While everyone panics about AI search, smart marketers found the loophole. Plus: the backlink tool that actually works.

​​If having trouble with any links, you can read the online version here​

Hey Guys,

Google's changing the game again—and most people are going to miss it completely.

While everyone's panicking about AI search "stealing" 60% of their clicks, a handful of marketers just figured out how to trigger Google Discover with a $3 ad spend and ride it to 1M+ visitors.

And if you're running Google Ads in 2026 without understanding the difference between Performance Max and Demand Gen? You're basically lighting money on fire. Pick the wrong one, you're done. Pick the right one (or better yet, run both strategically), you scale.

Today's newsletter is packed with the tactics that actually work right now—from the hidden settings wasting your budget to a clever workaround for accessing Google's keyword tools without a credit card.

Before we dive in, I've got something for you:

I know you're busy. You don't have time to watch nine videos and try to extract the good stuff yourself. That's why I've created a complete implementation package for every single video in today's newsletter.

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➡️ Your Complete Implementation Guide

Inside, you'll find:

✅ 4-paragraph summaries of each video (get the core strategy in 60 seconds)

✅ 25 key takeaways per video (the specific tactics you can use immediately)

✅ Step-by-step checklists for implementation (no guessing, just execute)

This isn't theory. This is the exact playbook for executing what you're about to read below. Bookmark it, use it, and actually implement.

​Access Your Complete Implementation Guide Here​

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SPECIAL: The Backlink Tool That Actually Works (No API Keys, No Extra Costs)

Before we get into the Google Ads strategies, I want to show you something that just launched—and it's solving a problem most of us have been dealing with for years.

I sat down with Abdul Hannan to demo his new tool called Keyword Ranker, and here's why you should pay attention: this is the first backlink tool I've seen that actually delivers high-authority links without requiring API keys, indexer subscriptions, or any of the usual headaches.

Here's what makes this different:

300+ High DA Backlinks Per Campaign - Every campaign generates 300+ contextual backlinks from sites with DA 25-50. These aren't spam sites. These are curated from a database of 5,500+ unique domains that have been tested and proven to move rankings.

Zero Extra Costs - The tool includes premium indexing built-in. No paying for separate indexer subscriptions, no API keys to manage, no accounts to set up. You pay once, everything works.

Unlimited Use - Unlike most backlink tools that cap you at X links per month, this is truly unlimited. You can run as many campaigns as you want with as many keywords as you want (even 500+ if you're doing massive parasite campaigns, though 5-10 is recommended for landing pages).

Proven Results - Hannan showed me case studies from the pilot launch in November 2025. One client in the supplements niche nearly doubled their traffic. Another in tech reviews jumped from page 2-3 to ranking #1 for keywords with 1,900+ monthly searches.

What You Can Use This For:

• Parasite SEO campaigns
• YouTube video rankings
• Landing pages (perfect for the product sniping strategies we've been teaching)
• Social media profiles (LinkedIn, the new Digg, etc.)
• Established websites that need authority boosts
• Foreign language keywords (Spanish, Korean, Russian—all supported)

The Setup Is Stupid Simple:

1. Add your URL(s) - you can add multiple URLs in one campaign
2. Add your keywords (5-10 recommended, but you can go crazy if needed)
3. Choose number of links (up to 300)
4. Click submit
5. Download your report when it's done (a few hours later)

That's it. No copying and pasting into indexers. No managing API integrations. It all happens automatically.

Pricing:

• $197/year - Unlimited campaigns, unlimited keywords
• $297 lifetime - Pay once, use forever

For context: most "premium" backlink services charge $50-200 per month and give you limits. This is unlimited with no recurring costs if you go lifetime.

My Take:

I'm planning to test this on one of my domains across multiple campaigns to see how it performs over time. The fact that you get different links each time you run a campaign (thanks to that 5,500+ site database) means you can keep hitting the same URL without creating footprints.

Perfect for the landing pages we've been building in the workshops. Perfect for parasite posts. Perfect for YouTube rankings.

​Watch the full demo and case studies​

Now let's get into the Google Ads strategies...

1. The Google Discover "Secret Formula" – How to Trigger 1M Traffic With $3

Most people think Google Discover is pure luck. It's not.

There's a specific mechanism you can trigger using click-worthy thumbnails (not clickbait—there's a difference) and a tiny ad spend to jumpstart the algorithm.

Here's what you need to know:

The strategy involves running a ₹200 (~$2.50) trigger campaign that forces Google to index and push your content into the Discover feed. Once you're in, the algorithm takes over if your content performs.

The thumbnail specs matter: 1200x628 pixels, under 100kb file size for fast loading. This isn't optional—mess this up and you won't trigger the feed.

There's even an automation angle here using Google Sheets and Scripts to auto-fetch trending topics before your competitors see them.

​Watch the complete strategy here​

2. Stop Asking "Which One?" – The Demand Gen + PMax Hybrid Strategy That Actually Scales

Here's what nobody's telling you: Demand Gen and Performance Max aren't competitors. They're partners.

This breakdown shows real data from $300K+ in ad spend proving how Demand Gen warms up cold traffic so PMax can close them efficiently.

The framework:

Demand Gen handles prospecting—it's the successor to YouTube Video Action campaigns. You separate cold and warm audiences, let Demand Gen do the heavy lifting on awareness, then PMax harvests the conversions.

The video includes actual account spreadsheets showing how this hybrid approach drops CPA dramatically compared to running either campaign in isolation.

If you're only running one of these, you're leaving money on the table. Period.

​Watch the breakdown​

3. Display Ads Without Burning Cash – The "Safe Mode" Setup

Display ads are notorious for wasting budgets on junk traffic. This tutorial shows you how to set up campaigns for brand awareness without falling into Google's default traps.

Critical fixes:

Switch from "Interest" to "Presence" targeting immediately—this alone saves you from paying for people who once visited your target location but live somewhere else.

Understand the difference between targeting specific websites (placements) versus audience segments. One gives you control, the other gives you mystery charges.

And here's something Google won't tell you: they ignore your daily budget but respect your monthly limit. Plan accordingly.

​Watch the tutorial​

4. Three Hidden Settings Draining Your Demand Gen Budget Right Now

Demand Gen is powerful, but the default settings are designed to make Google money—not you.

Here's what to uncheck immediately:

Setting #1: Google Display Network. Turn it off. Stick to YouTube and Gmail only.

Setting #2: Force "YouTube In-Stream" placement and avoid Shorts for certain campaign types (unless you're specifically testing Shorts).

Setting #3: Stop Google from automatically cropping your videos. You spent time on that creative—don't let Google ruin it.

These three fixes can cut wasted spend by 20-40% depending on your account. Do this today.

​Watch the fix​

5. Stop Over-Optimizing – The Real Google Ads Optimization Cadence

You don't need to optimize every day. In fact, over-optimizing kills performance.

Here's the actual cadence:

Weekly "Light" Check:

• Add negative keywords
• Reallocate budget between campaigns

Monthly "Deep" Check:

• Adjust bidding strategies
• Full creative refresh
• Verify conversion tracking (Google might report 3 conversions when you actually got 6)

The video also covers how to use tools like Hyros to verify what's really happening versus what Google reports. Trust but verify.

​Watch the checklist​

6. PMax vs Demand Gen: The Technical Breakdown You Actually Need

They look similar in the interface. They behave completely differently under the hood.

Key differences:

Audience Data: PMax is a black box—you don't see who clicked. Demand Gen gives you line-by-line reporting on audience performance.

Placement Control: Demand Gen lets you specifically target YouTube Shorts. PMax can't do this.

Conversion Tracking: View-through conversions matter way more for Demand Gen. Understanding this changes how you measure success.

If you're trying to decide which one to run, this video shows you exactly why the answer is "both, but for different reasons."

​Watch the comparison​

7. The AI Search Shift Is Here – How to Survive (And Thrive) in 2026

AI Overviews are crushing informational search clicks—down 61% in some sectors.

The reality:

If you're still targeting the same keywords the same way, you're about to get destroyed. AI is answering questions directly in the search results, and people aren't clicking through anymore.

The adaptation:

You might need to embrace Broad Match keywords to appear in AI-generated responses. Yes, I know that sounds crazy. Watch the video—it'll make sense.

Three metrics to watch:

1. Click drop on informational queries
2. CPC spike (demand stays same, clicks drop = higher cost per click)
3. Conversion dip from search traffic

When you see these signals, it's time to pivot your strategy.

​Watch the forecast​

8. The "Anti-Waste" Search Campaign Setup (Start Here If You're New)

If you're launching a new search campaign, do not use Google's default settings. They're designed to spend your money, not make you money.

Critical setup steps:

Double uncheck: Turn off "Search Partners" and "Display Network" immediately. You want search traffic only.

Match type strategy: Start with Phrase and Exact match. Ignore Google's push for Broad match until you have data.

Negative keyword list: Every campaign needs a standard negative list from day one: rental, free, job, salary, course (unless you sell courses), etc.

This is basic stuff, but most people skip it and wonder why their campaigns burn cash.

​Watch the setup guide​

9. Hack: Access Google Keyword Planner Without a Credit Card

Want to use Google's Keyword Planner for research but don't want to enter billing info? There's a workaround.

The trick:

During account setup, select India as your location and choose "Net Banking" as payment method. This lets you skip the credit card requirement.

Once you're in, skip the campaign creation and go straight to the Tools menu to access Keyword Planner.

Important: This is for research only (using the free tools). If you actually want to run ads in your home country, you'll need to set up properly with billing.

​Watch the hack​

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Ready to Get Your Backlinks Without the Headache?

Look, I've tested dozens of backlink tools over the years. Most of them require:

➜ API keys you have to manage

➜ Separate indexer subscriptions ($50-200/month)

➜ Complex setups that take hours

➜ Monthly limits that cap your growth

Keyword Ranker eliminates all of that.

Here's what you get:

✅ 300+ DA 25-50 backlinks per campaign

✅ 5,500+ domain database (fresh links every time)

✅ Built-in premium indexing (no extra costs)

✅ Unlimited campaigns, unlimited keywords

✅ Works for parasite SEO, YouTube, landing pages, social profiles

✅ Foreign language support

Pricing:

➜ $197/year (unlimited everything)

➜ $297 lifetime (pay once, use forever)

To watch full video demo click here: CLICK HERE​

To check out the Keyword Ranking offer: CLICK HERE​

Your Next Move

Look, information without action is just entertainment.

You've got nine proven strategies sitting in front of you right now. Pick ONE. Not three, not five—ONE. Implement it today. Get it working. Then move to the next.

Speed of execution beats perfection every single time.

And if you need backlinks for any of your campaigns (parasite posts, YouTube videos, landing pages), check out the Keyword Ranker tool I demo'd at the top of this newsletter. The lifetime deal at $297 is a no-brainer if you're serious about SEO.

No more "I'll watch this later" or "I need to take notes." The notes are done. The checklists are ready. Just execute.

The marketers who win in 2026 won't be the ones who consume the most content. They'll be the ones who ship first and iterate fast.

Talk soon,

- Tony

P.S. Which strategy are you implementing first? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response and often turn the best questions into future newsletter content.