Facebook's right-side ads are getting bigger, but there will be fewer of them

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Facebook is tired of you ignoring its ads

Facebook ads new
The new ads are 'visually consistent' with news feed ads

Like most Facebook users you've probably learned to ignore whatever is in the site's right-hand column. You know, the space with usually creepy ads targeted at random snippets from your profile or Google searches.

But Facebook is hoping users will start paying attention again when it revamps those ads to be bigger.

Facebook says the new ads will be more in line with the ads that now appear in users' news feeds, with larger images.

At least there will be fewer of them now, the site said.

Advertisers are people too

"For advertisers, this offers a simpler way to create ads and an enhanced creative canvas on the right-hand column of Facebook," the social network wrote in a blog post.

It continues, "Because the updated ads mirror the overall shape of desktop News Feed ads, marketers will no longer have to choose separate images for News Feed and right-hand column placements."

Facebook also says the new ads will provide "a better experience for people."

Apparently early tests have shown up to three times as much engagement with the larger ads, though whether that's really better for people - or just for advertisers - is a subjective matter.

The new Facebook ads will roll out to users "in the coming months." Some advertisers will get the option in April, while others will need to wait until later in 2014.

Michael Rougeau
Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.

Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.