By now, everyone around the world should be seeing the new look and feel for Google.  It’s Google’s way of keeping up I guess.

The interface has a similar front-page with the same old search box that it’s always had.  However, now when you get your listing, while you still have the top-bar that you’re used to (web video images maps …) now you have a new (and very colorful) menu system on the left.  (everything, images, video, news, maps, etc…).  Huh, how about that?  It’s just a repeat of what’s at top, just very colorful.

Critique
What’s wrong with this?  Nothing, if you’re into natural search and not into clicking on ads.  What I see is similar to when a kid first learns how to highlight a book.  When everything is highlighted, then nothing stands out.  It used to be that the Google Adwords stood out from the rest of the organic listings, and they certainly stood out on the page.  Not so much anymore.  Now everything is equally blended.

What’s the result?
One of my campaigns is showing well under 30% of the clicks that it usually sees.  I used to have to cap each campaign, otherwise the clicks would keep coming, not so for the last two weeks.  Most days the cost is well under half of my daily budget.  This has to be costing Google a fortune if other people are experiencing what I am.  We’re getting half the clicks (less actuall) and spending half the monry.  Plus, the clicks coming in are less well qualified and are converting much less than they did even two weeks ago.

Summary?
Google did WAY too much, WAY too fast and will leave online marketers searching quickly for ways to boost their trafic rankings.  This may be non-Google advertising, organic SEO campaigns, social media, etc.  Maybe this might settle down after people get used to these changes, I guess time will tell.