“Ad Strength” is not a measure of how “good” your ad is, but how complete your asset library is. In 2026, Google’s AI prioritizes campaigns with a wide variety of aspect ratios and text lengths.
1. Maximize Your “Inventory Coverage”
To reach “Excellent” status, you must hit the 2026 recommended quantities. Don’t just provide the minimums.
Headlines: Provide all 15 headlines.
Instruction: Include at least one short headline (15 characters or less) and several that include your key search terms.
Long Headlines: Provide all 5 long headlines (90 characters).
Instruction: These are used for YouTube and Display where space is abundant.
Descriptions: Provide all 5 descriptions.
Instruction: One must be a short 60-character description; the rest should be 90 characters.
Images: Upload up to 20 high-quality images.
Requirement: You MUST include at least one Landscape (1.91:1), one Square (1:1), and one Portrait (4:5). Portrait images are essential for high-strength ratings in 2026 due to mobile growth.
2. The “Video Gap” (The #1 Reason for Low Strength)
If you don’t upload your own video, Google will create one for you by “sliding” your images together. These are often low-quality and result in a lower Ad Strength.
The Fix: Upload at least one video for each of the three major aspect ratios:
Horizontal (16:9): For YouTube in-stream.
Square (1:1): For Discovery and Feed placements.
Vertical (9:16): For YouTube Shorts (This is a non-negotiable for “Excellent” strength in 2026).
3. Use the “Performance” Column for Strategic Swaps
Don’t just guess which assets to change. Google gives you a report card for every individual asset.
Go to your Asset Group.
Click View Details.
Look at the Performance Column. It will label assets as “Low,” “Good,” or “Best.”
The Rule: Wait 2–3 weeks before making changes. After that, replace (don’t just delete) any “Low” performing headlines or images with new variations.
“Excellent Strength” Cheat Sheet
The “Safe Zone” Reminder
Warning: In 2026, Google AI automatically crops your images to fit different placements. Always keep your text and logos in the central 80% of the image. If your logo is right on the edge, it will likely be cut off in 50% of your ad impressions.
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