Heading to the Google I/O Developer Event

Next week, on May 28th and 29th, we're headed to Google I/O. This will be Google's largest developer event of the year. There will be over 80 breakout sessions on the latest web development technologies as well as hands-on Code Labs and informal Q&A at Fireside Chats. You can see the complete session schedule on the event website. We'll be hosting a demonstration booth and answering questions about the AdWords API.

Hope to see you there!

-- Debbie Leight, Product Marketing

Integration of Code Samples into the Developer Guide

While referencing our online API documentation, you've probably found yourself switching between the developer guide and applicable code samples. We realized that it would be more helpful to you to find these materials in the same place. Therefore, today, we are happy to announce the integration of code samples directly into the developer guide. In the guide, for methods that have corresponding code samples, we've added a new "Samples" section. When you expand the plus box next to these sections, you will see:

• examples of a method's usage in multiple (programming) languages,
• syntax highlighting and line numbers,
• easy navigation, and
• a link to a full sample.

The AdWords API Developer's Guide is located at http://www.google.com/apis/adwords/developer/index.html. An example
of a method that lists a "Samples" section is at
http://www.google.com/apis/adwords/developer/AccountService.html#getAccountInfo.

Check it out and tell us what you think!

-- Stan Grinberg, Developer Programs Engineer

AdWords Downtime: May 17, 10am-2pm PST

We'll be performing routine system maintenance on Saturday, May 17 from approximately 10:00am to 2:00pm PST. You won't be able to access AdWords or the API during this time frame, but your ads will continue to run as normal.

Cheers,
-Jeffrey Posnick, AdWords API Team

April API rate sheet reductions, we're not joking :)

In the past, we've been known for some creative April announcements. Today, however, I'm happy to report a few real reductions in API rates that will bring a smile to your face. You'll be glad to know we aren't joking.

We have made some enhancements to our system that have enabled us to drive greater efficiencies that are now reflected in savings to our API users.

Effective today, we have lowered the number of API units charged for the following services:

Service Name, Former Rate (in API units), New Rate

• addAds: 125 -> 50 per item
• addCriteria: 25 -> 20 per item
• updateCriteria: 10 -> 3 per item
• getKeywordVariations: 25 -> 20
• getKeywordsFromSite: 25 -> 20
• estimateAdGroupList: 25 -> 20 per item
• estimateCampaignList: 25 -> 20 per item
• estimateKeywordList: 25 -> 20 per item
• scheduleReportJob: 1000 -> 500

API units will continue to be charged at a cost of US$0.25 (or local currency equivalent) per thousand units consumed; but these per-service rate reductions will bring substantial savings.

And as always, we encourage developers to use list methods whenever possible (e.g. addCampaignList). They are the most efficient (and cost-effective) way to process large data sets.

- Debbie Leight, Product Marketing

AdWords Downtime: April 12, 10am-2pm PST

We'll be performing routine system maintenance on Saturday, April 12 from approximately 10:00am to 2:00pm PST. You won't be able to access AdWords or the API during this time frame, but your ads will continue to run as normal.

Cheers,
-Jeffrey Posnick, AdWords API Team

AdWords API Coming Out of Beta

Having spent the last few years refining our release versioning systems and policies, usage model, and data center systems, we feel it is time to officially remove the beta label from the AdWords API.

We'd like to thank those of you who have supported the API over the last several years, and especially to those intrepid souls who first joined the beta in early 2005. Since our initial beta launch, the API has grown to support thousands of independent developers. The AdWords API is an integral part of the AdWords platform, and one we will continue to refine and develop in the years to come.

-- Borana Toska, Product Marketing

AdWords API Version 12 Now Available

We are happy to announce the release of the AdWords API Version 12 (V12).

V12 introduces several changes to the AdWords API. Below, you'll find the main highlights from this release. For a complete list of V12 changes, please see our release notes.

V12 HIGHLIGHTS

• Conversion Optimizer support: Now you can enable Conversion Optimizer to pay only when an ad click leads to a conversion to adjust cost-per-acquisition bids through the AdWords API . Using Conversion Optimizer requires conversion tracking to be enabled on an existing campaign with at least 200 conversions in the past 30 days.
• CPC bidding for placement-targeted ads: Now you can use Website.maxCpc or
  AdGroup.siteMaxCpc to pay only when a user clicks on your placement-targeted ad.
• Expanded code sample library: As mentioned in a previous blog post, we have released 140 new code samples, 20 in 7 programming languages. Check out it out at http://www.google.com/apis/adwords/samplecode.html

V11 SUNSET IN 2008

Per our versioning policy, V11 will be supported for four months from today, after which time it will be turned off. Therefore, please make sure that you upgrade to V12 before July 26, 2008. As with every new version of the AdWords API, we strongly encourage you to review the Release Notes section of the Developer's Guide to learn more about this version.

UPDATE: April 2, 2008

Please note that now you can enable Conversion Optimizer to adjust cost-per-acquisition bids through the AdWords API. The way this feature was initially described was inaccurate. We apologize for the confusion.

-- Borana Toska, Product Marketing