jtara - 9:20 pm on Dec 15, 2006 (gmt 0)

It's not fraud at all because if the traffic converts i'm happy.

A grocer touts the quality of their produce. They claim it is all fresh and organic. Yet, one in 4 apples is rotten, and half are tainted with chemicals.

Is that not fraud?

Google is misrepresenting the nature of their search network. They publish rules which advertisers expect that they will enforce, but then do not enforce them.

Most experienced advertisers know better than to believe what Google tells them. Some turn off search network. Some fine good conversions in the content network, by carefully filtering sites.

Sure, it's still advantageous to do business with them as long as the return is greater than the cost. While it may be a good business decision for those who have their eyes open, that doesn't make it right or lawful.

Many businesses are more than happy to pay bribes or protection to organized criminals, for example. It's a good business decision.

It may not bother you that others believe what Google tells them, and make bad business decisions based on that. Probably more money in your pocket, anyway, right?

This is not the Wild West. We do not live in a lawless society where it is every man for himself. The laws of economics, yes, ultimately regulate any business. But the laws of economics do not consider right and wrong - just survival.

Businesses need to obey both the laws of economics (which they cannot escape) and the laws of society.

Should Enron have been excused? Should the laws of economics reign supreme? After all, if electricity is too expensive, people will just turn off the lights. It is self-limiting, right?

In any case, I doubt you will get much agreement that these link farms are good for advertisers in general. Except from those running the link-farms.