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Welcome to the DTC Podcast! In this episode, Eric sits down with Dougie from Pilothouse's Google team to dive deep into how to leverage Google Ads' Performance Max (PMAX) campaigns for demand capture while building long-term growth strategies.

With the recent Google update allowing shopping campaigns to compete with PMAX on ad rank, Dougie shares actionable insights for structuring hybrid campaigns, integrating first-party data, and tracking true incrementality. Whether you're looking to optimize your ad spend or balance top-of-funnel and lower-funnel efforts, this episode has you covered.

Key Takeaways:

PMAX vs. Shopping: Learn why hybrid campaign structures work better than running PMAX alone, especially for targeting both warm and cold audiences.

Top-of-Funnel Investments: How efforts like TV and YouTube ads create a "halo effect" on demand capture—but only when backed by sufficient budgets.

Attribution Hacks: Why GA4, Northbeam, or Triple Whale should supplement Google’s in-platform attribution to avoid over-attributing conversions.

Practical Adjustments: Dougie explains how feed management, segmentation, and careful audience targeting maximize PMAX performance over time.

Whether you're scaling your DTC brand or refining your Google Ads strategy, Dougie's insights will help you navigate the challenges of 2025 and beyond.

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction to PMAX Updates

2:00 - Key Changes in PMAX Ad Prioritization

4:30 - Shopping Campaigns vs PMAX Strategies

7:00 - Leveraging Audience Signals for Better Results

9:30 - Attribution Challenges with PMAX

12:00 - Optimizing Campaigns for Long-Term Performance

14:30 - Incremental Value and Third-Party Tools

17:00 - Attribution Limitations and Platform Insights

19:00 - Google Ads Heist Warning & Closing Thoughts

Hashtags

#PMAXUpdate #GoogleAds #DigitalMarketing #EcommerceGrowth #AttributionStrategy #AdCampaigns #PerformanceMax #GoogleShopping #MarketingInsights #YouTubeAds

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