Is Google testing putting advertisements between natural search outcomes?
Patrick Stox, Ahrefs product advisor, technical website positioning and model ambassador, first seen that sponsored posts have began showing the place the third and fifth natural positions usually run.
He shared a screenshot of the SERP on X:
Right here’s a video of it Stox shared on X:
Why we care. Increasing this experiment might doubtlessly result in extra clicks for advertisers in areas which have at all times been natural spots in Google Search. Nonetheless, that is doubtlessly extra dangerous information for SEOs as Google continues its ongoing development of eradicating and minimizing natural search actual property. It may be dangerous for customers who’re already complaining in regards to the high quality of Google Search outcomes, doubtlessly resulting in destructive consumer experiences.
What Google is saying. Google’s Advertisements Liaison Ginny Marvin responded on X, neither confirming nor denying it is a take a look at. However she additionally didn’t name it a bug:
- “We’re recurrently experimenting and don’t have something extra to share at this level.”
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Concerning the writer
Nicola Agius is Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land after becoming a member of in 2023. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media and extra. Previous to this, she was website positioning Director at Jungle Creations (2020-2023), overseeing the corporate’s editorial technique for a number of web sites. She has over 15 years of expertise in journalism and has beforehand labored at OK! Journal (2010-2014), Mail On-line (2014-2015), Mirror (2015-2017), Digital Spy (2017-2018) and The Solar (2018-2020). She additionally beforehand teamed up with website positioning company Blue Array to co-author Amazon bestselling guide ‘Mastering In-Home website positioning’.
