AdSense’s New “Authorized Buyers” Switch Just Went Live: Your 7‑Day RPM Playbook for Creators (Nov 16, 2025)

What changed (and why creators should care)

1) AdSense replaced “Ad networks” with “Authorized Buyers” (Nov 6)

• New control lives at Brand safety → Content → Blocking controls → Authorized Buyers. It shows parent/child buyer relationships (DSPs, networks) and lets you allow/block them directly. Existing blocks were migrated; new buyers are allowed by default. Blocking can reduce auction pressure (and revenue). ^[2]
• Timeline recap and implications for publishers who relied on the old “Automatically allow new networks” toggle: it’s gone; plan on proactive monitoring. ^[3]

2) Google shipped new AI tools for publishers

• AI brand‑safety assistant that learns your manual decisions in the Ads Review Center and surfaces (and soon auto‑blocks) unwanted ads. ^[4]
• Generative‑AI reporting in Ad Manager (“ask” for custom reports like top CPM units). AI Help chat rolling out in Ad Manager, AdMob, and AdSense. ^[5]

3) Performance Max got fresher holiday juice

• Waze ads inventory is now part of PMax for store‑goal campaigns in the U.S., useful for creators who run local drops/pop‑ups or partner with retailers on foot‑traffic rev shares. Channel performance reporting for PMax rolled out to all campaigns. ^[6]

4) Platform context you can’t ignore this week

• YouTube flagged incorrect (sometimes doubled) YPP payment summaries on Nov 10; don’t base cash‑flow on inflated dashboards. Meanwhile, YouTube continues enforcing ad‑blocker restrictions—expect some view/user behavior variance around ads. ^[7]
• Holiday intent is peaking. Walmart’s Event 1 (Nov 14–16) ends tonight; Walmart+ is promo’d at $49/year (50% off) and early‑access windows are fueling deal traffic. If you publish shopping content or deal guides, timing matters today. ^[8]

Your 7‑day RPM and revenue plan

Day 1: Authorized Buyers audit (30–60 minutes)

• Open AdSense → Brand safety → Content → Blocking controls → Authorized Buyers. Export the list and mark any buyers you previously blocked at the advertiser level (e.g., categories you never accept). Confirm that critical blocks migrated. ^[9]
• Apply surgical blocks on known low‑quality buyers only. Google cautions that broad blocks can depress revenue. Track a baseline RPM before changes. ^[10]

Day 2: Turn on AI guardrails

• In Ad Manager (if you use it for your site/app), enable the Ads Review Center and begin using the AI assistant to learn your standards. Schedule a 15‑minute daily review during BFCM weeks. ^[11]
• Use the AI Help guide in AdSense/AdMob for any policy or troubleshooting questions you’d otherwise queue for support. ^[12]

Day 3: Inventory heatmap + layout quick wins

• Ask Ad Manager’s gen‑AI reporting which ad units delivered highest CPM last 7 days; move those units above the fold in your most‑visited templates (article/post, comparison pages, deal hubs). ^[13]
• Trim placements with low viewability or high CLS complaints—better user metrics often lift auction performance.

Day 4: Holiday content sprints that convert

• Publish/refresh 2 posts your audience needs now: “Best X under $Y (2025)” and “BFCM Cheat Sheet for [niche].” Include tabled deals (price before/after, dates, shipping cutoff) and link to current Event 1 offers where relevant. ^[14]
• Use comparison tables and internal jump links; clear FTC disclosures. Keep sections scannable to boost time‑on‑page and RPM.

Day 5: Diversify with low‑friction direct sales (backup to ads)

• Spin up a simple digital product (templates, presets, checklists) and sell it alongside your gift guides. Gumroad now acts as merchant of record globally; standard fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction (30% when orders come via Gumroad Discover). Add the product card midway through your top holiday posts. ^[15]

Day 6: Members‑only bonus content (bundle with your deals)

• If you’re launching a membership, price it with today’s costs in mind. Patreon’s standard plan for new creators is a 10% platform fee (effective Aug 4, 2025) plus payment processing (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30 on most US cards). A “BFCM Insider” tier with early alerts + private spreadsheets can convert deal hunters into recurring revenue. ^[16]

Day 7: Last‑mile optimization and proof of earnings

• Annotate any RPM swings after your Authorized Buyers changes to see if brand‑safety tweaks paid off. If RPM slipped, loosen non‑critical blocks and retest for 48 hours. ^[17]
• Screenshot Walmart+ or other affiliate click‑through spikes (with dates) to pitch brand partners on hybrid holiday deals next week. ^[18]

Practical examples and current data

Brand‑safety and cash‑flow guardrails

Optional: Local monetization with Waze x PMax (for creators who do in‑person drops)

“From manual reviews to automated protection.” Google’s new AI brand‑safety tool learns your decisions in Ads Review Center—use it to save time while keeping ad quality high. ^[28]

FAQ (fast)

• Will the new Authorized Buyers control change my RPM automatically? Not directly; but allowing more qualified demand can increase competition. Over‑blocking can hurt RPM—test and measure. ^[29]
• Can I still block specific advertisers (e.g., competitors)? Yes—use the Ad Review Center’s advertiser controls; DV360 advertisers remain there. ^[30]
• What else should I publish today? A short “Last‑chance Event 1” post with 3–5 best deals, availability windows, and price comparisons. ^[31]

Actionable takeaways

Put simply: let Google’s new AI do more of the grunt work, keep your demand pipes open (but sane), and use the holiday window to turn casual traffic into multi‑stream income. Tonight’s your last shot at Event 1 shoppers—make it count. ^[36]