I love my job.  It never gets boring.  In fact you can say that my job can change on a dime, thanks to Google engineers.  As more business owners seek to make sense of all the opportunities that are presented by online marketing, there is never a dull moment as Google and others move the cheese.

Tonight I was working on a Google Maps and SEO issue for my client Brickell Honda in Miami. When I did a search for “miami honda” I did a double take.  What I saw in the “paid search” area was not Google Cars…..but Brickell’s cars.

Check out the red arrow and do you agree that our friends and Google are being sneaky again at how they will allow car dealers to advertise online?

brickell-search

There are three cars with photos above Brickell Honda’s SEM advertisement.  When I clicked on the burgundy vehicle, the furthest on the right, I was taken a a corresponding landing page, as shown below:

red-car

 

So if this is the first time you are seeing this in action, don’t be surprised.  This is the new “image extensions” in Google Adwords that can be leveraged by savvy business owners.  My friends at Dealer.com and the Adwords team at PCG are obviously in sync because we are both actively testing this strategy.

There is some concern that generic images will increase high funnel traffic and not in-market shoppers.  Like everything “new” it has to be tested but my friends at Dealer.com are very smart and they are creatively jumping ahead of the pack in digital marketing.

What do you think about this new ad format?  Do you agree that it stands out from normal SEM advertising formats?    I would love to get your feedback.

 

 

About the Author

Brian Pasch is the founder of PCG companies. PCG provides customized marketing and training solutions for businesses that are committed to dominate their local market.