Is Websearch just a way to pay publisher's even less

is websearch a product...or a scheme?

[ownerrim]

Google keeps all the money on a google search, naturally. They split it to some degree on ads clicked on a content site. But they pay next to nil for an ad clicked via a websearch box on a content site. So, they reduce their payout and capture more income. And, if they can get your site's visitors to exit your site via websearch versus adsense, they make out like bandits while you see your earnings continue to drop. AND---->since adverstisers are likely to see lower ROI on websearch clicks, their bids will likely go down over time, causing earnings to drop even more for publishers. So, is websearch innovation? Or just greed, the kind that begins to kill a good program? Anyone remember all the crap that used to show up on altavista, which 4 years ago was the number 1 SE?

[europeforvisitors]

Google keeps all the money on a google search, naturally. They split it to some degree on ads clicked on a content site. But they pay next to nil for an ad clicked via a websearch box on a content site. So, they reduce their payout and capture more income.

Yes, they probably do reduce their payout, since they're providing a service (search) that incurs expense for them. There's nothing sinister or even greedy about that.

And, if they can get your site's visitors to exit your site via websearch versus adsense, they make out like bandits while you see your earnings continue to drop.

Not necessarily. What if a search takes the user to a site that isn't running AdSense? Google loses AdSense impressions and clicks.

AND---->since adverstisers are likely to see lower ROI on websearch clicks, their bids will likely go down over time, causing earnings to drop even more for publishers.

Why are advertisers likely to see lower ROI on search clicks? The conventional wisdom among AdWords advertisers is that search clicks convert better than content clicks.

So, is websearch innovation? Or just greed, the kind that begins to kill a good program?

It's another service that publishers can use or not use, at their discretion.

[esllou]

you have to run this particular flag up the pole and see if it flies for you or not.

each webmaster will have a different experience.

I decided not to run it. Your mileage may vary...

[ownerrim]

re: lower ROI on clicks gotten through websearch-->just my opinion. But it's based on the way the ads are presented on the websearch page. 5 ads at the top and 5 at the bottom. the casual user seems (to me) to be more likely to hit an ad out of simple curiosity versus having a true interest in the product. "If" that bears out to be the case, then advertisers will begin to see a lower ROI which, eventually, will negatively affect all adsense publishers because bids will go down. It's for this same reason that I think carrying context ads on gmail is a bad idea. Google will continue to make money, but publishers will do worse and worse over time. What I'm saying is that I think google is devaluing pure adsense clicks by doing this kind of thing.

[PFOnline]

I actually gotta agree on this one...

Just checked my stats to see today I got 3 clicks from WebSearch for a grand total of $.05 cents... That's less than 2 cents per click!

I can understand they may give a little less compared to Adsense, because the search goes through them and stuff, but is everyone else noticing these really low EPC's?

[onlineshrine]

I am seeing epcs similar to what you describe. Basically, the way I am looking at it is that my Content Ad CTR isn't down, so having Web search up isn't hurting that. I didn't have a site search, so it is just a nice feature for my visitors. I am not counting on any money from it at this point.

[ChrisKud5]

scheme. let others build the google brandname and pay them little for clicks.

not using it, never will.

How are those EPC websearch folks?!?

[europeforvisitors]

How are those EPC websearch folks?!?

Not as good as on content pages, but better than on other SERPs from third-party providers.