More precise Quality Score calculation
(...) In the coming days, we'll update the portion of the Quality Score algorithm that accounts for ad position. This will result in more accurate Quality Scores, ensure that ads compete fairly for position based on their quality and bid, and enable Google to show the most relevant ads to searchers by rewarding high-quality advertisers with better ad positions.
Higher quality ads above the search results
(...) In the past, if the ad with the highest Ad Rank did not meet the quality threshold, we may not have shown any ads above the search results. With this update, we'll allow an ad that meets the quality threshold to appear above the search results even if it has to jump over other ads to do so. For instance, suppose the ad in position 1 on the right side of the page doesn't have a high enough Quality Score to appear above the search results, but the ad in position 2 does. It's now possible for the number 2 ad to jump over the number 1 ad and appear above the search results. This change ensures that quality plays an even more important role in determining the ads that show in those prominent positions.
Keep in mind that these enhancements may cause changes to your ad position, spend, and performance. We're launching these updates soon so that you'll have enough time to review your accounts and prepare for your holiday season advertising. While we don't believe that any immediate changes are needed on your part, we encourage you, as always, to watch your key metrics and to make adjustments as appropriate.
We'll post again once these changes are live.
[edited by: encyclo at 12:12 am (utc) on Nov. 1, 2008]
[edit reason] added link, quote trimmed for fair use [/edit]
From now on eBay and Amazon will be in first and second place because we're tired of you small-timers tweaking your ads to outplace them.
You see, users find ridiculous ads for used toilet paper and the black plague higher-quality.
Anyway, I have a mind to intentionally screw up the quality of my ads so that I never, ever appear in click monkey territory.
God knows the position preference is a joke. You say you want to be in 3-4 position and the stats will tell you that you were in average position 3.5. Unfortunately, what they don't tell you is that 80% of your clicks came from position 2, it's only your impressions that were in 3.5 place.
So go ahead and put the deep pocket advertisers in first and second Google.. I hate being in legally blind click monkey territory anyway.
uh, wasn't this the case before? Weren't 'good' CTR rates prorated based on ad position previously? Or maybe that didn't really work in practice, but will now?
