Define the products the asset group is meant to show
Performance Max video production has two connected tasks: preserving the message in different formats and matching the depicted products to the destination. Before filming, confirm the asset-group theme, product range, final page, market and language with the operator. Use those conditions as the production brief.
A product-mapping sheet can identify the main item, other permitted models, demonstrated feature, necessary qualifications, destination and approval owner. Label similar-looking samples on set. During editing, compare the footage record with the sheet so several versions do not accidentally become one product demonstration.
Google notes that a generated video can show a different product from the final page. Have the operator align the product scope and destination. Source: Google Ads video-asset guidance.
Plan horizontal, vertical and square compositions on set
Google recommends 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 formats, and at least one 10–60-second vertical video for Shorts eligibility. Eligibility does not guarantee a placement. Source: Google Ads video specifications.
Sketch the subject, action and caption positions for each version. Imagine filming a coffee machine: a horizontal view may show the operator and worktop together, while a vertical sequence may show the operation before cutting to the cup. A square version can use another balance between person and product. This fictional example shows why a format change may require a different shot sequence rather than a central crop.
Capture space before and after the action, plus product close-ups and operating details. Keep text and logos on adjustable layers. If an essential action happens at the edge, obtain a suitable alternative framing while on set. The multiple-version production guide covers the broader language, duration and delivery preparation.
Check the assets actually used after upload
Google may generate videos or resize supplied footage. Check the actual asset and preview after upload, including when you supply your own film. Source: Google Ads video-processing guidance.
Play every version. Check complete product framing first, then captions, qualifications and action order, followed by sound and the ending. Approval of the horizontal film does not approve the square and vertical films. Apply the same editorial review to generated versions rather than treating completed processing as content approval.
Record the asset, format, timecode and specific issue. A cropped product calls for a framing correction; a missing qualification calls for a wording correction; a mismatched destination involves the operator and product team. Confirm the account's current replacement and control options before making changes.
Keep a version register for handoff and later decisions
For each final film, record its asset name or identifier, product scope, orientation, language, main message, destination, file version, launch date and approval record. Connect it to source footage, editable captions and supporting material. When replacing a film, retain the relationship between old and new versions so the current asset is unambiguous.
Track changes in campaign and page conditions alongside performance observations. Changes in audience, price, product mix or other factors prevent every result difference from being attributed to the video. Establish that the asset works and communicates accurately before using the available evidence to select the next change to test.
Before handoff, ask the operator to use the register to find one film, its featured product and its destination. If these match, and each orientation explains the action independently, the material has a practical basis for continued use and review.
Sources reviewed on 2 October 2026. Specifications and account capabilities can change; confirm them before submission. The framing example is fictional and no campaign outcome is promised.