Websearch prohibitions?

[ownerrim]

For obvious reasons, you can't encourage users to click adsense ads, but is there any prohibition against encouraging visitors to a site to use the google websearch box? For example, let's say you have a site about RC cars. Some of the pages are rather weak and have minimal content, but they're still on the site for a reason, i.e. they provide a sliver of usable information. You could put the websearch box on the page, along with text nearby that says, "for more information on this (or any other) topic, use the search box". It could draw visitor's attention to the box and possibly result in more search activity, either on or off the site. And with google slapping ads all over these results pages, more clicks and revenue (and, as some have said, a potential devaluation of epc over time for all of us). Is this type of statement near the search box prohibited, as far as anyone knows?

[Jon_King]

I can't see where encouraging a search is against the TOS.

I have a statement "Find specific text with Google Search" above the box. It is intended to help the user, just what Google is all about. IMHO

[yintercept]

I believe they have rules against manipulating the Google code (I believe this includes prepopulating the search term, or even form focusing the ad box.)

I don't see anything in the TOS against having the sentence: "Did you find what you were looking for? If not, might we suggest searching Google." Followed by unmondified Google search code. Of course, I am not fluent in legalese.

[bhartzer]

Since we're talking about Websearch prohibitions:

Can you put the websearch code on a custom 404 error page? If they got to the error page, then users would be able to stay on your site or do a Google search. Seems like a perfect opportunity to me.

[ownerrim]

also, can the websearch box be placed in more than one spot on a page? say, top and bottom, or is only one placement allowed?

[androidtech]

Can WebSearch go on an exit popup?
Thanks.

[rookiecrd1]

Are we allowed to ask members to come to our site before searching google to help out our site?

Would this be against their TOS?

[jomaxx]

IMO any "help out our site" type text will definitely be considered a violation of the TOS.

As for exit popups,

No AdWords ads or Google search box may be displayed on any domain parking websites, pop-ups, pop-unders, error, registration, or "thank you" pages, or in any email.

[ChrisKud5]

Getting more and more searches may increase your likleyhood of having one of those "end of the month" revenue deductions. As ASA said, (and I stated in a thread week ago) that google has a cost for each search, so the more searches you do and less the CTR and EPC you have, the more likley your revenues will be reduced at months end.

Encouraging people to do searches is not helping you at all, if anything it is hurting you by moving you closer to the month end revenue deductions.

You may get more revenue IF users click your ads, but who says they are going to do that, or search for a topic that has ads.

[androidtech]

jomaxx,

Thanks.

[TampaLou]

My interpretation from the explanation given by Google is that the deductions come strictly from any revenue earned from the Websearch, *not* from AdSense revenue. Do the rest of you concur?

[ownerrim]

yes, that's my take as well. and i think they specifically state this...somewhere...i guess.

[ChrisKud5]

Yes it is for websearch, if you do not use websearch you do not run the risk of having your "wages garnished" by the man.

Refering visitors to your search page may increase your total searches while not increasing clicks a proportionate amount, leaving you more suseptable to the end of the month wage garnishment by google. Might not be worth it.