google sponsored results now show above all others

now you can buy your way to # 1

[Leosghost]

I just tested an idea for a new site by typing in a phrase of only 3 words in google ( I'm in France but i reset to the English page as it was for the "English" market ) ....one of the words was a "common" 2 letter word "in" and so was ignored ....

The page that google gave me was standard "format" with over 11,000,000 results ....

But right across the top of the results were two paid for "sponsored results" ...with two more in "the new adwords format" at the side of the page where we are used to the adwords being....

The top two results are barely distinguishable from the rest of the page below them ....

Infact only the first has a pale blue backgound with way over to the right the words "sponsored result" ...above the adwords area...

the number two position is occupied by a link to google news subject " the words I searched for"

So unless I've missed something recently and it's been seen already and posted on ..the new face of google is paid for #1 and # 2....

I tried it on some less competitive words and got the usual results ....I already new that my browser wasn't jacked ..I do do a lot of security work.....this machine is clean ..

I'll give the link here to the search page ..

[google.com...]

( mods ..you decide if you want to leave it in ) if the mods leave it ...

So now we know where we are at last ..google has gone the way of all SE ...and the free lunch is over ..

In case this isn't what you see from everywhere I do note that strangely enough in France when interogating USA data centers "we" saw the new format adwords about one month befoer most of the people in the USA ...

Maybe they "gauge" reaction here first ?

I also seem to remember that I said this was the way the pages would look in the future the day I saw the new adwords ....sponsored at #1 on top ...

I remember being told by some that I was talking ****

screen shot anyone?

[loanuniverse]

Three adwords on the side. No adwords on top for me.

[troels nybo nielsen]

Two adwords on the side. No adwords on top for me either. (I'm in Denmark.)

[pleeker]

Maybe I'm not understanding what you're describing, but Google has for a looong time, shown 1-2 AdWords ads with a pastel background up at the top of the SERPs, spreading horizontally across the width of your browser. It's not a new format.

They also show the ads this way on Google Local searches.

[skippy]

Leosghost
Try a US based proxy and you will see alot of these types of results.

[Leosghost]

Just came back to the thread after doing some more work on the house as the weather was good ..for about ten minutes..every hour ..heh heh ..

So apparently this is the way they've displayed for a while in the local USA ...I must have missed the thread ...

Even so it only happens from where I am on certain searches ...and I didn't go through a proxy ...I have some searches return only adwords down the side ..but on really competitive terms ..such as the example I gave ( thanks mods for leaving it in )...
I presume that means that you can stipulate that you wish to be at this position ..no doubt one pays more ..than the standard adwords rate where the best you can aspire to is top of the right hand side pile ...
My gripe is not that you can buy your way to the spot ..after all google was the only one that didn't place it's sponsored ads at the top ABOVE "organic" serp results ...still gave the "lady" class ..
It's the fact that the mention "sponsored" is way over on the right and can only be placed there so that the "searcher" is fooled into thinking that sponsored refers to what is below the word ..not what is in the pale blue band to it's left looking like a "natural" top position ...
This is deliberately missleading and removes any claim left google had to be the "honest" search engine ....
I have never been it's greatest fan but in spite of it all still prefered it to the "others" (ODP always accepted even tho it's not designed to be an "engine" )..
But it was harder to "game" google ( possible but harder than the rest ) ...for example today I saw for the first time with one site I made that finally I got it into Altavista ..straight at number one for all KW1 and or KW2 ...and I did it via straight stuffing ..I'd even forgotten that I submitted it ... #1 done that way gives me no sense of acheivement at all ..sure I'll take whatever revenue it brings but any moron with WebPo'gold could do it ..I'm sure many know what I mean ...
With Google ya had ta think , sweat , scheme , work at it , survive the algo's and updates , cross your eyes and point the lizard bones ..and like my dad used to say "hold yer mouth roight or t'wont work" ( Irish 'n' proud )...
All of that for the top of the page ..I've got more respect for a spammy directory that beats me to that spot ( did my longest post yet today on just that subject right here in these fora ) ..than some one who just signs the check and BAMMM ..there they are ...# 1 ..top of the page "highlighted" in pale blue ...
google ...ya sold out...

The "lady" is gone...
In her place... just another hooker on the block ...

[Marval]

Been that way for at least two years in the US - it also depends on whether the sponsor that buyw the adwords targets your country as to whether the ads will show up there. Very common in the SERPs in US Can and UK

<added> of course it takes a little more cash than just a standard adwords ad to get up there

[Nikke]

of course it takes a little more cash than just a standard adwords ad to get up there

Not always. Those clicks doesn't necessarily have to cost a bundle. But in order to arrive at that spot an adword campaign needs to have a really high CTR, and needs to have been running for some time.
I have one for a keyword with an average CPC of 11 cents.
Sometimes it has company, but not always, and it's been up there for over two months now.

[anallawalla]

Also depends on time of day, advertiser's budget, CTR etc. Tried a US proxy and no proxy from Australia here - no ads showing at the top for that broad match term, just three on the side. Easier to find in the more competitive industries.