incrediBILL - 6:48 pm on Sep 2, 2010 (gmt 0)

Likewise, suggestions sometimes appear that cause traffic to ramp up and also vanish, it's a fickle beast.

Or maybe it helps Google to show more expensive ads if the suggested search applies to some extent.

Suggested search probably does boost Google's revenues because it creates an artificial limit on the number of search terms being used by the average searcher. Fewer search terms mean that only the best sites will ever rank for those search terms. The net result in theory should be more site owners being forced to advertise and compete in AdWords on those suggested terms.

This is a situation where smart people that dominate those suggested search terms can make out like bandits given the right circumstances.

Assuming you have a site that ranks high for one of these terms, and selling competitive advertising isn't a conflict of interest with your site in general, you can offer direct advertising at a rate far below what Google charges yet more than you would earn off AdSense with their smart pricing.

Don't get too greedy and you'll make out like a bandit as my direct ad sales bloomed after suggested search was implemented.

People afraid to get their hands dirty selling direct ads are just leaving big bags of sticky sweaty cash laying on the table.

Don't say I never gave anyone a freebie :)