Issue 001 — Your campaign defaults deserve a second look

Oct 25

THE HUDDLE · ISSUE 001

Curated by Toby Doebrich · Playbook Digital Solutions

Published October 25, 2026 · Reporting checked October 25, 2026.

Hi there,

Welcome to The Huddle. I’m Toby. This is your weekly briefing on what’s changing in marketing and advertising, why it matters, and what’s worth doing next.

This week: a coming change to Google’s ad settings, a revised Meta deadline, and a closer look at AI tools built for business owners. The common thread is control: knowing what a platform will do before it does it for you.

THE LEAD

New campaign, different default.

Google Ads · Announced October 21 · Change starts December 4, 2026

Google says new Performance Max campaigns will automatically be allowed to pull images from their landing pages starting December 4. An account-level Dynamic Images setting switched off will no longer prevent that default. Existing campaigns retain their current configurations.

Why it matters: a photo that works on a service page may need different context in an ad. For a hotel, that could mean a room photo tied to a particular category; for a wellness business, an image of a service that isn’t available at every location.

What I’d check: have whoever manages your campaigns review the campaign-level setting and the images eligible for advertising. Make a deliberate choice about the automation before a new campaign goes live.

Read Google’s announcement:

https://ads-developers.googleblog.com/2026/10/upcoming-changes-to-image-extraction-in.html

ON THE RADAR

Meta’s terms timeline has moved.

Reported October 23, 2026

Reuters reports that Meta has moved the start of its updated Commercial Terms and Self-Serve Ad Terms from October 30 to November 20, following concerns from publishers and advertisers. Meta disputes claims about the scope of the changes.

For your calendar: update any internal reminder still pointing to October 30 and read the current notice for your business before the new date. This story is still developing.

Read the report:

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/meta-delay-new-commercial-terms-criticised-by-publishers-advertisers-2026-10-23/

TOOL WATCH

Gemini wants a place in your business workflow.

Google · Announced October 20, 2026

Google announced a Gemini hub for small businesses, connections to business tools and the ability to retain an uploaded visual brand style. The company describes a rollout, so check what is available in your account.

My first test would be a repeatable, low-stakes task: turn an approved service description into a first draft for review. Compare the result with the source. Does it preserve the offer, the voice and the practical details?

An announcement isn’t a hands-on recommendation. We’ve reviewed Google’s release; we haven’t tested these new features for this edition.

See the release:

https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-app/new-tools-small-business-owners/

TOBY’S TAKE

Automation still needs a point of view.

I’m interested in tools that take work off a team’s plate. But the useful question is what we’re trusting them to decide.

A restaurant’s seasonal offer, a manufacturer’s capabilities and an insurance professional’s consultation each need accurate context. A platform can help distribute a message. Your business still needs to decide what the message means and whether it reflects what you actually deliver.

THIS WEEK’S MOVE

Give one live campaign a five-minute check.

Open one campaign and its destination page. Compare the promise, the image and the next step. Note any automated creative settings you haven’t deliberately reviewed. Then choose one discrepancy to investigate—before adding another tactic.