San Francisco — Google has been vigorously working overtime to ensure that their billions in advertising revenue continue to multiply irrespective of declining global economic conditions. Their strategy: place sponsored listings into every pixel of the screen. Google Suggest, a drop-down feature in Google Search that auto-completes prospective searches, has begun testing ads that accompany the suggestions that appear when people begin typing in a search query.
Google Suggest is bundled with “a novel search feature that provides real-time suggestions while you search.” Well Google is now performing test for the placement of AdWords ads in its recently launched Search Suggest, which appeared in August this year after years of testing in Google Labs.
Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land has reportedly collected screen shots of the various Search Suggest Sponsored Listing incarnations that Google are testing which include Title and Link only ads, conventional ads, ads at the top, ads at the bottom and variations in between.
The text ads that pops-up above or to the right of search results happen to be Google’s massive profit engine, but the company also said its tests show they improve people’s search experience overall. However, so far it is unclear whether that will prove to be the case for search ads that appear in Google Suggest, but Google has been adding all sorts of ways to make more money from its site.
The ads currently only appear for select users. Up till now, only two formats have been noted: a sponsored search-style text box (at left, via Groove Commerce), and a clickable URL at the top of the search suggestions, like this example provided by Oh! Nuts (via Search Engine Land):
According to his post, Google are also testing out links to websites, links to news articles and access to answers direct from the suggestions area also.
For example, if you are going to search for [New York Times]. While normal users are required to start typing the query, pick one of Google Suggest’s recommendations, look at the results page, and then click on something, certain testers are just seeing Google Suggest provide a link to the New York Times site.
Moreover, as of October, Google commanded 72% of the US search market. Given that each box appears to house just one ad each, the space has the possibility to offer premium impressions to sponsors that appear. The search giant has not revealed whether it plans to charge more for such placement; but if the feature is formalized, it will likely be folded into AdWords.
From a marketer’s point of view, it is unquestionably prime ad real estate and will surely command some serious bidding wars.
Last month it began placing text ads on its Finance pages. It eventually plans to incorporate them in News pages.
Considering that how hard Google is attempting to tap into new revenue sources, do not be surprised if at least some of these ideas develop into a mainstream in the near future.