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In July, Google officially announced favicons within AdSense ads. So the ad units will show off the site's favicon, if available, which should increase one's click through rate.
But in September, when Google launched their new AdSense formats the favicons went missing.
Last night, Google quietly mentioned on Google+ that they are working on bringing back the favicons. They said the favicons will be added to the new ad formats in the future.
You may have noticed that the favicons have gone missing -- but don’t worry, we’re reintroducing them over the coming weeks to help make advertisers more recognizable to your users. As before, the favicon will appear next to an advertiser’s URL.
I wonder if the removal of the icons were on purpose, to stager the launch with a new ad format and then switch it up by adding these icons to increase CTR even more.
Forum discussion at Google+.
Comments:
CaptainKevin
10/16/2013 02:06 pm
I'm not sure if a favicon will help much. I see in WMW that many people are reporting an October decrease in earnings of 50% or more. I see a major decline in the ctr too.
The Anti Cutts
10/16/2013 03:21 pm
Yes please Matt, bring in the favicon as it will add more bits to the adds so they can take up more vertical space. The favicon combined with the site links and the user reviews and the photos of the users who left reviews soon to be added should all nicely push the organic freeloaders further down the page. What else can you add onto the add listings to make them larger still? A mandatory photo of the advertisers mother, or links to youtube videos of cats falling off of things would also be a nice addition, can we get that added next quarter maybe?
ethalon
10/16/2013 07:09 pm
Isn't this change just for people running AdSense on their sites and not for the ads which display above and to the side of the SERPs? How would that affect organic results in any way?
Chepe
10/17/2013 01:19 am
Google AdSense is going to the hell, favicons aren't enough.
Amin
10/17/2013 04:14 pm
In past, many AdSence user complained that their CTR go down after adding the favicon.
Graciousstore
10/18/2013 04:55 am
How does the favicons make ads more recognizably for users? Does it mean that every ad will have the "seal" of the advertiser in form of their brand's favicons?