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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Tue, Nov 18th 2003 8:22am





How Bad Is Paid Search?

from the users-have-no-clue... dept

For well over a year folks at the FTC have been "concerned" about the rise of "paid search" results, where results that are paid for are included without any indication to he end-user that these are sponsored results. Search Engine Guide takes a look at a few different search engines and demonstrates just how deceptive this is - as plenty of search engines are almost entirely made up of paid for results without indicating the monetary relationship. Of course, if the paid search results are that bad, you would think people would go elsewhere - and, there's plenty of evidence to suggest they do. Studies show that the majority of folks still use Google - who is very clear on separating paid results from straight search results.

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Google is Dog!!!

    identicon
    LittleW0lf, Nov 18th, 2003 @ 1:13pm

    I love google, and couldn't stand giving it up for Yahoo! or any other commercial search engine. The fact that paid search results appear in yellow, separate from the regular search results is often why I use google. When I am doing searches on data, I ignore the yellow boxes, but when I am looking to purchase something, I pay attention to the boxes, and usually buy or use the information on those linked pages to buy whatever it is I am looking for. When it comes down to the search, I want pages with information when I am searching for data, and pages with prices and sales information when I am looking to buy something.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Paid Search

    identicon
    AMetamorphosis, Nov 18th, 2003 @ 1:16pm

    As long as it is made clear @ the Search Engine that the result I am getting are paid for ... I am fine with it. It's when Search Engines take paid for placements and don't inform the user that the data is manipulated that I feel screwed.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Google is Dog!!!

    identicon
    AMetamorphosis, Nov 18th, 2003 @ 1:24pm

    My sentiments EXACTLY -
    Well said LittleW0lf ...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    anon, Nov 18th, 2003 @ 3:01pm

    doesn't the government have anything better to do - aren't mutual funds raiding billions from investors?

    i just love what they end up actually going after.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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