Growing with Google’s Changing Advertising Platform

Google moves fast. Strong Automotive moves faster.

Over the past decade, Strong Automotive has continuously adapted to the evolving Google advertising ecosystem to help dealerships stay visible, competitive, and profitable. Since the launch of Google’s Premier Partner program in 2016, Strong has remained at the forefront of change, adjusting strategies, testing new products, and scaling campaigns as the platform transformed.

As John Paul Strong, Owner of Strong Automotive, explains, “Google is an ever changing ecosystem of online traffic.” The reality for advertisers is simple: “There is no tactic for Google that works today that will work the same tomorrow.”

How Google Advertising Has Changed Since 2016

When Google introduced the Premier Partner program in 2016, it marked the beginning of a new era of performance-based advertising partnerships. Since then, nearly every aspect of Google Ads has evolved.

Strong Automotive responded to those changes quickly and strategically, adapting to major platform developments such as:

• The rollout of Expanded Text Ads and the eventual shift to Responsive Search Ads
• Early testing of Responsive Search Ads beginning in 2018
• The rise of automation and Smart Bidding strategies
• New automotive-specific solutions like Vehicle Listing Ads
• The transition from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4
• The launch and expansion of Performance Max campaigns
• Growing impact of YouTube video advertising

Each change required new strategies, campaign structures, and performance measurement methods. Strong stayed ahead of those shifts so dealer partners could benefit immediately.

Key Milestones in Strong’s Growth

As Google’s advertising ecosystem expanded, so did the scale of Strong’s campaigns.

Over the past decade, Strong Automotive has managed growing levels of Google Ads investment for dealer partners, reaching major milestones along the way:

• 2016: Google launches the Premier Partner program
• 2018: Strong begins early testing of Responsive Search Ads
• 2020: Digital advertising accelerates as dealerships shift focus online
• 2022: Strong surpasses $15 million in annual Google Ads spend
• 2023: Campaign investment grows beyond $20 million
• 2025–2026: Strong exceeds $30 million in annual Google Ads spend

These milestones reflect the expanding role of search and video advertising in dealership marketing strategies.

Built for an Ever-Changing Platform

Success on Google requires more than simply running ads. It requires a team that understands how quickly the platform evolves.

Avery Arthur, Director of Paid Ads, described that culture when he joined the company:

“On my first day at Strong Automotive, I instantly knew just how lucky I was to have landed here. It was immediately evident to me that Strong holds itself to a standard that is simply a cut above the rest. Our standard of excellence and hunger for growth has driven Strong to maintain its status as a Google Premier Partner for the entirety of the program’s existence. Google Premier Partners represent the top 3% of advertisers in the US, and that’s a testament to all of the hard work put in every day by every person at Strong Automotive. I’m so proud to be a part of such an elite operation.”

Preparing Dealers for the Next Evolution

Google advertising will continue to change, and Strong Automotive is ready for what comes next. From Performance Max campaigns to advanced video strategies and data-driven optimization, Strong helps dealerships build digital marketing strategies designed for the future of search.

After a decade as a Google Premier Partner, Strong Automotive continues helping dealers turn platform changes into real marketing results.