This update relates to images being included in a normal PPC ad displayed on SERPs. Till date, we used to have the option of running image/banner PPC ads on Google’s Content Network. However, this is something different Google has come up with.
Some AdWords ads on Google are now showing associated images — and getting much larger in the space they take up — through a “Show products from” Plus Box implementation that some are seeing now when searching at Google.
For instance, trying to search for bluenile, brings up a Blue Nile ad. Under the usual ad title and description is a plus symbol (called a Plus Box), followed by the words, “Show products from Blue Nile for bluenile.” If one clicks on the box, it opens up three product listings from Blue Nile, each listing with an associated image.
The most striking part of this ad is that how much room it takes up. Below is how the ad looks when it is closed:
When one clicks to open up the product results, the whole visible part of the page is consumed with this one ad. Here is an image of just the ad, that measures about 370 pixels tall :
The ad also shows on the right hand side. This implementation is better for some because it does not change how the natural/free results are shown but rather only pushes down other ads on the right hand side.
Images associated with search ads are not too surprising. We have seen implementations of video ads in Adwords several times. It just seems that Google is willing to try anything now when it comes to ads, from video to images to multimedia and who knows what.
Source URL : http://searchengineland.com/google-adwords-now-with-images-15242
Comments: Though this would give a good reason for advertisers to go in for sponsored ads, the downside it could have is that such ads on the right hand side might shift other sponsored ads on the 2nd or subsequent pages. This could increase the competitiveness of keywords further as advertisers will have to bid higher to sustain their ads on the first page even after such ads are opened up & viewed. This could be a killer in this sense!
