How to Use Audience Signals in Performance Max Campaigns

How to Use Audience Signals in Performance Max Campaigns

Quick Read Summary

Email marketing remains a vital channel in 2025, offering permission-based communication, reliable measurement, and cost efficiency compared to other digital platforms. With the decline of cookies, first-party data collection through email lists becomes essential for privacy-friendly targeting. Brands use automation, personalization, and AI-driven optimization to support every stage of the customer lifecycle, from acquisition to retention. A clear strategy—defining goals, segmenting by behavior, creating tailored content, and managing timing—ensures stronger performance. Email also integrates with social media and search to expand reach while maintaining trust through compliance and deliverability best practices.
  • Email thrives as a privacy-first, cost-effective channel
  • Automation supports acquisition, conversion, and retention
  • Segmentation and personalization boost engagement
  • AI tools enhance timing, subject lines, and recommendations
  • Compliance and trust remain key to inbox placement
Estimated read: 9 min
Keywords: email marketing, campaigns, personalization, automation, first-party data

The Power of  Audience Signals

Are you looking to get the most out of your Google Ads budget? Learning how to use audience signals in Performance Max campaigns can help you reach your ideal customer, improve targeting, and boost your results. In this guide, you’ll discover what audience signals are, why they matter, and how to add and optimize them for your Performance Max (PMax) campaigns.

What Are Audience Signals in Performance Max Campaigns?

Audience signals are suggestions you provide to Google’s machine learning models about the types of users you want to reach with your ads. By adding audience signals, you help Google identify your targeted audience faster, using data like website visitors, customer match lists, custom audience segments, and detailed demographics.

When you add audience signals in the audiences section beneath your asset group, you’re not restricting your ads to just those users. Instead, you’re giving Google’s machine learning a head start, so it can find more people who are likely to convert—based on your ideal customer profile.

Why Use Audience Signals in Performance Max Campaigns?

Benefit Description
Faster Learning Google’s machine learning models can optimize your campaign more quickly.
Better Targeting Reach user groups based on long-term life facts, interests, and behaviors.
Improved Performance Higher relevance means more conversions and a better return on ad spend.
Custom Segmentation Use created audiences, website visitors, and customer match lists to refine your targeting.
How to Add Audience Signals to Performance Max

How to Add Audience Signals to Performance Max

Adding audience signals to your Performance Max campaigns is simple. Follow these steps:

  1. Create or Edit a Performance Max Campaign:
    In your Google Ads account, start a new PMax campaign or edit an existing one.

  2. Go to the Asset Group:
    Within your campaign, select the asset group you want to work with.

  3. Find the Audiences Section Beneath Your Asset:
    Scroll down to the audiences section beneath your asset group.

  4. Add Audience Signals:
    Click “Add audience signals.” Here, you can select from:

    • Website visitors
    • Customer match lists
    • Custom audience segments
    • Detailed demographics
  5. Save and Launch:
    Once you’ve added your audience signals, save your changes and launch your campaign.

Best Practices for Using Audience Signals

Best Practices for Using Audience Signals

  • Be Specific: Use data from your website visitors, customer match lists, and custom segments to define your ideal customer.
  • Update Regularly: Refresh your audience signals as you gather more data or as your business goals change.
  • Monitor Performance: Use audience insights on Google Ads to see which signals are driving results.
  • Test and Optimize: Try different combinations of audience signals to find what works best for your campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

To add audience signals to Performance Max campaigns, go to the audiences section beneath your asset group in Google Ads. Click “Add audience signals” and select from website visitors, customer match lists, custom audience segments, or detailed demographics. Adding audience signals helps Google’s machine learning models find your targeted audience faster and improve campaign performance.

You can optimize Performance Max campaigns by regularly reviewing audience insights and campaign data in Google Ads. Adjust your audience signals, asset groups, and bidding strategies based on which user groups and demographics are converting best. Testing new custom audience segments and updating your customer match lists can also help you reach your ideal customer more effectively.

To see audience insights on Google Ads, navigate to your Performance Max campaign and select the “Insights” tab. Here, you’ll find data on your targeted audience, including demographics, interests, and behaviors. Use these insights to refine your audience signals and improve your campaign’s targeting and results.

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Maximize Your Results with Audience Signals in Performance Max Campaigns

Knowing how to use audience signals in Performance Max campaigns is key to reaching your ideal customer and maximizing your Google Ads investment. By adding and optimizing audience signals, you give Google’s machine learning the information it needs to deliver your ads to the right people at the right time. Start adding audience signals to your PMax campaigns today and watch your results improve!

Author

  • Sam Ashrafi

    Sam Ashrafi is a highly experienced marketing strategist and co-founder in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in local and e-commerce marketing, Sam has a strong track record of developing and implementing successful marketing strategies for various businesses.

    Sam is enthusiastic about the potential of AI and digital marketing to revolutionize the industry, and he has a deep understanding of the latest trends and techniques in these areas. He is an expert in Google Ads, SEO, and content marketing, and he has helped numerous businesses to improve their online presence and drive more traffic to their websites.

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