New Size for AdWords?

On a particular search

[Rossie]

The size of the Adwords box I'm seeing on a search for "marketing" is around half as wide again as normal.

Can't see any previous posts about this - is it Google testing something new to encourage better click thrus for their advertisers or something?

This does, of course, make the natural SERPs narrower and I reckon it does make your eye go more towards the AdWords than the SERPs.

[Rossie]

Incidentally, I'm aware of the extended width being caused by a URL, but it would make sense to extend the box if my reaction of the AdWord jumping out at me is anything to go by.

Anyone else think the same?

[Rossie]

Very interesting brief conversation with someone just now suggesting that it might be an interesting thing to try and force this wider box size by making up long URLs which could potentially lead to a higher click thru rate.

Any AdWords gurus think this could work?

[Shak]

I think this is caused even if just 1 advertiser has a long display url in his/her creative, resulting in all the ad boxes on that page being expanded.

tried it on a number of different keywords, and the same applies "if" 1 url is quite long...

Shak

[amznVibe]

Just look at the code, its expanding the table... they need overflow:hidden or a way in the user interface to prevent long urls... remember you can show a different wording for the link than the actual url it links to, so that is just poor technique

[martinibuster]

Nice one...

Something to play with. I wonder how long before they fix it?