'Do you click the ads on Google?' poll discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

Poll between 10-17 August 2009:

Do you click the ads on Google?

When you’re searching whether Google or elsewhere, often “sponsored links” come at the top of the page and along the right hand column. These are adverts, which people pay to put there.

Which is closest to your view?

A. I wasn’t aware of the difference - 3% (288 votes)
B. I always ignore them (& use only the actual search results) - 47% (4941 votes)
C. I look at natural search results first (then the ads if that fails) - 29% (3045 votes)
D. I scan the ones on the top (if they’re good I’d click them) - 11% (1118 votes)
E. I scan all of them top & side (if they’re good I’d click them) - 8% (811 votes)
F. Who cares if they’re ads if they're effective? - 4% (399 votes)

Total Votes: 10,602

This vote has now ended, but you can still click 'post reply to discuss below. Thanks

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mluton

Don't think I have ever click one of them.

JonN_2

I click on the 'paid for' ads if I don't like the company.
Every click costs 'em money

rag31

If the top 'natural search' results aren't promising then I will click on an advert if they look useful. First the things that have gotten to the top through relevance, second the ads that are put there because they tend to be pretty relevant too.

They obviously do work though or all these companies wouldn't keep using them (have used myself and they are effective advertising).

ThinkingOfLinking

B. I never click on them. I am good at ignoring adverts anyway and also wouldn't trust someone who pays for advertising over the ordinary Google search results.

hayley11

I voted B too.

I don't trust some of those sponsored ads. You've only got to google CCCS and see all the fakes that come up.

They are quite misleading too, my dad who has only recently started using the internet thought they were the "proper" results and always clicked on them. I've since put him straight

teddyco

I purposely avoid them because they purposely do everything to force the product in my face.

robnoon

I run my own advertising agency and we run loads of Google Pay per click campaigns this poll just proves people are now getting wise to the paid results, but we also run SEO (search engine optimisation) campaigns this is where we get customers to the top of natural listings in Google, so dont be too sure that the top listings in the natural positions havnt paid to ge there too!! :whistle:

Rob

zygurat789

robnoon wrote: »

I run my own advertising agency and we run loads of Google Pay per click campaigns this poll just proves people are now getting wise to the paid results, but we also run SEO (search engine optimisation) campaigns this is where we get customers to the top of natural listings in Google, so dont be too sure that the top listings in the natural positions havnt paid to ge there too!! :whistle:

Rob

Are these the highlighted ones that stand out like a sore thumb?

minerva_windsong

robnoon wrote: »

I run my own advertising agency and we run loads of Google Pay per click campaigns this poll just proves people are now getting wise to the paid results, but we also run SEO (search engine optimisation) campaigns this is where we get customers to the top of natural listings in Google, so dont be too sure that the top listings in the natural positions havnt paid to ge there too!! :whistle:

Rob

I've heard about that - don't companies like Orange et al (normally any company that runs an advert saying 'search for ... online') pay Google etc so the first thing that comes up when you type the phrase in is their website? So for Orange, if you typed in 'I am' the first thing in the natural results will be the Orange website.

To answer the poll question, I go with the natural results first so am probably closer to C than B.

Dinah93

Most of the paid for sponsored results look like dodgy websites who will sell your identity to an even dodgier company, who will then send you ads every 7 minutes to enlarge your member, or are completely irrelevant, so I tend to ignore them, however very occassionally a relevant one will be in there I will use, but only if I already know the company or site.