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A recent test by Digital Phablet reveals that Google is experimenting with displaying standard search ads in an ad carousel at the top of mobile image search results. These ads occupy a significant portion of the top space in the image results and are designed to be scrolled horizontally.
This testing was brought to attention by Anthony Higman last week. He shared a screenshot of the ad format and commented, “Your literally cramming ads into every other nook and cranny on Google Search.” While the test isn’t widely replicable yet, the visual evidence shows Google is exploring ways to integrate traditional search ads directly within image search features.
What’s notable is that this marks the first time Google has introduced conventional search ads into the image search tab. Although shopping ads have appeared in image search since 2016, this initiative signals a new approach to ad placement.
Industry expert Greg Finn expressed his reservations about this change, discussing his concerns starting around 1 minute and 27 seconds into a related video. The community continues to discuss and analyze this development, highlighting its potential impact on search and advertising strategies.
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