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The Click Brief Podcast: March 2026
Jeremy Packee and Emily Anderson break down March’s biggest paid media updates, including OpenAI’s shift away from experimental tools like Sora and Meta’s continued push into AI-powered campaign management with Manus. They also explore Google’s expanding Performance Max capabilities, new cross-channel budgeting tools in Google Analytics, and Apple’s long-awaited move into ads within Apple Maps.
The episode highlights major changes to attribution, increased visibility and control within automated campaign types, and the growing role of AI across reporting, creative, and media buying workflows. As automation accelerates, the hosts emphasize the continued importance of human strategy and oversight.
Episode Highlights
Biggest Shift
Meta’s move to click-only attribution removes engagement-based signals from conversion tracking, which could significantly impact reporting and perceived performance across accounts.
Biggest Platform Signal
OpenAI sunsetting Sora signals a broader shift away from consumer-facing AI experiments toward more scalable, revenue-driven products like ads and enterprise tools.
New Feature to Test
Google Analytics’ cross-channel budgeting and scenario planning tool could become a major step toward unified performance forecasting—if the data proves reliable.
Control Upgrade
Microsoft finally introduces negative keyword lists in PMax, bringing much-needed control to a previously limited campaign type.
Creative Reality Check
Google’s Veo video generation inside Asset Studio shows promise, but current outputs still lag behind tools like Canva and other creative platforms.
Other Platform Updates
• Meta is expanding Manus AI into Ads Manager and the Instagram Creator Marketplace
• Google added more visibility to Performance Max, including budget pacing and audience insights
• Apple is introducing ads in Apple Maps search and suggested locations
• OpenAI is testing an Ads Manager for ChatGPT with early reporting features
• Shopify is leaning into AI-powered product discovery within ChatGPT while maintaining native checkout
• WordPress now allows AI agents to create and manage site content (with approvals)
• Meta added new lifecycle targeting and expanded retargeting controls
• Pinterest is pushing Performance+ campaigns as the default
• Snapchat and TikTok continue expanding AI creative tools and premium placements
• Instagram is testing post-publish carousel reordering
Final Take
AI is becoming deeply embedded across every major platform—but it’s still not ready to replace human decision-making. The opportunity isn’t in handing over control—it’s in knowing where these tools can actually improve efficiency without sacrificing strategy.
Follow The Click Brief for fast, no-fluff performance marketing updates.
Visit The Click Brief blog for more in-depth analysis and updates from March
View all episodes
By Granular
4.1
99 ratings
Jeremy Packee and Emily Anderson break down March’s biggest paid media updates, including OpenAI’s shift away from experimental tools like Sora and Meta’s continued push into AI-powered campaign management with Manus. They also explore Google’s expanding Performance Max capabilities, new cross-channel budgeting tools in Google Analytics, and Apple’s long-awaited move into ads within Apple Maps.
The episode highlights major changes to attribution, increased visibility and control within automated campaign types, and the growing role of AI across reporting, creative, and media buying workflows. As automation accelerates, the hosts emphasize the continued importance of human strategy and oversight.
Episode Highlights
Biggest Shift
Meta’s move to click-only attribution removes engagement-based signals from conversion tracking, which could significantly impact reporting and perceived performance across accounts.
Biggest Platform Signal
OpenAI sunsetting Sora signals a broader shift away from consumer-facing AI experiments toward more scalable, revenue-driven products like ads and enterprise tools.
New Feature to Test
Google Analytics’ cross-channel budgeting and scenario planning tool could become a major step toward unified performance forecasting—if the data proves reliable.
Control Upgrade
Microsoft finally introduces negative keyword lists in PMax, bringing much-needed control to a previously limited campaign type.
Creative Reality Check
Google’s Veo video generation inside Asset Studio shows promise, but current outputs still lag behind tools like Canva and other creative platforms.
Other Platform Updates
• Meta is expanding Manus AI into Ads Manager and the Instagram Creator Marketplace
• Google added more visibility to Performance Max, including budget pacing and audience insights
• Apple is introducing ads in Apple Maps search and suggested locations
• OpenAI is testing an Ads Manager for ChatGPT with early reporting features
• Shopify is leaning into AI-powered product discovery within ChatGPT while maintaining native checkout
• WordPress now allows AI agents to create and manage site content (with approvals)
• Meta added new lifecycle targeting and expanded retargeting controls
• Pinterest is pushing Performance+ campaigns as the default
• Snapchat and TikTok continue expanding AI creative tools and premium placements
• Instagram is testing post-publish carousel reordering
Final Take
AI is becoming deeply embedded across every major platform—but it’s still not ready to replace human decision-making. The opportunity isn’t in handing over control—it’s in knowing where these tools can actually improve efficiency without sacrificing strategy.
Follow The Click Brief for fast, no-fluff performance marketing updates.
Visit The Click Brief blog for more in-depth analysis and updates from March