(Facebook)

Facebook ads in the right-hand column - the Siberia of advertising compared to the prime real estate in the news feed - are getting a makeover.

"In the coming months, we'll be rolling out a new design for ads in the right-hand column," Facebook said in a blog post today.

"This updated look will make right-hand column ads more visually consistent with the ads that appear in News Feed. They will use the same proportions as desktop News Feed ads, they will be larger in size, and there will be fewer of them."

The company said that early tests of the revamped right-rail ads showed up to three times more engagement.

Since the proportions of the new right-rail ads are similar to the news feed, Facebook said advertisers will only need to upload one file that could be used in both places.