If you want to see something interesting - check this out: Go to Google and type in 'saas' in the search box and then hit enter. The first ad on the top right will be a Google ad. Then hit the 'Search' button again at the top of the page (still with the same keyword in it) and you will notice that the other paid ads will move about, but the Google ad never moves - no matter how many times you hit refresh or click on any of the ads. I tried this on 'saas', 'cloud computing' and lots of other app keywords which all show ads for this link - www.Google.com/Apps/Business and never move from the top position on the right no matter what you do. Seems a bit sneaky on Google's part as we put the public trust in their search monopoly. Remember, they are Google and they 'Do No Evil'....
I'll agree with you on this. Isn't it just awesome when it's your ball, and you want to take it home, and nobody can do anything about it. It'll be a great day when i see gaygle get slammed.
I agree with you and think they should be embarassed. This is a blantant violation of what they claim to stand for (at least for everyone else).
You don't seem to know the difference between search results and paid advertising. The ad you point to is paid for though by Google to be where it is.
And you do not seem to understand how the auction model works for those paid ads. It is IMPOSSIBLE to stay in one position and NEVER move. What Google is doing is bypassing the auction model and locking themselves into a certain position no matter what is happening around it.
Although it's a paid add, don't Adwords users pay or perhaps a better word is bid a certain amount in hopes of getting top positions? This seems worse than doing it in the organic search results. I'm sure Google isn't paying themselves for that top "add" spot and no matter how much one pays for that keyword, the will never get the top slot....not when your "bidding" against the very ones that control it all.
Basically there are many variables put into play on how you can rank within the paid ads. There are so many that it is IMPOSSIBLE to position yourself as exactly (for every search) as Google as done for themselves. For instance, you can want and try to bid for top position, but if your CTR is not high enough you may not even appear at all. If your quality score is too low or relevancy is not exact you can bid what you want and never be guaranteed anything. So, for Google to ALWAYS have an ad appear in the exact same position is impossible by the system they set-up.
I see it differently when searching (may be due to .co.uk) Google is 3rd, then 4th moving about frequently. Are you searching from the US?
Yeah, I am looking from the US, but it is good to know that it is limited to this region. Thanks for the heads-up.
Does the Google site appear at the top of the organic results too? If not I wonder why? Do Google think paid ads get more hits than organic results?
On my searches they are not appearing at the top of the organic results, but I think it would be harder for them manipulate that then for them to act like they were buying ads from themselves and were just part of the set of people buying a certain term (maybe they thought they would just blend in and no one would notice that there ad never moves)....
What the heck?? I can't see any Paid Listing in "saas" or "Cloud Computing". Except for those in right sidebar. And, no Google Apps ads there.
What makes you think Google bids for adwords? They own adwords, they'll just go in and make theirs the highest.