Google Tests Larger Images and Highlight Box for Local Service Ads
Google is currently testing a redesigned Local Service Ads layout in search results that uses a larger image and a bigger highlight box under the main listing, giving the format a much stronger visual footprint on the page. The change is one of several recent pushes behind Local Service Ads as Google continues expanding where and how the ad type appears during the broader LSA to Google Ads migration.
What changed in the Local Service Ads layout
The new test enlarges the image area tied to a Local Service Ads listing and adds a larger highlight box directly beneath the main ad. The combined effect makes the unit taller and more attention-grabbing than the current production version. Earlier experiments with expandable images in Local Service Ads went in a similar visual direction, but the design being tested now is distinct from those earlier variations.
Why the redesign matters for local advertisers
Local Service Ads have been steadily gaining placement weight across Google surfaces, and the company has been moving more resources behind the format. A larger, more image-forward unit increases the visual real estate a single Local Service Ads listing can claim, which raises the stakes for advertisers competing in the same service categories. Businesses that already run Local Service Ads will want to monitor click-through rates and impression share as this layout rolls out, since a bigger unit can change how the ad performs relative to organic and other paid placements on the same results page.
How the change fits into the wider LSA migration
A redesigned ad unit fits that pattern: the format now appears on more Google surfaces, and the creative is larger.
What advertisers can do now
For businesses running Local Service Ads, the practical move is to keep an eye on how the new layout performs once it reaches a wider share of search traffic. Image quality and profile completeness matter more in a layout that foregrounds imagery, so refreshing profile photos, reviewing the business profile, and tightening up service descriptions are sensible steps before the new design reaches a meaningful share of impressions. If the new layout proves durable, advertisers may also need to reconsider how their Local Service Ads creative competes visually with neighboring ads, since a larger highlight box raises the bar for what stands out.
FAQ
What is changing in Google Local Service Ads?
Google is testing a redesign that pairs a larger image with a bigger highlight box under the main Local Service Ads listing, making the ad visually larger in search results.
Are the new Local Service Ads images expandable?
Google tested expandable images in Local Service Ads in earlier experiments, but the current redesign with a larger image and a bigger highlight box is a separate change.
Why is Google redesigning Local Service Ads now?
The redesign is part of a broader push that includes serving Local Service Ads in more places and migrating the format from the standalone LSA interface into Google Ads.
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