively affect advertisers. Keep reading to find out how to avoid potential conflicts.
What conflicts can arise from not migrating to the new SA360 interface?
If advertisers do not migrate, there are several issues that will arise:
- Disconnection of the SA360 API with reporting platforms
- The loss of custom columns
- Misconfiguration of conversion goals and Smart Bidding
- Involuntary synchronization issues with search engines
What are the differences between the current and new SA360 interface?
With a modern infrastructure, the new Search Ads 360 offers better support across multiple advertising channels and search engines, including third-party partners. This means advertisers can access more features from other search engines.
- Current Search Ads 360 has limited search engine functionality, conversion goal setting at the bid strategy level, and automatic daily search engine synchronization with manual forcing for instant updating.
- The new Search Ads 360 interface offers expanded coverage of other search engine features, campaign/account level conversion targeting and actions, and the ability to create rules to adjust the value of conversions. In addition, it will allow us to differentiate between campaign conversion targeting, bidding strategies, and budgeting strategies and automatically synchronize real-time changes to search engines.
Additionally, there are new user roles in SA360, allowing for more granular control of access.
When should you migrate to the new interface?
Before you consider this migration, we recommend that you take a look at Google’s timeline:
- Up until January 2024, we recommend scheduling the migration of your bidding and budget management strategies to the new Search Ads 360 experience.
- During February 2024, we recommend to proceed with the migration to ensure continuity of service.
- Between February and April 2024, the old Search Ads 360 interface will no longer be available to all users. Google will notify all advertisers at least 60 days in advance.
Ready to move forward?
Making Science is uniquely poised to assist you in planning your migration to the new SA360 interface. As a Google Marketing Platform partner, we’ve helped over 100 companies across a variety of industries with GMP-related projects. Don’t hesitate to reach out! Or, click here for additional details about the change.
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