google corrupted?

[pentachris]

I'm not entirely sure I understand what this (http://msnbc.com/news/711910.asp?0dm=C11OT) is saying. Is this just talking about the "sponsored links" that pop up on the right side of the search results page?

------------------
Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[bassman]

HMMMMMMM, would that be similar to paying a premium for ad time during prime time TV?

Not sure where the corruption comes into play.

------------------
Waiting patiently for the future to arrive. Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)

[Paleo Pete]

Yep, that's what it's talking about. The ads that appear on the far right hand side of the page when you run a Google search. Those ads are usually from companies selling products or services that are related to the item you searched for.

For instance if you try a Google search for memory, you might see a link to Micron or Kingston on the rigth side of the results page. Search for chicken recipes and ads related to food or cooking might show there. Or maybe the Chick-Fil-A cows will be there painting yet another sign... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[pentachris]

Thanks Pete. Weighting sites based on click-thrus by other users seems reasonable enough, but I've always respected google for not taking payment in return for higher ranking in search results (unlike most other search engines).

After posting here, I dug a little deeper and discovered the difference between "paid placement" and "paid inclusion." It's similar to the difference between paying for a sneaker commercial during a televised basketball game and paying the announcers to assert that the players wearing your sneakers perform better as a result.

------------------
Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.