You read that headline right. Google is running some tests across a limited group of desktop users that include displaying “banner-like ads” in the SERPs. This was confirmed directly to Mashable not that long ago.
This is big news after a season full of big display advertising news. Real time bidding, a technology used to buy and sell display and video advertising is set to grow 59% year over year til 2016 (fastest growing digital advertising segment). We saw the rise of newsfeed mobile ads, Instagram ads, and Pinterest ads. And as of Tuesday (10/29/2013) Twitter announced they will be showing photos in newsfeeds by default. Some suggest it’s just a step towards a new display ad product.
It’s been a good year for display advertising across the social web (Mobile and Desktop). All signs point to search as the next display conquest.
Here’s what your typical Google search result page looks like
image courtesy of Mashable.com
Here’s what Google’s “banner-like” ad test looks like. They’re calling it a cover photo.
image courtesy of Mashable.com
Hows that for an attention grabbing ad? Image ads in search results pages – what’s the world coming to? Remember, it’s not a banner ad. It’s a cover photo which is a “banner-like” ad product. No matter what you call it this is going to change advertising on Google as we know it.
What do you think of Google’s new ad test? Would you like to test this type of advertising if possible?
I wonder how the ordinary people will take it? Will they like it? Or would they turn on other search engines?
Excellent attention grabbing approach. Cons: may be overwhelming and too much is as good as nothing.
I think searchers will like it if the graphics are relevant. That Southwest Airlines example is perfect. That’s what people what to see. I think advertisers will get it too, will be interesting to see the ads for local plumbers. This also means more work to adwords managers!
I agree. Personally I would welcome some graphics in the SERPs as long as they were relevant.