Advertisers can now compare two sets of assets while keeping “common assets” consistent across both versions. Tests can be set up from the Experiments page under the Assets sub-menu, allowing marketers to see which creative combinations perform best.

Google previously launched a similar experiment type for retail campaigns last year, and this expands the capability to all Performance Max campaigns.

Why we care. Performance Max campaigns rely heavily on automation, which has historically made testing specific creative assets tricky. This new feature gives advertisers more control over asset-level performance insights without disrupting the overall campaign.

The big picture. Tests will likely need to run at least four weeks to account for P-Max’s learning phase and ad delivery stabilization, meaning results won’t be instantaneous. But once complete, advertisers could make more informed decisions about which images, headlines, and videos drive results.

Between the lines. Asset-level A/B testing could become a key lever for improving Performance Max ROI, especially for advertisers managing multiple creatives and asset formats.

First seen. This update was first spotted by web marketer Dario Zannoni which he shared on LinkedIn.

The bottom line. While still in Beta, this experiment type promises a new level of transparency and control over automated campaigns — and could change how marketers approach asset strategy in Performance Max.

Dig deeper. About Performance Max optimization experiments: A/B testing assets (Beta)


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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.