Google Changed How Your Ads Look And It Could Kill Your Click-Through Rate

PPC/LEAD GENERATION

Shree Savaliya

11/23/2025

Google is testing a gray shaded background behind search ads, sponsored results, and local pack listings. This is the first major visual change to paid search results since October’s “Sponsored” label redesign.

Why it matters?

Visual differentiation between ads and organic results could dramatically shift user behavior and your ad performance. Overnight.