Related Searches on AdSense Ads

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[Visit Thailand]

Has anyone noticed the Related searches on the AdSense Ads? Just below the ads are two links to a Google Related Search.

I for one do not like that as people may click on that rather than the ad.

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In fact I have now just seen one add that had no ads but just a whole bunch of links for related searches.

[Bluesplinter]

Laisha, that's my gripe as well. The front page of my site, the one that gets the most traffic (and changes fairly often), is getting *nothing* but the blank spaces.

I've written to Google about it, and if they help out, great. Otherwise, I'll have to use that space for something else.

My CTR is down 40% since this started... CPM is down, too.

[cramalot]

I think we all would agree that we all EXPECTD Google to be different and a little more grown up from other ad networks. Although it is our fault for expect too much, it was/is our hope that someone with enough power, such as Google, that can put pressure in the ad industry to make some serious changes. Those of us who have dealt with other ad networks, affiliate programs, and so on, know what it feels like to be taken advantage of. For once we can convert well on the hard work we put into our websites but just like every other program, they are starting to take advantage.

Our leader, our hope is turning on us - this is the impression I get.

[hooloovoo22]

i think we need a union

[cramalot]

Judging from the stats so far

I need a drink

[farnwomt]

Is this union going to stand up against scab labour and picket other websites that use AdSense?

Somehow I doubt you would get much solidarity :-)

[novice]

>i think we need a union>

I think somebody already came up with that idea "IAWP" International Association of Web Professionals

[Chndru]

After all the furor, Adsense is just for content-sites. it is not for sites which sells widgets but for sites that provies reviews/news about widgets. This a part of the grand scheme of promoting content-sites on web by google and thereby providing some monetary benefits in building content sites. Other commercial sites make money of the widgets they sell. So, commercial sites at the first place should choose not to bring on Adsense.

From that perspective, related searches or google search box on the Ad spaces on the webpages should improve the credibility of the site and provide better user experience. And in those cases, if Google makes some money, so what? They are a commercial organization just like everyone else is :)

If ya aint fit the scheme, why curse the scheme?

[universetoday]

I like that idea - a union of web professionals.

The cold reality is that whoever sells advertising writes all the rules. For every union of people standing together, there will be an army of the short-sighted to undermine them.

[killroy]

Sounds like about now would be the perfect time fro Overture to create a competign product, same payouts, same MO, no related search... Would you switch? I think I would, if only as a signal to Google and the hope that they will se ethe error in their ways.

SN

[dougb]

This particular bait-and-switch tactic doesn't bother me nearly as much as their other recent bait-and-switch tactic [webmasterworld.com], which affects advertisers rather than publishers. There are a lot of similarities in how they handled both cases. In this case at least they were up front in the agreement that they could make whatever changes they want to the content of the ads without notice. And the revenue sharing function was already completely opaque, so adding unpaid links didn't make it any more so.

I predict they'll get rid of related searches links on AdSense ads eventually. They just don't add much value to content pages, and they're clearly alienating publishers. I think related searches could be a cool addition to their own search results page, however...

[Imaster]

Sounds like about now would be the perfect time fro Overture to create a competign product, same payouts, same MO, no related search... Would you switch? I think I would, if only as a signal to Google and the hope that they will se ethe error in their ways.

Introduction of a similar program by Overture would certainly be good news. I would run a combination (50-50), however with the related searches now, if the ctr and revenue drop significantly and my statistics give me an indication that I am losing many of my users out to my competitors, I may perhaps be compelled to try out more of OV.

[edited by: Imaster at 7:19 pm (utc) on Aug. 7, 2003]

[richmondsteve]

Might be a coincidence, but all the related search links I tried from my ads on several sites took me to searches that had a full complement (6-10) of adwords.

Camster, it may be a coincidence. I have a related search for a phrase that has no AdWords listings. I don't want to get too far off-topic in this thread but the phrase I am referring to is totally unrelated to the specific page or any pages on my site (as are the ads) and are due to Mediapartners spidering the page 5 days ago during a short period when our database was down and the PHP code displayed a MySQL error message instead.

[JasonHamilton]

<<Adsense is just for content-sites. it is not for sites which sells widgets but for sites that provies reviews/news about widgets. This a part of the grand scheme of promoting content-sites on web by google and thereby providing some monetary benefits in building content sites. Other commercial sites make money of the widgets they sell. So, commercial sites at the first place should choose not to bring on Adsense.>>

Again, people are assuming that one-size-fits-all.

I run several content sites. I no longer run adsense even though my site has nothing up for sale. There just isn't any reason for me to drive unpaid traffic to google.

Naturally, I do list similar sites of interest on my content pages. That is a completely different situation than what google is doing. Having no editorial control over my own pages? No thanks.

Any person who doesn't mind giving out free traffic to other sites, Email me -- I want to sign up with YOU.

[seaboy]

Any person who doesn't mind giving out free traffic to other sites, Email me -- I want to sign up with YOU.

Well if you'll send me even 90% of the money that AdSense does (even today's amount!) I will ;-)

[GoogleGuy]

Hey, there's several threads going on related searches, so I'm trying to drop a note in each one. I just wanted to let people know that based on the initial feedback that we've seen, we're going to pause the related searches until publishers have more options/flexibility. I'll start a fresh thread in a minute, but I just wanted to let people know that sometime soon (probably later today) the related searches will be suspended until publishers have more choices for this feature.

Okay, off to start a new thread. See ya in a few minutes..
GoogleGuy

[novice]

Thanks for the info Google Guy i am sure it is quite welcomed news.

[Imaster]

Wow, Thank you GoogleGuy :) You are a hero :)

[JasonHamilton]

shwing!

[mat_bastian]

That expeditious response is really impressive Google Guy.

I wasn't sure what side of the fence I fell on regarding the related links, but it is really refreshing to see Google take a step back and take a second look. However it turns out, the fact that Google is listening has impressed me.

[cyberprosper]

It is so funny, by the time I noticed this new 'feature' and wanted to come here to complain there are already 300 messages!

Let me add my opinion. ****~!

Now, if google were to pay us for those related searches, I'd be fine with that. Even if it were only a nickle. But come on! They do not pay enough use enough for clicks to start throwing that stuff on my pages. The google link at the top is already on the line... However, at least we knew it was there. Next, google is going to put in a javascript redirect on our pages...

[loanuniverse]

OMG, Look at this kind of response. That is it, I am changing my default page from Yahoo to Google. :)

If only I could get a stock ticker.......

This is very refreshing.

[gbaker123]

Boy I'm glad I fast forwarded to the end. I was about to nix the adsense too. I read GG's post and realized that they are still responsive and I best not.

George

[worker]

I hope GG addresses the blank Adsense boxes as well.

Those are more of a concern for me at the moment, since I've been pulling them off my sites today.

[GoogleGuy]

"Boy I'm glad I fast forwarded to the end."

Yah, I may have to keep doing a few posts for a while to make sure everyone gets the word. :) I started a new thread with more details, and I'll post more info if I hear details that AdSense people would be interested in. Everyone, thanks for the feedback both here and in email to us.

best wishes,
GoogleGuy

[kpaul]

GoogleGuy - I'm spreading the word on a few other forums. Thanks for listening. ;)

[hooloovoo22]

there are times when i sit back and just think wow, power of communication enabled by the web is freaking unbelivable.

can you imagine if this was an advertising move pre-internet where google couldn't get the immediate response and adjust their product accordingly. end result being they lose 'clients' and another product comes out which addresses the markets concerns

i'm going to reread cluetrain. google took it to heart and it's done wonders for them.

thanks GG, i'm also suprisingly impressed.

[div01]

Man...you guys are good. :>)

[Visit Thailand]

What brilliant news! Woke up this morning and the Related Searches feature is gone. Great.

My confidence in Google has not only been restored but surpassed its original levels, if a leading SE such as Google is prepared to listen to publishers and others in this way I am more than impressed.

Great work Google.

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I had not seen this new thread by GoogleGuy announcing the pause:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Jesse_Smith]

Did the relates searches show up on all sites? I never got them. Only saw the 'This Blank Space Brought to you by Google' message.

[RobbieD]

Did the relates searches show up on all sites? I never got them. Only saw the 'This Blank Space Brought to you by Google' message.

Yes