Beyond that, I think we can all accept that the reason we even *ask* this question is because its rational basis keeps presenting itself:
1) Google's business model is based on AdWords. Google will only ever be in a position to provide the 'white pages', so to speak, to the extent that the predominant use of and revenues generated come from the 'yellow pages'. Google's 'white pages' are brand searches, and the 'yellow pages' are generic searches. Brand searches may one day be free (especially if trade mark lawyers have their way) but Google will force advertisers into AdWords whether they do it with a clear conscience or not.
2) As we get closer to Google's IPO it gets harder to be in the SERPs.
3) PPC distribution deals are more fiercely fought over than ever, and Google's SERPs - if they are to be distributed to tier I & II search engines - need to be as devoid of commercial entities as possible, since the search engine in question will expect to be able to monetize commercial queries themselves.
So, the connection is -> If Adwords are paying good money to google, the regular pages will disappear. I am not stoping my campagin anyway because it is generating more traffic, earlier, my pages were just indexed, but with Adwords, I am always on top 3.
NOW that, I strongly disagree with.
especially this bit:
the regular pages will disappear.
Shak
AdWordsAdvisor, are you really sure?
Yep.
Don't you send Googlebot to make sure the links work? If not, how is it that the links get checked?
Nope, no bot. Each ad is reviewed by an actual human being. As part of the review, a living breathing person clicks through to your site, makes sure the link is working, makes sure that any offers you've made in your ad are reflected on your site, makes sure there are no pop ups, that the back button works, and so on, and so forth.
In anticipaton of the next question, Google's clicks to your site are filtered - and you do not pay for them. Neither impressions nor clicks coming from Google will appear in your statistics.
AWA
Nope, no bot. Each ad is reviewed by an actual human being. As part of the review, a living breathing person clicks through to your site, makes sure the link is working, makes sure that any offers you've made in your ad are reflected on your site, makes sure there are no pop ups, that the back button works, and so on, and so forth.
However this process can take a few weeks from campaign/adgroup/creative launch.
Shak