Google buying top adwords spot

Is it just me or does this sound odd?

[justageek]

I've noticed that Google had the top spot in the adwords section pointing to the adsense program when I recently did a search on contextual advertising. Is that odd or have I just never noticed it before? Do they always make sure they get the top listings over any competition?

JAG

[pmac]

>Is it just me or does this sound odd?<

Yup, it's just you. :)

[justageek]

Great. I am going crazy then :-) Do they only pay themselves when they reach a certain amount per month on the clicks? Off to see the doc now....

[vibgyor79]

Google does use AdWords to promote their products and services. It does seem unfair to other advertisers though.

A piece of advice - don't get into bid wars with Google ;)

[Shak]

what are we on about here.

do TV companies not use their own media to promote their services/shows etc etc.

do NEWSPAPERS not use their ad space to promote their own or sister publications etc etc.

I dont think we are really going anywhere with this post (imo)

Shak

[vibgyor79]

Bad comparison Shak. TV/Newspaper ads & PPC ads are different.

[bateman_ap]

Not really, they are all forms of advertising and with your medium you can do whatever you want with it!

[DaveN]

with shak on this one we are launching a uk based eshops directory and guess what all my shops will top the listings,

G's adverts should come top in G

I wouldn't be surprised if they were third or fourth, everyone would be joking about their ppc budget and how they can't afford the top spot.

This is the real world and we all try to keep the advantage even G.

DaveN

[Rossie]

I reckon that Google giving itself the top slot for a particular search term is quite different from TV companies advertising their own programmes.

If we imagine Rupert Murdoch wanted to advertise Sky Sports Football on ITV, would he be interested in doing so if he knew that immediately after it would be an ad for ITV's own version of the same product?

Having said that I don't think this specific issue is much of a problem as I imagine the only people searching for the phrase "contextual advertising" are Webmasterworld users who will be well aware of Google's AdSense programme anyway.

[carfac]

Can you opt out of having google's ads on your pages?

Anyone know how much you get if someone does click on one on your page?

[dreamcomputersptyltd]

Carfac,

I believe reading somewhere that google states somewhere (what a sentence hahah) that you get about 50%

Cheers
Roel