Google AdWords API launches
In 2005, Google launched the Google AdWords API.
Google said API usage would be free, though activity was capped via a quota system. Those with larger accounts or spending more with Google would be allowed to have higher activity.
Google described the AdWords API as a:
…free Google AdWords beta feature that enables developers to create computer programs that interact directly with the AdWords system. The AdWords API is designed for developers representing tech-savvy advertisers and the ecosystem of third parties which includes SEMs (search engine marketers), agencies, and other online marketing professionals who manage multiple client accounts and/or large campaigns.
The Google AdWords API had a good run. It wasn’t until April 29, 2021 that Google would tell developers using the AdWords API they would need to upgrade to the Google Ads API by April 27, 2022. That’s the date when Google AdWords API officially sunset.
Also on this day
Google SERP analysis: PAA appears 10x more than featured snippets
2022: The number of featured snippets shown in Google SERPs continued to decrease.
Smart Shopping and Local campaigns to be transitioned to Performance Max by end of September
2022: Google would also launch a “one-click” self-service tool for advertisers that would like to transition their campaigns ahead of the deadline.
Twitter launches Site Visit Optimization goal and Aggregated Measurement for campaigns aimed at driving site traffic
2022: Also, Events Manager, where advertisers can manage their Twitter Website Tag and associated web-based conversion events.
New Google mobile search feature: People Search Next
2022: The feature was meant to “help people more easily get to and see popular next searches based on what they’re searching.”
Google Search Console logging issue may cause drop in image search performance data
2022: You may have seen a drop in the number of clicks and impressions in Google Search Console Performance reports for images.
Gmail campaigns to stop running on June 28
2022: Nearly a year after standalone Gmail campaigns became “read-only.”
WordPress 5.9 launches with full site editing
2022: WordPress made enhancements to the block editor and stretched no code capabilities.
Google allows ads for sports betting in Louisiana
2022: Advertisers first had to be state-licensed and certified by Google to run gambling ads.
Google may not display Web Stories that are teasers
2021: Google said its users want to see the full story and not have to click through to see more.
Google’s SEO job description highlights importance of collaborating with multiple teams
2020: Google posted a job opening to hire an SEO.
What local SEOs should focus on in 2020
2020: Four experts offered their top three recommendations for local search marketers.
Video: Thom Craver at CBS Interactive on the importance of schema and a bit on Google News
2020: In this installment of Barry Schwartz’s vlog series, he also chatted with Craver about how he gets blamed for some perceived bias within Google News.
Tick-tock: Expert findings, testing tips & resources for success after Jan. 31
2017: Findings and advice meant to provide some anxiety relief and motivation for paving the way with ETAs.
Search in Pics: Warrior helmet, Google auto rickshaw & colorful lockers
2017: The latest images showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have and more.
Math! Now Available Right In AdWords Custom Columns
2016: Google introduced an addition to custom columns: custom formulas.
Microsoft Pulls Funding For Anti-Google Lobbying Group FairSearch
2016: Microsoft was no longer listed as a member.
Bing Adds Lottery & Powerball Numbers To Search Results
2016: You could now check Bing’s quick answer box to see if your lottery ticket matched the winning lottery numbers.
Is Apple About To Launch A Competitor To Google Street View?
2016: Apple was driving vehicles around the world to collect data to improve Google Maps.
Google Seeking Testers For Search Queries Report In Webmaster Tools
2015: Google was looking for some volunteers to test out an early version of the updated search queries report within Google’s Webmaster Tools.
Google Mobile Search Descriptions Now Say If You’re Blocking Google
2015: Google’s mobile search results snippets started showing a message to searchers when Google was unable to show the snippet to searchers because the webmaster was blocking their crawlers.
Download Legacy PLA Product Target Data Prior To March 23
2015: If advertisers wanted to keep a record of that older data.
Google Analytics Rolling Out “Trash Can” Feature To Help Users Recover Deleted Data
2015: The feature would save views, properties and accounts for 35 days after they have been deleted.
Thanksgiving Drove Retailers’ Highest Paid Search Revenue Gains Of The Holiday Season [Report]
2015: Revenue rose 50% year-over-year, just beating out Black Friday’s revenue gains of 49%.
Bing Ads Reduces Campaign Reporting Lag To 1 Hour
2015: Impression and click performance data were delivered much faster.
Google’s Latest Search Trick: “As The Crow Flies” Distance Calculation
2014: Google’s OneBox could answer how far it was between two remote locations.
Israel Wants To Tax Google To Support Local Content Publishers
2014: Nicknamed “Google Law” it would assess a tax of 7% on search engine ad revenues to subsidize local content publishers.
Bing Out Of “Betaphase” In Germany, Claims 10 Million Users
2012: Bing said its market share was 20% of active internet users in Germany. However, several third-party sources disagreed.
Search In Pics: David Beckham At Google, Google’s Moscow Office & Bing Bar
2012: The latest images showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have, and more.
Google Testing Display Ads In Gmail
2011: Google started experimenting with image ads on messages with heavy image content.
Larry Page And The Reinvention Of “The Google”
2011: The primary meme that emerged in the week after the Google’s CEO switch: Page’s ascension was about streamlining decision-making at Google and helping the company be more “nimble.”
Bing’s Chief Scientist, Alek Kołcz, Joins Twitter
2011: Microsoft’s Principal Scientist of Bing left to join the Twitter team.
The New York Times, Demand Media Edition
2011: When Demand Media, widely described as a “content farm,” went public it quickly racked up a valuation higher than the New York Times.
Schmidt Downplays Google’s Competition With Facebook, Apple & Well … Almost Everything
2011: He said his new focus would be on external things like “customers, partners, deals, M&A, government, press, publicity and marketing.”
Google Social Search Goes Live, Adds New Features
2010: It was a way of seeing customized search results based on the people in your social network.
Finally! Yahoo Search Weather Report : January 2010
2010: Yahoo was rolling out updates to crawling, indexing, and ranking algorithms.
Yahoo Gains “Default” Search Deal With Ubuntu
2010: The Firefox browser that was shipped in Ubuntu would be configured to use Yahoo as the default search engine.
AT&T Planning To Launch Yelp-Like Site Buzz.com
2010: It aimed to be a place where people could get and share recommendations about local businesses.
How Search-Like Are Social Media Sites?
2009: For search marketers looking at social media, how did it measure up? Which social media sites were most “search like?”
Yahoo Q4 Shows Operating Loss; CEO Bartz: ‘This Is Not A Company That Needs To Be Pulled Apart And Left For The Chickens’
2009: Revenues were $1,806 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, a 1 percent decrease compared to $1,832 million for the same period of 2007.
Search Biz: Yahoo Earnings, Google Lobbying, Tech Stimulus, Best Places To Work & Making PCs ‘History’
2009: Google was set to ramp up lobbying and other political efforts to push its agenda through the labyrinth of Washington policymakers.
Google Logs Help Convict Husband Accused of Murdering Wife
2009: The search queries were used as evidence of the husband’s guilty mind.
From Search Marketing Expo (SMX)
Past contributions from Search Engine Land’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
These columns are a snapshot in time and have not been updated since publishing, unless noted. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.
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About the author
Danny Goodwin is Managing Editor of Search Engine Land & SMX. In addition to writing daily about SEO, PPC, and more for Search Engine Land, Goodwin also manages Search Engine Land’s roster of subject-matter experts. He also helps program our conference series, SMX – Search Marketing Expo.
Prior to joining Search Engine Land, Goodwin was Executive Editor at Search Engine Journal, where he led editorial initiatives for the brand. He also was an editor at Search Engine Watch. He has spoken at many major search conferences and virtual events, and has been sourced for his expertise by a wide range of publications and podcasts.
