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

KeithSheppard

teddyco wrote: »

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

I think that's an extremely unfair assessment.

For example, I am an independent author of software applications and novels. Lacking the backing of a large company, or anything approaching an advertising budget, it is extremely difficult for the individual to bring products to the attention of those who might be interested in them.

Goodle Ad-Words is one of the few methods available. I have used it in the past to raise awareness of software applications (with slightly underwhelming success, it has to be said) and intend to use them again in the near future when my first novel is published.

I really do not see what is so reprehensible about informing potential customers of a product they would never otherwise come across. The advertisements don't cost you, the user, any money and you are free to follow them up if they look interesting, or ignore them if they don't.

Where's the harm in that?

As a customer myself, I will follow up advertisements if they appear to be of genuine interest. I would certainly never click on an advertisement just to cost the advertiser money, as others have suggested. That _does_ strike me as reprehensible.

Shambler

B. I always ignore them (& use only the actual search results) - 47% (4941 votes)

Because most of the sponsored links take you to some useless site that has little to do with what you were searching for.


Sorry Keith

cleopatra4485

haha just seen this thread, very interesting for me to read

It really is just another way of internet advertising, the natural results that you all seem to trust are usually put there by clever internet bods who have figured out the system :rolleyes:

I really wouldn't think they are scams, but if you are searching on terms such as 'viagra' so on... then you will get ads that relate to that. If you are searching 'womens clothes' then you are being listed with just that.

The top spots are related to a bidding cost and quality score, so if the keywords, landing page, ad header are all relevent to each other, the company will get a higher quality score.

Also paid results tend to be more relevent to what you are searching for as companies have to pay when you click through and the last thing they want is a wasted click.

And mr Martin Lewis :A runs paid ads for MSE and he is not trying to scam you is he LOL