Ad creep: Google extends Shopping ads into mobile Google Image search listings

Google is making moves to extend Google Shopping listings further into Image search results for products.

The ads appear with a tag icon and “Product” label in the bottom left corner before the organic image results. It’s not clear when this appeared, but Jonathan Ellins, head of insights at Hallam Internet Ltd. in the UK noticed it Thursday, and it is also now appearing in the US. Note that the shopping carousel does not appear on Image results in the UK at this time as it does in the US.

Google images showing Shopping Ads on mobile #ppcchat pic.twitter.com/9bVfPFKynG

— Jonathan Ellins (@Jonathan_Ellins) August 3, 2017

Here’s what that result looks like in the US with the Shopping carousel above the listings.

Clicking on any of the Product-labeled ads brings the user to a Google Shopping page instead of directly to the retailer site.

Google officially introduced the carousel of ads to Image search in March 2016. For advertising purposes, Google categorizes Image search as a search partner, so Shopping campaigns must be opted-in to search partners in order to appear in Image results.

Earlier today, we reported on a new look Google is testing for Shopping ads in product card units on mobile.

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