Question for all you Google searchers

[jjones]

I'm starting to use the Google Adwords campaign. These are the ads that appear in the colored boxes on the right hand side called "Sponsored Links" when you do a Google search. Do any of you ever click on these links when searching or would you be inclined to do so?

For example, when I'm searching for some computer parts, I already know a half-dozen sites that I want to check out so if I do a search it's usually just to come up with those sites because I may not have them bookmarked, and I probably would not click on any of the sponsored links because I already know who I'm looking for.

But, if I were to search for something that I'm completely clueless about such as discount flights to Phoenix, AZ (just an example), in addition to checking out the regular search result listings, I would probably be inclined to click on those sponsored links to check out what fares they offer.

I'm just curious if anyone else uses the Sponsored Links and it what situations.

 

[BillGates]

I never use the sponsored links - they usually seem more like ads/spam rather than actual results. I may be totally wrong but that's the impression I get. I hate ads.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Never use cuz its NEVER anything I am looking for.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: BillGates
I never use the sponsored links - they usually seem more like ads/spam rather than actual results. I may be totally wrong but that's the impression I get. I hate ads.

Same here.

 

[snooker]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: BillGates
I never use the sponsored links - they usually seem more like ads/spam rather than actual results. I may be totally wrong but that's the impression I get. I hate ads.

Same here.

ditto

 

[prodigy]

Because google kicks so much ass, I'll click on those links once in a while.

 

[hevnsnt]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: BillGates
I never use the sponsored links - they usually seem more like ads/spam rather than actual results. I may be totally wrong but that's the impression I get. I hate ads.

Actually, I think you'd be surprised. Many of those ads are very relevent to the search topic. I'm generally of the same mind as you; I hate ads. But when you're paying to place that ad with Google you'll end up defining a very narrow market target.

If I had a business that offered very good rates for flights to Phoenix, AZ, I would place an ad for discount air fare to Phoenix, AZ and target keywords such as "Phoenix air fare", "Phoenix flights", "Phoenix discount air fare", etc. When you have to pay per click you don't want your ad to show up when people are searching for "cheap flights" or "discount airfare" because there are a million destinations, and if you specialize in Phoenix it costs you a lot of money when people click through that are not your targeted audience. So I think in general, advertisers try to be as specific as possible and Google encourages this.

But like you said, people may tend to view advertising as spam, which it is not when it is targeted. I know I have a general tendency to mentally block out ads when doing searches.

 

If you mean those little links at the corner, yes, I have used them occasionally. Most of the time though, they didn't fulfill what I wanted. I generally always wanted sites with information, but the sponsored links are often information to purchase or subscribe to a service. Often, that is not what I want. However, in instances where I was interested in making a purchase, the sponsored links have been helpful. For instance, when I was searching for insurance or a vitamin supplement.

 

[Amused]

I click them quite often. They are usually on topic with what I searched for, and just how do you think Google stays in business? I've actually found some cool retailers this way.

Google is not a product of altruism. Click their ads and support them, lest they go out of business like so many other companies. At least their ads are unobtrusive, and on topic with what you're looking for. How many other sites can claim that?

Most recently, I found a good retailer for my whey protein powder by clicking on Google's ads.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: luvly
If you mean those little links at the corner, yes, I have used them occasionally. Most of the time though, they didn't fulfill what I wanted. I generally always wanted sites with information, but the sponsored links are often information to purchase or subscribe to a service. Often, that is not what I want. However, in instances where I was interested in making a purchase, the sponsored links have been helpful. For instance, when I was searching for insurance or a vitamin supplement.

Thats a good point. If you are selling something there, I bet giving a LOT of info on the page linked from google would improve sales.

 

[kranky]

I click them when it looks like a site I would visit anyway (based on the search I did). How can you call that spam? You use their wonderful search engine free, and in return they display a few ads on the edge of the window. That's OK with me if it keeps Google around. It's one of the few sites I would pay a fee to use just for the amount of time it saves me.

Everyone thinks everything on the net should be free for them, and someone else ought to pay.

 

[Anubis]

i dont think ive ever clicked one

 

[FrustratedUser]

Never

 

[ohtwell]

I use google a lot and I don't think I've ever clicked on one.


: ) Amanda

 

[Parrotheader]

A good portion of my job duties is managing ads on Google Adwords for our clients. Overture's the other big service we use. So naturally I click them all the time. Not just because I use them, but because I now know from experience that the Google Adwords editorial approval process usually ensures that you're at least somewhat relevant for the term being searched for and I've found some great hard to find products that way that the regular search engine spiders would have never touched in a thousand years. Depending upon how the advertiser has their search matching setup (i.e., exact matching v/s phrase matching v/s broad matching) will determine how relevant the ad is. We generally use phrase matching as it makes the ad relevant for a known phrase, but also can account for unknown search variables that individuals might use.

I love how some people around here blindly scoff at advertising. That's fine. It's their right. But these are BY FAR some of the least intrusive ads available online. What's more is that they actually work, both for the advertiser and the customer as this is the only online ad technique we've ever seen direct profit results from. So apparently the customer is actually finding what they're looking for a lot of the time. I hate pop-ups just as much as anybody, but pop-ups, banners, etc don't have to go through an editorial review process first before their allowed to run. These ads do. Granted, the system is not perfect but it's one of the few advertising systems advertisers are willing to pour money into right now and without advertiser money many major web sites would either cease to exist or become only a tiny fraction of their former selves.

The big drawing card for Google's AdWords from an advertiser's standpoint is not the traffic you'll get from Google itself, but the traffic you'll get from AOL searches where the top AdWords listings get better placement at the top of the search results page.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Maybe once since they started, but I do glance at them to see if they are what I'm searching for.

 

[theknight571]

I click on the links when it brings up a site that looks like it might be what I'm looking for.

- TK