Shopping & PMax: practitioner answers

Shopping and Performance Max cover product ads driven by a Google Merchant Center feed, and Performance Max campaigns that serve across Search, Shopping, YouTube, Display, Discover, Gmail and Maps from one campaign.

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All 20 answers

• PMax performance dropped after Aug 17 - read details

  PMax dropped after Aug 17? Diagnose channel budget drift, brand cannibalization, feed issues, and broken tracking before changing any campaign settings.

• Performance max - do negative keywords work?

  Yes, negative keywords work in Performance Max — via campaign-level tabs, shared lists, and placement exclusions. Here's exactly how to set them up correctly.

• Does anyone still use Performance Max?

  Yes, Performance Max still works — but only when structured correctly alongside Standard Shopping and branded Search, with real audience signals and brand…

• Performance Max vs Search

  Search beats Performance Max for service businesses; PMax wins in high-volume e-commerce. Here's how to choose and run both correctly.

• Is PMax so much better than search and shopping?

  PMax is not always better than Standard Shopping — it depends on your conversion volume, control needs, and feed quality. Here's how to decide.

• How do you explain Performance Max reporting to non- ...

  How to explain Performance Max reporting to non-technical clients: reframe from channel spend to outcomes, use asset groups, brand signals, and before/after…

• What's the best way to optimise search campaign?

  Learn how to optimise Google Search campaigns with expert strategies covering conversion tracking, keywords, bidding, ad copy, and account hygiene.

• Performance Max Advice for B2B Lead Gen

  Performance Max for B2B lead gen generating spam leads? Learn the exact fixes—conversion tracking, audience signals, placement controls—used across $350M+ in managed spend.

• Google Shopping vs Performance Max for one product store?

  Standard Shopping vs Performance Max for one-product stores: expert breakdown of when to use each, how to structure both, and a 5-step action plan.

• What's everyone's experience with performance max for ...

  Expert guide to Performance Max for Shopping: when it works, setup best practices, benchmarks, and how to decide between PMax and Standard Shopping.

• How Are You Guys Using AI With Single Product PMax ...

  Learn exactly how to use AI tools to optimize single-product Performance Max campaigns — from asset creation to audience signals, bid strategy, and landing pages.

• Are Performance Max campaigns a Scam?

  Is Performance Max a scam? A senior PPC specialist breaks down when PMax works, when it fails, and exactly how to set it up to win.

• Google just dropped game-changing Performance Max ...

  Which new Performance Max features actually improve shopping campaign performance? A $350M Google Ads veteran breaks down what's working and what's hype.

• Performance max. How have your results been in late 2024 ...

  Expert breakdown of Performance Max results in late 2024: what's working, what's not, and how to structure PMax campaigns for lead gen and e-commerce.

• What are the key differences between Performance Max ...

  Learn the key differences between Performance Max and Search campaigns, when to use each, and how to run them together for maximum Google Ads efficiency.

• Googe is suggesting Performance Max campaign. Should I ...

  Should you follow Google's Performance Max suggestion? A senior PPC specialist breaks down when PMax works, when to avoid it, and how to set it up right.

• So I Decided to Try Performance Max...WTF?

  Performance Max confusing you? Learn when PMax works, how to set it up right, and avoid brand cannibalization with this expert Google Ads guide.

• What is the point of PerformanceMax in Google Ads when ...

  Learn when Performance Max actually works, when it doesn't, and how to configure PMax campaigns to drive real results for Shopping and e-commerce accounts.

• Can someone explain Performance Max like I'm 5?

  Can someone explain Performance Max like I'm 5?

• How do you actually optimize and improve Google Ads for ...

  Learn proven Google Shopping optimization techniques beyond Performance Max scaling, including campaign structure, bidding strategies, and feed optimization.

Official documentation

1. Google Ads Help: About Smart Bidding
2. Google Ads Help: About Target ROAS bidding
3. Google Ads Help: About negative keywords
4. Google Ads Help: About Performance Max campaigns
5. Google Ads Help: About Shopping ads
6. Google Merchant Center Help: Product data specification
7. Microsoft Advertising: Microsoft Advertising Help
8. Wikipedia: Pay-per-click
9. Wikipedia: Search engine marketing