"A few weeks ago, Google launched a new ad layout with the large "Sponsored results" label that groups numerous ads under that one label, and then sticks a "Hide sponsored results" button after you have already seen the ads. Well, it is leading to accidental ad clicks based on what I am reading and hearing across the industry. Google announced this as a way to "make navigation even easier.""
"I personally clicked on an ad twice by accident last week. These were for navigational queries where I try hard not to click on the ad, because I don't want to cost that site any money. So I spend a second longer to scroll past the ad and then click on the organic result. But in these two cases. I scrolled past the first ad, and then clicked on the second result to go to the site but that was an ad as well!"
"The hide sponsored results button should be at the top, not at the bottom and each and every sponsored result needs its own label. It is way more confusing to know what is an ad and what is not an ad in this new layout. And in my opinion, this is intentional - to drive more clicks on ads and earn Google more money."
Google launched a new search ad layout that groups multiple ads under a single large "Sponsored results" label and places a "Hide sponsored results" button after the ads. The grouped label and button placement make it difficult to distinguish individual ads from organic results. Experienced search marketers report accidental clicks, including navigational queries where users try to skip ads. One person reported clicking ads twice by mistake. The hide button's bottom placement and lack of per-ad labels increase confusion. Some observers believe the design intentionally generates more ad clicks and revenue.
Read at Search Engine Roundtable
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