Google Testing New SERPs Layout for PPC Ads

[rodhull]

We spotted this earlier today when doing a search with Google in Firefox. The ads no longer float to the right hand side of the page when you expand your browser. They now stay snugly up against the organic listings.

Seems to be a test as it was not doing the same in IE.

It looks a lot better as there's no huge white space between the organics and the ads. Hopefully this will help to increase CTRs if it's implemented permanently.

Lots of screenshots here:

periscopix.co.uk/blog/index.php/google-testing-new-ppc-ad-layout-in-serps

[jag]

Yes like Bing. A good defend

Best,

[simons1321]

is it possible that this is a difference in the way the code is rendered in WebKit vs Mozilla vs IE8?

Or is Google actually serving different code based on browser type? And if so, why would they segment the test based on browser type? I think they would get much more accurate sample data if the test was browser independent.

[rodhull]

I have spotted other tests in the past that have only shown up on certain browsers. Notably when Google were testing the background colour for the PPC banner ads. I remember this first started showing up as yellow in Firefox. In IE the background was still blue. Now of course, it's yellow in both.

[rodhull]

UPDATE!!

We're now seeing this change across all browsers (well, all the ones we have installed: Firefox, IE, Chrome and Opera).

periscopix.co.uk/blog/index.php/search-ads-layout-google-serps-update/

Looks like the test was successful!