{"id":3160,"date":"2016-02-24T14:51:39","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T20:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/?p=3160"},"modified":"2025-07-01T09:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:24:14","slug":"google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html","title":{"rendered":"Google is removing sidebar ads-What this means for SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"google-485611_1280\"Google is removing sidebar ads from desktop searches worldwide. Previously, when people did a Google search on a keyword such as \u201cfurniture,\u201d businesses who had pay-per-click accounts could have their ads placed on the top, bottom, and right sidebar of the screen. With the new update, paid ads that link to a website will only appear on the top and bottom of Google search results, with a maximum of four ad listings on the top of the page and 3 on the bottom.<\/a><\/p>\n

This new update will bring significant changes in the way advertisers handle paid search ads for desktop google inquiries. We have highlighted three of the most important notes from various search engine news articles.<\/p>\n

1. Desktop searches will look more like mobile searches<\/h2>\n

In an article<\/a> for Search Engine Land, Matt McGee notes that on mobile, Google shows two to three ads at the top of search engine results. By removing right sidebar ads from desktop, search results will appear more similar for both mobile and desktop search queries.<\/p>\n

2. The fourth ad in the top page will only appear for \u201chighly commercial queries\u201d<\/h2>\n

It is also important to note which search entries will generate four paid ad listings in the top page. TheSEMPost<\/a> received a message from a Google Spokesperson stating that the fourth ad listing will appear for \u201chighly commercial queries.\u201d Dusty Vegas from Search Engine Journal<\/a> notes that \u201chigh volume and general search terms\u201d are currently the queries that have been the most affected by the update. Search Engine Journal notes that according to Google, general terms include typing in products and services such as \u201c hotels\u201d and \u201ccar insurance.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Vegas also notes that for more specific search entries belonging to a more niche market, the updates will begin to take effect in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

3. More room for product listing ads and the knowledge panel<\/h2>\n

TheSEMPost published a new update stating that product listing ads (PLAs) will remain in the right sidebar. Product listing ads include images, seller information, and price on a product. By removing sidebar ads, there will be more room for PLAs and the knowledge panel, which is a box that shows detailed company information when people look for your business.<\/p>\n

Directory One is an internet marketing company located in Houston, TX. For more important news on the world of search engine optimization, read our previous<\/a> blog post entries and call us at 713-465-0051 to learn about how search engine marketing can help your company.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google is removing sidebar ads from desktop searches worldwide. Previously, when people did a Google search on a keyword such as \u201cfurniture,\u201d businesses who had pay-per-click accounts could have their ads placed on the top, bottom, and right sidebar of the screen. With the new update, paid ads that link to a website will only appear on the top and bottom of Google search results, with a maximum of four ad listings on the top of the page and 3 on the bottom. This new update will bring significant changes in the way advertisers handle paid search ads for desktop google inquiries. We have highlighted three of the most important notes from various search engine news articles. 1. Desktop searches will look more like mobile searches In an article for Search Engine Land, Matt McGee notes that on mobile, Google shows two to three ads at the top of search engine results. By removing right sidebar ads from desktop, search results will appear more similar for both mobile and desktop search queries. 2. The fourth ad in the top page will only appear for \u201chighly commercial queries\u201d It is also important to note which search entries will generate four paid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[854,852,856,616,855,857,853],"class_list":["post-3160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-search-engine-optimization","tag-digital-marketing-houston","tag-google-ad-changes-houston","tag-google-algorithm-updates-houston","tag-houston-seo-strategies","tag-paid-search-advertising-houston","tag-search-engine-marketing-houston","tag-seo-impact-houston"],"yoast_head":"\nGoogle is removing sidebar ads-What this means for SEO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Google is removing sidebar ads. 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Read our post to learn about the most important updates and call us at 713-465-0051 for more information.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Search Engine Marketing & Optimization Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-02-24T20:51:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-01T14:24:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/homepage-concept-with-search-bar-1-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"899\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Directory One\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Directory One\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Directory One\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/72b06653ae945412b7e913abee89833c\"},\"headline\":\"Google is removing sidebar ads-What this means for SEO\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-02-24T20:51:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-01T14:24:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html\"},\"wordCount\":421,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/homepage-concept-with-search-bar-1-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Digital Marketing Houston\",\"Google Ad Changes Houston\",\"Google Algorithm Updates Houston\",\"Houston SEO Strategies\",\"Paid Search Advertising Houston\",\"Search Engine Marketing Houston\",\"SEO Impact Houston\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Search Engine Optimization | SEO\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html\",\"name\":\"Google is removing sidebar ads-What this means for SEO\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/google-is-removing-sidebar-ads-what-this-means-for-seo.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/homepage-concept-with-search-bar-1-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-02-24T20:51:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-01T14:24:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.directoryone.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/72b06653ae945412b7e913abee89833c\"},\"description\":\"Google is removing sidebar ads. 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