One Broken Google Promise...Banner Ads
Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 8:53PM Despite a long-ago vow to retain its well-regarded simple and clean web design, Google has started testing banner ads on its search results pages.
A Google spokesman Thursday confirmed that it has begun testing the banner ads.
"We're currently running a very limited, U.S.-only test, in which advertisers can include an image as part of the search ads that show in response to certain branded queries," said a Google spokesman in an email. "Advertisers have long been able to add informative visual elements to their search ads, with features like Media Ads, Product Listing Ads and Image Extensions."
The test, which appears to have started about a week ago, is said to include Southwest Airlines among a handful of advertisers.
"There will be no banner ads on the Google homepage or web search results pages," former Google exec Marissa Mayer said in a blog post on Dec. 22, 2005. "There will not be crazy, flashy, graphical doodads flying and popping up all over the Google site. Ever."
Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, said it's easy to figure out the reason for Google's apparent change of mind -- money. "I have to think that this is all about money, and getting more of it from advertisers," he added. "My gut reaction? I don't like it. If the banner advertiser isn't what you're looking for, then you have to scroll down the page to see other results. Call me old fashioned, but I like my search results quick and clean."
Google's motto has always been, "Do No Evil"....unless it makes us some money.
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