Microsoft is changing how advertisers configure automated bidding, aiming to reduce complexity while keeping performance outcomes the same.

What’s happening. The platform is streamlining its bidding options by folding familiar targets like Target CPA and Target ROAS into broader automated strategies rather than standalone campaign settings.

Going forward, advertisers will choose between two core approaches: Maximize Conversions or Maximize Conversion Value, with optional targets layered on top.

Microsoft Ads Bidding StrategyMicrosoft Ads Bidding Strategy
Credit – Hana Kobzova of PPC News Feed

How it works. For conversion-focused campaigns, advertisers select Maximize Conversions and can optionally set a target CPA. For value-focused campaigns, they select Maximize Conversion Value and can optionally set a target ROAS.

Microsoft says the underlying bidding behavior has not changed — only the way advertisers configure it has been simplified.

Why we care. This update makes automated bidding simpler and more standardized, which lowers the barrier to using Microsoft Advertising’s performance tools at scale. By consolidating Target CPA and Target ROAS into broader strategies, it reduces setup complexity while still keeping key performance controls available as optional targets.

In practice, this means faster campaign setup, more consistent optimization behavior across accounts, and fewer structural differences between how advertisers manage conversion and value-based bidding.

What’s staying the same. Existing campaigns using Target CPA or Target ROAS will continue to run normally without any required updates. Portfolio bid strategies also remain unchanged.

The bigger picture. The change is part of a broader push to make automated bidding more accessible, reducing setup decisions while maintaining control over performance goals.

Bottom line. Microsoft is consolidating bidding options into simpler frameworks, keeping familiar optimization controls available but moving them into a more streamlined setup experience.


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Anu AdegbolaAnu Adegbola

Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.

In 2008, Anu started her career delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side. Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPC Live The Podcast.

She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US, UK, Munich, Berlin), Friends of Search (Amsterdam, NL), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna, IT) and more.