When using ad group-based templates, RSAs are generated within your selected existing ad groups and don’t require any parent templates. Ad-group based templates rely on custom dimensions, and do not directly use feed data, though custom dimensions can be aligned and updated with feed data through custom dimension templates .
Template setup guidelines
- Data Sources and Management
- Template data comes directly from your parent ad groups and their associated custom dimensions
- During setup, the template shows you which custom dimensions are associated with your ad groups, but these associations must be managed outside the template
- Custom dimensions must be properly configured with values before template creation
- Ad Group Selection Process
- Choose from any standard ad groups within search campaigns
- Select individual ad groups or use filters for bulk selection
- You can modify your ad group selections later by editing the template
Important: If your selected filters cause ad groups to no longer align with the template, any associated RSAs will be handled based on your chosen Status settings (Pause, Remove, or Maintain current status). This functions similarly to removing a specific item through a feed.
- Once set up, you cannot switch to using template parents instead of ad groups
- Available Formula OptionsYour formulas can use data from:
- Standard attributes (campaign and ad group names, budgets, status)
- Custom columns at the sub-manager level
- Associated custom dimensions
Implementation example
- Configure custom dimensions for specific use cases (such as seasonal promotions)
- Build formulas that utilize parent attributes and custom dimension data
- Review RSAs using the preview function before activation
- Manage campaign timing by pausing or activating RSAs as needed
Create a responsive search ad template
- Sign in to your Search Ads 360 experience .
- Navigate to the relevant sub-manager account.
- From the page menu, under “Tools & settings”, click the Templatesdrop-down.
- Click Templates.
- Click the plus button
.
- Click + Responsive search ad template.
- Follow the instructions in the sections below, starting with RSA template with ad group parent pre-stage .vClick Continueto complete each stage and proceed to the next one.
For general information about configuring dynamic template elements, refer to the articles About custom columns in templates and Configure custom columns in templates .
Click the headings below to learn about each stage in the RSA template creation flow, including stage settings with dynamic content examples. For dynamic content, examples for the ad group template parent type are provided.
“Flights” feed table
In this example, the "Flights" feed table contains the following columns of product data supplied by a new Search Ads 360 customer, Example Airways.
Example Airways operates two brands. Albatross Flights sells transatlantic tickets between the US and European destinations, while Golden Eagle Flights markets route tickets within Europe.
The example feed table only contains information for one route for each brand to ease understanding.
| Feed column name | Feed column name | Column value example 1 | Column value example 2 |
| "product_id" | Flight origin airport international air transport association (IATA) code –destination airport IATA code | CDG-LHR | SEA-CDG |
| "brand" | The brand name for the flight | Golden Eagle Flights | Albatross Flights |
| "availability" | Flight ticket availability | Available | Not available |
| "seats_left" | Number of unsold seats on the flight | 11 | 0 |
| "origin_iata" | Flight origin airport’s IATA code | CDG | SEA |
| "origin_name" | Flight departure location | Paris | Seattle |
| "origin_country" | Flight origin country’s name | France | USA |
| "destination _iata" |
Flight destination airport´s IATA code | LHR | CDG |
| "destination_name" | Flight destination's name | London | Paris |
| "destination_country" | Flight destination country’s name | UK | France |
| "price_usd" | The flight price in US dollars | 400 | 900 |
Set up RSA templates with ad group parents
Create a "Sales" custom dimension with a data row for a Black Friday flights sale
- In Search Ads 360, navigate to your sub-manager account
- Go to Tools & settings > Shared library > Custom dimensions
- Click the plus button to create a new dimension
- Configure the basic settings:
- Name: "Sales"
- Add an optional description
- Keep the default owner (current sub-manager)
- Click Save and Continue
Configuring Dimensions
Add the following dimensions:
- Sale Name
- Data format: Text
- Value: "Black Friday"
- Discount
- Data format: Integer
- Value: 10
Associating with Ad Groups
- Navigate to the Ad groups page
- Filter to locate your target ad groups. In this example, we're looking for:
- "Albatross Flights/Seattle/Paris"
- "Golden Eagle Flights/Paris/London"
- Attach the "Sales" custom dimension to the filtered ad groups
- For each ad group, set:
- Sale Name = "Black Friday"
- Discount = 10
Once completed, these ad groups will have the custom dimension data available for use in RSA template formulas.
Click the headings below to learn about each stage in the RSA template creation flow, including stage settings with dynamic content examples.
RSA template with ad group parents pre-stage
- Select Ad group as the parent type.
- Select the ad groups you want to use with the template.
- For ad-group parents, the ad group and associated item's data is used. No feed is directly associated.
Ad group parent example
For our RSA template based on the flights scenario, the ad groups selected as parents are as follows:
- Albatross Flights/Seattle/Paris
- Golden Eagle Flights/Paris/London
Stage 1 RSA templates with ad group parents template settings
"Template settings”
"Template name"
- Required
- Must be unique at the sub-manager level
- Inherited from ad groups selected at pre-stage.
Ad group parent example
- Albatross Flights/Seattle/Paris
- Golden Eagle Flights/Paris/London
No feed is directly associated with an RSA template that has an ad group parent.
The associated custom dimensions are displayed.
"Multiplier" is not present
For RSA templates with ad group parents, there is no multiplier.
Associate existing labels with template-generated campaigns, ad groups, ads, and keywords.
Enter static or dynamic values. Learn more about associating labels .
Click Add labelto enter additional values.Associate existing custom dimension values with template-generated campaigns, ad groups, ads, and keywords.
Enter static or dynamic values to match against feed data to determine the custom dimension value to be associated. Learn how to Create and apply custom dimensions .
Click "Add custom dimensions data" to select additional custom dimensions to associate values from.
If your filters cause ad groups to no longer align with the template, associated RSAs will be Paused, Removed, or Maintained. This is similar to removing an item via a feed.
To have entities change status based on the removal of custom dimensions, apply a filter for "CD has value".
- Select Remove, Pause, or No changesto set the template and both new and existing entity statuses.
- If required, select Create responsive search ads in a paused state.
- If required, select Pause responsive search ads when a condition is met, then create your condition using a custom column.
Ad group parent example
In this example, Create responsive search ads in a paused stateis clicked. The RSA template will be created in the "Paused" state.
After creation, you can review the RSA template before activation and evaluation, and RSA ads before generation. View create in paused state.
Stage 2 RSA templates with ad group parents settings
This is the web address where users are directed after they click your ad.
For all advertising platforms and client accounts:
- Enter the ad "Final URL".
- It can be static text (the exact web address) or dynamic values based on feed and/or formula values.
For specific advertising platforms client accounts:
- Click " Add a custom setting " to create different final URL settings by account type or specific client account to better customize your RSA final URL structure.
URLs must start with http:// or https:// (recommended).
Ad group parent example
The formula can be:
"www.example.com/" & Ad_group_name & "/" & Sales.Sale_name
Example output:
- www.example.com/Albatross Flights/Seattle/Paris/BlackFriday
- www.example.com/Golden EagleFlights/Paris/London/BlackFriday
Display paths are the URLs that appear in your ads, showing users where they'll go after clicking. To set them up in Templates:
- Enter your display paths:
- In the "Display Path" field, enter the text you want to appear in your ads. This text should give users a clear idea of where they'll land after clicking your ad.
- You can use:
- Static text:Type in the exact text you want to appear. For example, if you're advertising shoes, you might enter "New Arrivals" or "Shop Now".
- Dynamic values:Create a formula to generate the text based on your feed data. This allows you to tailor your display path to different keywords, locations, or other factors. For example, you could include the keyword in the display path to make it more relevant to the user's search.
- Add fallback display paths (optional):
- To create backup display paths in case your original is invalid, click "Add fallback". These will be used if your main path is too long or contains unsupported characters.
How fallbacks work:
- Each display path can have multiple fallbacks.
- If the original display path fails, the system checks the fallbacks in order until it finds a valid one.
This ensures your ads always have a working display path.
For specific advertising platforms and client accounts:
- Click " Add a custom setting " to create different display paths by account type or specific client account to better customize your responsive search display path structure.
Ad group parent example
A static value is used:
"DiscountFlights"
Create your headlines using either static text or dynamic formulas. Each headline can have one or more fallbacks, which are used when the original formula produces an invalid result (most commonly when exceeding the 30-character limit). The system will check fallbacks in order until it finds a valid option.
For specific advertising platforms and client accounts:
- Click " Add a custom setting " to create different headlines by account type or specific client account to better customize your RSA headline structure.
Ad group parent example
Multiple static and/or dynamic headlines can be configured.
Headline 1 (static)
"Bargain flights for Black Friday!!"
Headline 2 (dynamic)
"Sale.Sale_name & " sale coming soon, November 24th, 2023!"
Headline output in generated ads:
- Black Friday sale coming soon, November 24th, 2023!
Create your descriptions using either static text or dynamic formulas. Each description can have one or more fallbacks, which are used when the original formula produces an invalid result (most commonly when exceeding the character limit). The system will check fallbacks in order until it finds a valid option.
For specific advertising platforms and client accounts:
- Click " Add a custom setting " to create different descriptions by account type or specific client account to better customize your responsive search ad description structure.
Multiple static and dynamic descriptions can be configured.
Ad group parent example
Description 1 (static)
"Black Friday discount flights"
Description 2 (dynamic)
Sale.Discount & "%" & " off " & Ad_group _name & " booked on " & Sale.Sale_name
Description output in generated ads:
- 10% off Albatross Flights/Seattle/Paris booked on Black Friday
- 10% off Golden Eagle Flights/Paris/London booked on Black Friday
Set up your ad's URL:
- Enter your landing page URL:Start with
http://orhttps://(recommended). You can use:- Static text:Enter the exact URL.
- Dynamic values:Create a formula to generate the URL based on your campaign data (e.g., keyword, location).
- Add a URL suffix (optional):
- Include static text or dynamic values to track information about your ads.
- Example:
utm_source=google&utm_campaign=my_campaign
- Mobile URL (optional):
- If you need a different URL for mobile users, select "Use a different final URL for mobile" and enter the mobile URL.
For specific advertising platforms and client accounts:
- Click " Add a custom setting" to create different ad URL options by account type or specific client account to better customize your RSA URL structure.
Ad group template parent example
"www.example.com/" & Ad_group_name & "/" & Sale.Sale_name
A tracking ad URL is created for each unique value generated.
Example output:
- https://www.example.com/albatrossflights/seattle/paris/blackfriday
- https://www.example.com/goldeneagleflights/paris/london/blackfriday
Learn more about Configure tracking URLs and custom parameters .
This URL uses existing advertising platform parameters (in this case for Google Ads).
Stage 3 Confirmation
- The first 100 RSAs are generated for preview.
- Return to previous settings stages to make any changes you require.
- Click Create templateto create the RSA template.
In this example, two RSAs are presented in preview.
As the Create in paused stateoption was selected in Stage 1 "Template settings", the RSA template is displayed at the top of the "Templates" table in the " Paused" state.Turn down RSAs for a completed sales promotion
When a sales promotion has passed its end date, related RSAs created using ad group parents must be stopped. Stop the ads by pausing the RSA template from which they're generated.
To pause an RSA template:
- Sign in to your Search Ads 360 experience .
- Navigate to a sub-manager account .
- From the page menu, under “Tools & settings”, click the Templates drop-down.
- Click Templates.
- Above the "Templates" table, click Add filter.
- Apply a filter field and appropriate value to locate the RSA template.
- Click the Status icon on the RSA template row.
- Click Pause.
Related links
- About template setup
- Understand common template type features
- Get started with template setup
- Set up campaign templates
- Set up ad group templates
- Set up keyword templates
- Set up negative keyword templates
- Set up sitelink templates
- Set up plan templates
- Set up responsive search ad templates with template parents
