Weekly Updates from the Ad Nerds: October 9, 2026
Every week we sort through the Google and Meta ad updates so you don't have to. Here's what actually matters this week, in plain English.
Google Ads
1. Google may start adding your website's offers to your ads
Starting October 12, Google can pull discounts it finds on your website and show them in your ads. It's on by default for many local businesses. If your site still has an old "first visit free" banner or an expired deal, that could show up in a live ad.
What to do: Clear expired offers off your site, or ask whoever runs your ads to switch off "automated promotions." Health practitioners: your regulatory college may limit offers in ads, so check before leaving this on.
2. Changing prices a lot? Your products could drop out of Google Shopping
Google says products whose price or stock changes very often (like more than once a day) may get paused instead of updated. That's exactly what happens during Black Friday sales.
What to do: Schedule your sale prices ahead of time in your product feed instead of flipping prices on your site over and over.
3. You can now preview AI-written ads before saying yes
Google's AI Max can write ad text from your website. Now you can see sample headlines before turning it on.
What to do: Read the samples. If you see promises you can't make ("guaranteed results," wrong prices, health claims), don't switch it on yet.
Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram)
4. Meta's new AI tools: some live, most still testing
Meta announced a lot of AI this week. What you can use now: turning product photos into short videos. What's still in testing: the assistant that sets up and runs campaigns for you. So if you've heard "AI will run your ads now," not quite yet.
What to do: Online stores, try photo-to-video for holiday ads. Health and wellness businesses, review anything the AI makes before it runs.
5. Booking appointments right from a Facebook or Instagram ad
Meta's lead forms can add a booking step through Calendly or HighLevel, and wider rollout is expected this month. For clinics and service businesses, that means fewer leads lost between "interested" and "booked."
What to do: If you book with Calendly or HighLevel, watch for the "Book time" option in your ads account.
Dates to know
Oct 12: Google's automatic promotions start
Oct 16: Google updates its business name rules for ads
Nov 27: Black Friday. Get holiday pricing and ads ready by early November
Questions about any of this? Email britt@meritmedia.com.
In strategy we trust,
Britt
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