🚨 Breaking Google Ads News: Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) will be going "the way of the dinosaurs." As confirmed by Google's Ginny Marvin, DSA's time is limited, paving the way for AI Max as the future-proof campaign standard.

Is the Google Ads Search Partner Network draining your Performance Max budget? We looked at 1,500+ campaigns and finally have the data to prove it.

In this episode of Growing Ecommerce, Mike Ryan and Chris Scharmueller dive into data from over 1,500 PMax campaigns throughout 2025 and early 2026. The numbers are in—and they are highly concerning for advertisers relying on the Search Partner Network (SPN).

We break down exactly where your PMax impressions are going, why Google is hesitant to give you an opt-out button, and the massive impact SPN has on your ROAS and CPA. 

PLUS: We share exclusive breaking news confirmed by Google's Ginny Marvin: the sun is setting on Dynamic Search Ads (DSA).

If you want to stay ahead of the curve and stop wasting ad spend on low-intent, bot-heavy traffic, this episode is a must-watch!

Key PMax Data Insights Shared in This Episode: Based on a trimmed mean analysis of 1,500+ PMax campaigns with 30+ monthly conversions:

• PMax Impression Share (Excluding Search): YouTube (49%), Google Display (17%), SPN (17%), Maps (11%), Discover (7%), Gmail (0.5%).
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): 40% lower on the Search Partner Network.
• Conversion Rate: 63% lower on SPN.
• Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): 73% higher on SPN.
• Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): 63% lower on SPN compared to parent campaigns.
• Invalid Traffic (IVT): SPN holds the highest share of malicious and fraudulent clicks across networks.

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About Mike Ryan:

Based in Austria and originally from Boston, Mike Ryan is the Head of Ecommerce Insights at Smarter Ecommerce (smec) with over ten years of experience in retail and PPC landscape. With a robust background spanning retail operations, product management, and digital ads, Mike leverages his multidisciplinary expertise to drive data-informed strategies that help online retailers optimize their performance in an increasingly competitive market.

About Christian Scharmueller:

As a seasoned veteran in the PPC and Ecommerce space, Christian Scharmüller serves as the CCO & Managing Director of Smarter Ecommerce. With over 12 years of experience at the forefront of ad tech, Christian is a sought-after speaker at major industry events, including SMX and OMR, where he shares insights on high-level e-commerce strategy and the future of retail media.

About Smarter Ecommerce (smec)

Smarter Ecommerce (smec) helps e-commerce brands scale profitably with AI-driven PPC automation—optimizing for business outcomes while keeping strategic control in the hands of marketers. The platform activates first-party data (e.g., margins, CLV, core business metrics) to automate campaign optimization toward profitability and efficient growth, with transparent insights that reduce manual work and free teams for strategic oversight.

As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages €500M+ in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients, including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport.

Follow smec for performance marketing insights:

Website: smarter-ecommerce.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh

Newsletter: smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/

Instagram: instagram.com/smarterecommerce