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Google has rolled out a major update for advertisers. Full placement reporting is now available for the Search Partner Network (SPN). For a long period of time, advertisers had limited insight into where their ads were shown within the SPN, especially when it comes to running Search and Shopping campaigns. Only Performance Max (PMax) campaigns offered full transparency until now. This was a big problem regarding the advertiser control. With the latest update, Search, Shopping, and App campaigns now have the same reporting standards as PMax.
By distributing advertisements on third-party websites in collaboration with Google, the Search Partner Network aims to increase advertiser reach. This has been criticized for a long period of time because of the lack of transparency, as advertisers could not see where their ads were displayed, which was concerning because of brand safety and traffic quality.
In March 2024, Google improved monitoring for marketers by introducing site-level placement reporting for PMax campaign, but Search and Shopping campaigns were excluded, until now, when Google expanded placement reporting to these campaign types.
Reports include a list of domains where ads appeared, along with impression counts. Although click and conversion data are not available per placement, impression‑level transparency is still a significant improvement. Advertisers can finally see whether ads are appearing on relevant and brand‑safe websites, enabling them to evaluate the quality of SPN traffic.
The implementation of full placement information addresses accountability, one of the main issues facing advertisers.
Google permits pre-screen brand safety procedures in order to help advertisers.. SPN campaigns can use exclusion lists from companies such as Integral Ad Science and DoubleVerify. These third-party technologies give advertisers greater assurance about campaign safety, even though site-level exclusions directly within Google Ads are not yet fully available.
The same method used for Performance Max campaigns can be used to get the reporting. Go to the Placement reports in Google Ads, then choose the Search Partner Network view. Advertisers may view the impressions by site breakdown here. Despite the lack of performance indicators like conversions, impression visibility by itself offers a useful level of knowledge that was previously unavailable.
A common question related to these new innovations is whether this update extends to RSOC (Related Search on Content). The answer is no. RSOC is not an advertiser-side campaign type; rather, it is a publisher-side monetisation solution. Although search-driven traffic is a component of both SPN and RSOC, their functions within the ecosystem are distinct. Only Google Ads advertisers are subject to SPN placement reporting. This reporting structure does not apply to RSOC.
For individuals operating in the arbitrage arena, this distinction is crucial. Despite their similar appearance, RSOC is not covered by the new transparency tools. These reporting updates will not be shown to publishers that monetise through RSOC.
For advertisers executing Search and Shopping ads, the enhanced reporting offers instant advantages. Take the example of a shopping marketer who previously saw that 20% of impressions were from SPN but lacked a breakdown of the source of those impressions. They may now determine whether the websites that generate the most traffic are appropriate for their target demographic by using site-level reporting.
Advertisers can now evaluate SPN placements against the core Google Search inventory thanks to this visibility. Although it is not possible to disable SPN, advertisers can better grasp its role and modify their strategy accordingly.
This update also represents Google’s reaction to external pressures. Over time, the company has shifted away from manual controls in favor of automated processes, prompting advertisers to make use of features like Smart Bidding and PMax. Nevertheless, the lack of clarity concerning SPN became a significant concern, especially after Google eliminated the opt-out option for SPN earlier in 2025. The resulting backlash from advertisers and industry regulators highlighted that transparency is essential. Thus, this update serves not only as an enhancement but also as a public relations strategy aimed at rebuilding advertiser confidence.
Although this update marks progress, uncertainties persist. Will Google permit advertisers to specifically exclude certain SPN sites within the interface? Will upcoming versions provide click and conversion statistics for each placement? Will there ever be similar transparency applied to publisher-side features like RSOC? These remain unanswered questions, but the overall trend suggests a move toward increased transparency and control as advertisers continue to advocate against opaque systems.
Google’s enhancement of full placement reporting for the Search Partner Network marks a significant step towards increased transparency. By broadening reporting capabilities beyond PMax to include Search, Shopping, and App campaigns, advertisers are now able to see where their ads are displayed, along with the impression counts for each partner site.
Although this does not pertain to RSOC and restrictions on direct site exclusions remain limited, this initiative enhances responsibility and lays the groundwork for more intelligent optimization. For advertisers, the key takeaway is straightforward: examine your SPN placements, evaluate traffic quality, and utilize brand safety tools. While transparency by itself won’t optimize campaigns, it serves as an essential initial step toward making more informed, performance-focused decisions.
