Google changes to 3 top sponsored listings

You views, please...

[dancohen]

As I'm sure you have noticed, Google have now changed the sponsored listings located at the top of the page from 2 listings to 3. This should mean that people with keywords that in the third position for searches should see an increased clickthrough rate, and therefore, higher spending.

Google’s increase to three PPC listings also coincides with a change in the AdRank algorithm, which calculates the position a marketer will receive, given a specific bid. A quality score based on a variety of factors, including historical clickthrough rate, is now in use.

What are your views on this?

[oldpro]

What are your views on this?

Perplexing...when there where two listing in the premium position, #2 was the best spot as it is noticed by the surfer more. Now #3 is the "money position". I have been at #2 for awhile. Now I am trying to lower my bid gradually to drop to #3.

This may have unintended consequences for google...revenue wise.

[skibum]

Overall it will may help the sponsored listings to get a larger percentage of search traffic and help to smooth out any seasonal decrease in revenue when the next quarterly financial report comes out.

[RonnieG]

There may be three sponsored listings at the top at times, but on some searches I have also seen only two, one, or even none. It seems to be dynamic, but for what reasons I can't tell.

[monsterhair]

It looks dynamic but why.
I did notice that in many of our categories a large public company is suddenly the only listing at the top of the page.

[jbinbpt]

I also see some serps with no top sponsored listings, just right side ads. Biding threshold?

jb

[monsterhair]

I have also seen the same.
ab