Question regarding hotel item in everything else unit and create new ad group criterion

[jason hsu]

Utilizing the Google Ads API for Advanced Hotel Ads Management

I am currently leveraging the Google Ads API via the REST method to address two specific challenges related to managing hotel ads.

1. Identifying Hotel IDs in "Everything Else" Categories

The first challenge arises from the categorization of multiple hotel items under the "Everything else" grouping within various ad groups. This classification makes it inconvenient to assess the performance of individual hotel item ads.

At present, the method I employ involves navigating through the Google Ads UI:

1. Go to Campaigns → Ad Groups → Hotel Groups.
2. Select All Hotels → US → California.
3. Edit the subdivision, select a specific hotel item, and save without modifying the bids.

Using the Google Ads API, I utilize the /googleAds:search method to retrieve details about "Everything else in California." The API response indicates that "Everything else in California" is marked as a unit, which seems to imply it is the smallest subdivision. However, I am unable to identify the individual hotel IDs within this category using the API.

Question: Is there a way to utilize the Google Ads API to identify the hotel IDs grouped under "Everything else" in a specified category?

2. Automating Ad Exclusion Based on Specific Performance Targets

The second goal is to design an automated process to exclude ads when specific performance thresholds are exceeded. For instance, if the average CPC surpasses my predefined limit, I need to:

1. Navigate through the UI to the relevant campaign → ad group → hotel item.
2. Adjust the bid strategy from maximize conversion value to exclude.

Currently, I use the Hotel Performance data from /googleAds:search to monitor the performance of hotel items within specific ad groups. However, when attempting to programmatically adjust the ad_group_criterion's negative property from false to true, I encounter a limitation: the API does not allow direct modification of this property.

Instead, I must:

1. Use the mutate (remove) method to remove the existing ad_group_criterion.
2. Recreate a new ad_group_criterion with the updated settings.

While I am able to remove the ad_group_criterion without issue, I encounter challenges when attempting to create a new criterion for the same hotel ID under the current ad group.

Question:

• Is there a method in the Google Ads API to directly change the negative property of an existing ad_group_criterion?
• Alternatively, what is the correct approach to recreate a new hotel group criterion in the current ad group?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out to the Google Ads API support team.

From the provided information, you're trying to use the Google Ads API to identify individual hotel IDs within "Everything else in California". In order to further assistance "Everything else in California" shown on the Google Ads UI and share the uncropped UI screenshot of the dashboard instead that you’re referring to?

Also, kindly note that the negative ad group criteria is immutable. Whether to target (false) or exclude (true) the criterion. To switch a criterion from positive to negative, remove then re-add it. As you have mentioned you are facing issues while attempting to create a new criterion for the same hotel ID under the current ad group. In order to assist further, please provide us with the complete API logs (request and response logs with request-id and request header) generated at your end to better assist you further. 

If you are using a client library and haven't enabled the logging yet, I would request you to enable logging for the specific client library that you are using. You can refer to the guides Java, .Net, PHP, Python, Ruby or Perl to enable logging at your end. For REST interface requests, you can enable logging via the curl command by using the -i flag.

You can send the details via Reply privately to the author option, or direct private reply to this email.
 

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02vGpwm:ref" (ADR-00279409)

Thanks,
 

Google Ads API Team

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