Is Google Getting Desperate for Revenue? Farewell Objectivity?
June 17, 2012
Search Engine Land recently reported on some changes being made to Google Product Search in the article “Google Product Search to Become Google Shopping, Use Pay-to-Play Model.”
In addition to changing the name to Google Shopping, Google is switching to a new business model where only merchants that pay will be listed in search results. While the search giant claims this will improve user’s search experience by connecting merchants with the right customers, many worry that this is the first step towards the removal of free listings all together.
The article states:
“The forthcoming Google Shopping will operate on what’s been known in the search industry as a paid inclusion model. That’s where companies pay to be listed but payment doesn’t guarantee that they’ll rank well for any particular terms. In particular, Google says advertisers will provide data feeds or create product listings through Google AdWords, in campaigns that are set to run on Google Shopping. It will work very similarly to how Product Listing Ads work now. Merchants won’t bid on particular keywords but rather bid how much they’re willing to pay, if their listings appear and get clicks or produce sales.”
So tell me about objective search results again, Mr. Google. It appears that the search giant’s desperation for revenue is causing it to abandon objectivity.
Jasmine Ashton, June 17, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
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