The Target bidding apocalypse and how we’ve been here before

Google’s upcoming changes to Smart Bidding have sparked one of the biggest debates the PPC industry has seen in years. With the rollout scheduled to begin on August 17, many advertisers are questioning whether long-standing Target CPA and Target ROAS strategies will continue to work the way they always have.

Our latest SMX Now installment won’t simply recap Google’s announcement. Instead, it promises to put the update into historical context, explaining why experienced PPC professionals believe this isn’t the first time Google has fundamentally changed how automated bidding behaves—and what advertisers can learn from previous transitions.

The announcement has generated significant discussion throughout the PPC community, with many questioning whether advertisers will need to rethink years of bidding best practices before the rollout begins.

Whether you agree with Google’s approach or share the concerns voiced across the PPC community, this is one of the most significant Google Ads changes of 2026.

If your accounts rely on Target CPA or Target ROAS bidding, this webinar offers an opportunity to understand what’s changing, why it matters, and how to prepare in its early roll out phase.

Join us August 19th, 1PM EST

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Anu AdegbolaAnu Adegbola
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.In 2008, Anu started her career delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side. Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPC Live The Podcast.

She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US, UK, Munich, Berlin), Friends of Search (Amsterdam, NL), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna, IT) and more.


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