Official: Google To Display Domain In Headline In Some AdWords Ads

In an effort to clarify to users where their click-through will take them, Google says it will display the landing page domain as part of the headlines on some top placement ads. We reported on tests of this display earlier this month after they were spotted by Nilaye Thakrar of Workopolis. The change should result […]

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In an effort to clarify to users where their click-through will take them, Google says it will display the landing page domain as part of the headlines on some top placement ads. We reported on tests of this display earlier this month after they were spotted by Nilaye Thakrar of Workopolis.

Before

Before

After

After

The change should result in more qualified click-throughs, if not more click-throughs overall. Interestingly, Google will also continue bringing the first line of description into the headline (as described here), so long as the resulting headline is 68 characters or less.

The URLs displayed in the headline will only show the domain name of the landing page, without the www prefix or any subdomains. It will be separated from the rest of the headline by a vertical line.


About the author

Pamela Parker
Staff
Pamela Parker is Research Director at Third Door Media's Content Studio, where she produces MarTech Intelligence Reports and other in-depth content for digital marketers in conjunction with Search Engine Land and MarTech. Prior to taking on this role at TDM, she served as Content Manager, Senior Editor and Executive Features Editor. Parker is a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since its beginning. She's a former managing editor of ClickZ and has also worked on the business side helping independent publishers monetize their sites at Federated Media Publishing. Parker earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

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