Green is in, yellow is out in Google text ad labels

Since April, users around the world have been spotting green “Ad” labels next to text ads in Google search results. Now, Google says, the green test is taking hold and is replacing the yellow labels that have been in use since Google first adopted the “Ad” icon treatment instead of shading in 2013.

“We regularly test ways to improve the look and feel of our search results page. We’ve been experimenting with a green search ad label and have decided to roll it out based on positive feedback from users and advertisers. Our goal is to make our results page easy to use, and our labeling clear and prominent,” a Google spokesperson told Marketing Land.

The change is rolling out globally on desktop and mobile. Google says the switch in color did not affect whether users were able to tell the difference between ads and organic listings, and that it studied it to ensure that wasn’t the case.

Here’s a look at the before and after:

About The Author

Ginny Marvin

As Third Door Media's paid media reporter, Ginny Marvin writes about paid online marketing topics including paid search, paid social, display and retargeting for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. With more than 15 years of marketing experience, Ginny has held both in-house and agency management positions. She provides search marketing and demand generation advice for ecommerce companies and can be found on Twitter as @ginnymarvin.