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Later today, tonight at 6:30 pm EST Google has reverted to normal. Anyone else seen this? Know what is going on?
If Google does revert to being like Overture, for sure it ruins their rep as a true search engine. But, hey, money counts. They have to make a living. I just found it strange that this incident happened and then -- bang! The 'problem' went away. I wonder if they were just testing what would happen? If they used paid ads all on top, vs the old system they used, how much revenue they would get, vs how many people now skip what they know to be 'paid for' ads and go to the 'real results?'
Got to be fast coconutz ;)
[edited by: Mike_Mackin at 11:32 pm (utc) on Oct. 16, 2002]
It probably depends on how "real" they are.
I buy a lot of stuff online, and I don't think I've ever clicked on a paid ad when I was looking for search results, but I don't know how typical I am.
Latest news I read from one of the sites that study and comment on search engines is that research shows 'most' (or maybe a 'large percentage' of consumers -- I don't remember the specifics) no longer click on paid ads, but go to the 'real results.' Bad news for the PPCs. Danny Sullivan's web site, I think is what reported this; also Web Position gold had same comment. Both in the last month.
Will be interesting to see if there is further 'news' on this and confirmation of it, in the future. It's hard for me to believe that most web novices, and there are so many, know the difference, but I have also found, as a web retailer, that the consumer is web smarter than most of us web pros give 'em credit for, even the novices.
I may be wrong but that's my reaction when searching.
Ann
I agree that PPC ads return some good results, and you can be found under more terms in PPCs than in most search engines with their mysterious ways for listing sites; Google being the exception. But even it will return different results for plurals and singulars -- ie: your site may be shown for widgets but not shown for widget. Or show for small widget, but not for widget at all.
Just found it interesting that recent research shows more consumers skipping paid ads and going to the 'real' results.
I have also found, as a web retailer, that the consumer is web smarter than most of us web pros give 'em credit for, even the novices
I agree Webstart. They are getting smarter all the time. Easily explained as (an assumption) the increase in "new internet users" is decreasing as a celing approaches, and every month the proportion of ALL internet users who are more "saavy" increases.
Just found it interesting that recent research shows more consumers skipping paid ads and going to the 'real' results.
That the majority surfers tend to "ignore" paid listings is also, IMHO, simply because the majority are not looking to pay for something, but for research and objective facts and figures, news, and freely accessible information.
When they find what they want is not available for free sometimes this group will go to a commercial site where they expect to pay.
In the past when commercial and non-commercial listings were less clearly delimited, possibly a higher proportion of people clicked on commercial listings "by mistake". That things have changed is not a bad thing. Web site owners may find that even though their actual hits may decrease, they are better qualified leads.. (maybe better ROI?) eg. they are actually WANTING to buy something.
