James_WV - 4:07 pm on Dec 4, 2008 (gmt 0)

If they did affiliate programmes like web speed says then they'd loose loads of customers who genuinely believe that google offers impartial advice - or directly compete with their main product adwords (who would pay per click when they could just pay per sale - adwords is a far better way for them to make money, especially in a market with fewer sales)

They don't have just one source of business - if only one company advertised on google then this would be true. The fact of the matter is that as long as google keeps on increasing its search market share, or at least stays where it is, then it will always have a pretty inexhaustible source of advertisers - because it has more potential customers than any other medium...

I think Google shares look like a pretty good buy right now - they might drop a bit more, but when the 'recession' is over (and recessions are always over at some point) Google will be in a really strong position to cash in on new found consumer (and therefore advertiser) confidence...