How Long Until Search Engine Results Are Purely PPC?

[Lee]

So i was chatting with someone earlier today who told me that they only get traffic from the search engines via Pay Per Click results and that got me thinking, do you think we are ever going to see a stage where the major SE's display pure results based on PPC bids for traffic?

It would seem that Google might be headed towards that eventually given all the new geotargeting options they have been launching for their AdWords program over the past couple of years and, in all honesty, it also appears that PPC ads are a lot more relevant than the regular search engine results.

What are your thoughts on this, do you think we're going to see the major SE's only dealing in PPC traffic at some point in the near future?

Regards,

Lee

[Xstr8guy]

That's an incredible stretch but not totally ridiculous. There are still many, many sites that don't profit a single penny such as wikipedia. And it's sites like that that make the internet what it is... other than a outlet for porn, that is.

[marcjacob]

Its more than an outlet for porn??? When did that happen?

I dread the day Google goes all ppc. I think the great thing about Google is that you have to work hard to get to the top. You dont just by your way there. I cant do seo so my thoughts are as a surfer only.

[IdolKnights]

I cant do seo so my thoughts are as a surfer only.

Same here but my question is if they go ppc only - Would they dump all current data or? Like Marc - No clue on SEO so maybe I just asked something real stupid. Sorry*

[marcjacob]

Gosh theres two of us that cant do it . Im glad im not the only one that finds it hard. Everyone else seems to make $$$'s from Search Engines.

[robin]

This has been both the worry and the hype ever since goto started the whole ppc thing. It hasn't happened and I really doubt that it will happen. Pure ppc results just doesn't give the breadth and variety needed for an active and growing search user base.

[gaybucks_chip]

Besides, if Google or somebody goes ppc, then a new player will pop into the market with an unbiased search engine based on a different revenue model and the cycle will start over.

But I don't think Google is that stupid.

[Dzinerbear]

It's not going to happen. It's the hoards of freeloaders that give Google the traffic to woo advertisers. If people can't find objective search results, they'll go somewhere else.

Michael

[Lee]

Pure ppc results just doesn't give the breadth and variety needed for an active and growing search user base.

However, they also dont give all the non-relevant results that most SERPs display these days, it used to be that you could find something relevant to what you searched on the first page of many of the majors SE's, these days, the only 'relevant' results we find on those pages (for the most part) are the PPC results.

Regards,

Lee

[robin]

However, they also dont give all the non-relevant results that most SERPs display these days, it used to be that you could find something relevant to what you searched on the first page of many of the majors SE's, these days, the only 'relevant' results we find on those pages (for the most part) are the PPC results.

Regards,

Lee

I would have to disagree there as there's ooodles of PPC search results that aren't relevant. (coming at from both a surfers pov and from an advertisers pov).

[Xstr8guy]

However, they also dont give all the non-relevant results that most SERPs display these days, it used to be that you could find something relevant to what you searched on the first page of many of the majors SE's, these days, the only 'relevant' results we find on those pages (for the most part) are the PPC results.

Regards,

Lee

I tend to agree with you. When I'm searching for something, I always click the PPC results first. The first non-paid search results are usually those annoying Google Adsense sites. I hate those!

[desslock]

Why would Google change itself to become simply a yellow pages? That's what Yahoo attempted (charging $$$ to be listed in their directory) and they failed miserably, completely losing their once dominent position.

On top of that - why should Google change this model when, in the second quarter of 2006, under their current system they earned $2,455,991,000 which after expenses left them with a cool
$721,077,000 in profit?

And that's just for three months.

Steve

[Lee]

why should Google change this model when, in the second quarter of 2006, under their current system they earned $2,455,991,000 which after expenses left them with a cool
$721,077,000 in profit?

And that's just for three months.

Steve,

You just made a really good point FOR Google changing to purely PPC results.

Imagine all the new PPC customers they would get if they did, im pretty sure they could easily triple their quarterly earnings.

Regards,

Lee

[desslock]

Google must know its point of diminishing returns. In economics, that describes the fact that the more you have, the smaller the extra benefits are in getting even more.

Let's say you are really hungry, and sit down to a plate with five roast beef sandwiches on it. The first sandwich will taste delicious. The second will be good. The third will probably not nearly as pleasurable, and the other even less so.

Or, put in webmaster terms, a front page with four really outstanding, well placed ads will probably sell as well or better then a page cluttered with 50 different flashy ads.

The point of diminishing returns. Class, be ready for a quiz on Friday.

Steve

[FriendV]

It's not going to happen. It's the hoards of freeloaders that give Google the traffic to woo advertisers. If people can't find objective search results, they'll go somewhere else.

Michael

I have to agree with this point... If Google went all PPC, I dont think they would Have as much traffic to sell. I've also had pretty good results with my search results.. Am I using some wrong (right) search strings?
Hmmm...Google might need all the PPC income they can get to pay for the Tube purchase. LOL :crazy: