new google toolbar-end to adsense

no it isn't a doom a gloom thread-

[blairsp]

Some of you may be aware that google is launching a new toolbar. Now my understanding (which may be wrong) is that it employs a new feature called Autolink that turns non-linked content on Web sites into hotlinks back to Google properties and other sites. As an example , say your browsing a web page with numerous addresses on it. AutoLink will turn each of those addresses into direct links to the Google Maps database. At the moment it appears it is only turning links into amazon links (I think).

Questions:

1/ how long before they simply create and intellitext like link to your content and hey presto why pay publishers to post some java code on their site? Goodbye adsense
2/ What are amazons competition doing about this?
3/ Is this new toolbar adware? - of course as we all love google that is a heinous suggestion.

[blairsp]

Actually, further info. I have read on another board (I cannot vouch for its authenticity-although long establsihed board) that if you go to the barnes & nobles website using the new toolbar its links take you to the amazon website. So I wonder where our links will be directed to?

[zjacob]

As a user, the autolink feature sounds like a great innovation.

As a publisher, I want to know immediately when someone has created a piece of code that blocks the autolink feature from working on a webpage, as I'll be implementing it on each and every page that has addresses or other "autolink" content on them.

I'd be surprised to find a single publisher who'd want to have their visitors leave via an "autolink".

[Imaster]

As a publisher, I want to know immediately when someone has created a piece of code that blocks the autolink feature from working on a webpage, as I'll be implementing it on each and every page that has addresses or other "autolink" content on them.

Same here..

[bernis]

i assume some 0.1% of google users have toolbar installed ... and even those have to click autolink button to turn the text into links .. don't panic ...

and if user decides to click that button it means he's not satisfied with the links you provide ... i.e. he's not goining to click any of your links of adverts anyway

[blairsp]

i assume some 0.1% of google users have toolbar installed

I think it would surprise us all how many people do have this. How many non techie [people are out there and have installed it by mistake, have installed it as part of the package (you know, would you like to install the G toolbar as well-hey I've heard of them-seems like a good idea etc etc).

Also I would suggest that the technology to convert this into "intellitext like" links taking away the need (i.e. the revenue splitting) with a publsiher isn't that different.

[Imaster]

and how long would it take microsoft to implement something like this into their next version of the browser.

[EVOrange]

Let me ad my name to the list of those wanting a script to block the link action.
I have no beef with Google. Adsense has been very good for my site, but I don't want anyone adding links to my pages that takes visitors in directions that I did not plan.

EVO

[Visit Thailand]

Unfortunately I can foresee this happening every where and not just on the net (in its current format) which I believe is doomed in the long run anyhow, but that is another issue.

The net while quite developped is still in its infancy, and all this caching and now suggestions of links on text that are not part of the site.

Wonder whether G would use the service to link to yahoo searches on its own searches!

I remember sometime back a site created software where you could post post-its on any site, which created an outcry.

This is one thing I doubt the publishers would put up with and as someone has already commented most would use code to disable it at once.

[Macro]

Google wouldn't have the b*lls to implement autolink at this stage. Anyone remember the fuss about Microsoft's smart tags in the pre-XP days?
To be fair they may not even have such intentions.

[blairsp]

Macro

I assume you mean in general terms. Because they ahve already implemented it for specific items:
[google.com...]

I am assuming posting this url is OK as it is a google link and NOT to a private page/website etc.

[linear]

Google wouldn't have the b*lls to implement autolink at this stage. Anyone remember the fuss about Microsoft's smart tags in the pre-XP days?

Yep. And there was a meta tag to disable it on a per-page basis as well. I imagine that sort of mechanism would have to exist for this as well, and the documentation will surface presently.

[europeforvisitors]

The Autolink feature looks pretty benign to me, at least from the Google description. Being able to get a map and directions by clicking on an address, or having the ability to check a UPS shipment's status by clicking on a tracking number, isn't the same as having every keyword or keyphrase on a page turned into the equivalent of an IntelliTXT ad. If Google did want to offer the equivalent of IntelliTXT, I suspect that the advertising would be active only if the site owner turned it on via a publisher tag or code on the page.

[Never_again]

I must be missing something here, but how does this impact AdSense?

[blairsp]

pretty benign to me, at least from the Google description.

Perhaps at the moment but what do you think their next move is? Why stop at street maps or books? My logic would suggest ,link a street map now, Wait a minute why are we giving x% to a publisher to get surfers to click on a european hotels advert. I know we could set up an auto link if that word appears on a page as well. Wait a minute why .....

Which should hopefully also answer the what impact does this have on adsense question

[europeforvisitors]

Why stop at street maps or books? My logic would suggest ,link a street map now, Wait a minute why are we giving x% to a publisher to get surfers to click on a european hotels advert. I know we could set up an auto link if that word appears on a page as well. Wait a minute why .....

Why? Because they'd have too much to lose. Period.

If you really want something to worry about, think about the crash that's going to happen when Google, Microsoft, and the Department of Homeland Security all try to download the contents of your hard drive at the same time. :-)

[Never_again]

Which should hopefully also answer the what impact does this have on AdSense question.

Doesn’t answer it at all IMHO. There is no way Google is going to undermine or damage there AdSense cash cow.

[blairsp]

They don't need adsense. They CAN have a new cash cow. Autolink everything on a page that adsense would normally pick up in terms of key/ad words. Cut out the middle man (i.e. you as a publisher) keep 100% of profits not just 99 (or whatever they keep)

[Macro]

LOL. Such an action could make StopAutolink a bigger industry than anti-spyware is now. Bad PR. Bad karma. Not Google style. It loses them access to the food they need to survive - webpages i.e. they'll suddenly find that a lot of places don't like Googlebot anymore. And Google really doesn't like being excluded from any content [webmasterworld.com].

Nothing is ever impossible, of course, but I don't think we need to worry about Google trying to cut out publishers at this point. They need publishers to reach parts the SERPs can't scratch. What was it a Google rep (?) recently said - Search is less than 5% of how people reach data?

[xenithforever]

Hi Guys,

It is amazing how many of you look at the "doom" as coming to Google Adsense:

I have been reading how Google will be shortly making some very interesting changes to help increase the publishers earnings.

Please be greatful & just KNOW, Google will be thriving for years to come.

Greatful here,

David