Should I update my favicon?
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 10:04 am
The Adidas logo doesn't render well at this size, and it looks like a black triangle, which can be difficult to distinguish from the "Ad" text at a glance. The Associated Press has a similar problem...
At this size and resolution, “AP” could arguably be mistaken for “AD.” For well-known brands, this may not be a problem (the AP logo is quite recognizable), but it could affect click-through rates for smaller brands.
These are extreme examples, of course, but in the chile number data iteration (green “ad” text in a rounded rectangle) there was no corresponding text or format for organic results. Adding a favicon to organic results adds an element that could mirror the “ad” text in paid results, creating potential confusion.
Marketers were quick to come up with ideas and more than a little mischief over the weekend. It might have been fun for a while, but Google has already cracked down on favicon manipulation and posted its own guidelines . Long story short, favicons that are manipulative, inappropriate, or constantly changing will probably be removed.
At this size and resolution, “AP” could arguably be mistaken for “AD.” For well-known brands, this may not be a problem (the AP logo is quite recognizable), but it could affect click-through rates for smaller brands.
These are extreme examples, of course, but in the chile number data iteration (green “ad” text in a rounded rectangle) there was no corresponding text or format for organic results. Adding a favicon to organic results adds an element that could mirror the “ad” text in paid results, creating potential confusion.
Marketers were quick to come up with ideas and more than a little mischief over the weekend. It might have been fun for a while, but Google has already cracked down on favicon manipulation and posted its own guidelines . Long story short, favicons that are manipulative, inappropriate, or constantly changing will probably be removed.