If you’re preparing for the Google Ads Measurement Certification, you’ll likely see questions that test your knowledge of how optimization works inside the platform. One common and important question is: What are the two types of optimization?
In this guide, I’ll explain the correct answer with clear logic, real-life examples, visual charts, and helpful links. By the end, you’ll fully understand how bidding and targeting optimization work and why other options may confuse you during the exam. So, no delay—let’s get to the main point.
Question and Correct Answer
What are the two types of optimization? Choose two.
- Targeting optimization
- Channel optimization
- Bidding optimization
- Media mix optimization
Here are the two correct answers: ✅ Targeting optimization and Bidding optimization
Why These Are the Correct Answers
1. Targeting Optimization helps you reach the right people at the right time. Google Ads lets you adjust who sees your ads using audience segments, keywords, locations, devices, demographics, and interest-based data. When your targeting is optimized, your budget is spent on users most likely to convert.
2. Bidding Optimization manages how much you pay for each click or conversion. Using Smart Bidding strategies like Target CPA, Target ROAS, or Maximize Conversions, Google Ads automatically adjusts bids in real-time to help meet your campaign goals. This saves time and improves performance without constant manual updates.
These two optimization methods are core tools in the Google Ads platform and are used to boost ROI and campaign efficiency.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
| Option | Why It’s Incorrect |
|---|---|
| Channel optimization | This refers to selecting ad platforms (like Search, YouTube, or Display), which is part of campaign setup—not optimization. It doesn’t impact bid or audience strategy directly. |
| Media mix optimization | This is a general marketing strategy term. It involves allocating budgets across different marketing channels (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook, TV), not something you optimize within Google Ads. |
These might sound like they belong in a digital marketing discussion, but they aren’t correct in the context of Google Ads platform optimization.
Real-Life Exam Example
Scenario:
Josh is managing Google Ads for a local gym that recently launched an online membership program. His goal is to increase sign-ups without wasting money on users who aren’t interested.
To make this work, Josh focuses on targeting optimization by narrowing his audience to people actively searching for workout plans, fitness apps, or home gym equipment. This helps ensure that only the most relevant users see his ads.
At the same time, he enables bidding optimization using Google’s Smart Bidding strategy, Target CPA, which automatically adjusts his bids to get the most sign-ups at the best cost per acquisition.
Thanks to these two optimization strategies—targeting and bidding—Josh sees a 35% increase in conversions and stays under budget.
👉 This real-life use case proves how the right combination of optimization tools in Google Ads can improve performance without increasing ad spend.
Quick Reference Table
| Optimization Type | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Bidding Optimization | Automatically adjusts bids to meet goals like CPA or ROAS | Using Target CPA bidding strategy |
| ✅ Targeting Optimization | Helps reach users more likely to convert based on audience data | Selecting in-market audience segments |
| ❌ Channel Optimization | Chooses platforms for ad placement | Selecting YouTube instead of Display |
| ❌ Media Mix Optimization | Distributes budget across multiple platforms outside of Ads | Allocating 60% Google Ads, 40% Meta Ads |
Resource Links
Here are official and trusted resources to help you learn more:
Conclusion
When taking your Google Ads Measurement Certification exam, remember this:
The two real types of optimization inside Google Ads are Bidding Optimization and Targeting Optimization.
They help control how you spend money (bidding) and who sees your ads (targeting). Other terms like “channel” and “media mix” may sound smart but are not used for actual optimization in Google Ads.
✅ Know the difference. ✅ Practice with examples. ✅ You’re one step closer to passing the exam!
FAQs
1. What is bidding optimization in Google Ads?
It’s the strategy of adjusting how much you pay to help reach specific goals—like maximizing conversions or keeping cost per action low.
2. What is targeting optimization?
This is about fine-tuning your audience, choosing the right people to show your ads to using Google’s targeting tools.
3. Why are channel and media mix optimization incorrect?
Because they deal with platform choices or overall marketing strategies, not with in-platform ad performance.
4. How can I practice more real exam questions?
Use Google Skillshop for free training and quizzes that simulate the real certification test.
Finally, I can say that if you are ready, you can take the exam on Skillshop – Google Ads Measurement Certification. If you want more real exam questions and answers like this one, which have already been covered, follow along. I’ll be breaking down more Google Ads Measurement Certification exam questions with full solutions in the next posts on Google Ads!
- About the Author
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Bhupati Barman is a Co-founder of Mite Art, as well as an Entrepreneur, SEO Optimizer, and Blog Writer, covering a variety of interesting topics.