Google goes graphical

Despite building a reputation on its clean and uncluttered user interface, the Google search results may soon be augmented by graphic image ads.

Although common practice to have banner ads or other promotional images on most commercial websites, Google has always prided itself on easy to read, exclusively text based pages. This may all soon change after a meeting with AOL this afternoon where it is expected Google may offer the ad space for richer content in the form of logos and graphics.

If approved, the graphical ads will commence as an experimental arrangement open for all advertisers, however the US $300 million worth of advertising credits being provided to AOL as part of the deal will no doubt see them take full advantage of the new ad formats.

Consequences: this is good news for advertisers who may soon be able to display more captivating dynamic graphical ads. For general public, we’ll just have to hope that this move has really focussed on the user to make Google’s information organising system even easier to use - and not simply dilute its usefulness with the distraction of visual ads in search results.