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The short answer
Pinning is fine for a legal line or a brand name in position one. The harm is exactly one asset pinned to a position, which removes every combination Google would test there. Oppy lists the ads with single pins and the positions they freeze.
Why it matters
A responsive search ad works by mixing headlines and descriptions. Pin one headline to position 1 and that slot never changes, so the ad loses a third of its room to adapt to each search.
Two or three assets pinned to the same position still leave Google a choice, which is the recommended way to control a slot without freezing it.
How Oppy decides
The check reads the pinned field of every headline and description in every enabled responsive search ad, and counts the assets pinned to each position.
Checks that weigh money or clicks judge what they find on your own account's numbers, not on one figure applied to every account, so what counts as a problem on a small account is not the same on a large one. Checks on settings read how the account is set up.
When there is too little to go on, the check says so instead of guessing. A finding always comes with the rows behind it, so you can read the evidence before you decide.
| This check | |
|---|---|
| Step of the audit | Ads |
| What it reads | Ads and their ratings |
| Needs trustworthy conversions | No. It does not wait for the tracking step. |
| What happens next | Reported in the audit with the rows behind it. The decision stays with you. |
Check it yourself in Google Ads
- In Google Ads, open Campaigns, then Ads, and open each responsive search ad.
- Look for the pin icon next to headlines and descriptions.
- Count how many assets are pinned to each position.
- Note positions with exactly one pinned asset.
What to do about it
If the pin is there for a legal or brand reason, keep it, and consider pinning two or three acceptable variants to the same position instead of one.
If nobody remembers why it is pinned, unpin it and let Google test. Watch the ad's results for a few weeks.
Terms on this page
Other checks in this area
The checks next to this one in Ads and creative, each with its own page.