Article: Google to start charging companies for listings

We all knew this was coming.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fa18bce4-ab67-11e1-a2ed-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1wjFCIaEX

 

This is not true article..

 

anyone else to confirm this?

 

Well, Facebook is starting to charge people to promote posts. So I wouldn't be surprised if Google starts trying to charge for more too.

 

The article title is very misleading, as it's about Google Shopping and not search results. Google Shopping is to become a paid product search. Overall, it will be better as more control over listings and as a consumer it will lower the amount of spam/scam/rubbish in there.

Search Engine Land Article

See the link above.

It's not about search results and never will be (contrary to the tinfoil hate brigade's belief), as they have Adwords and other revenue streams instead.

 

Glad Ryan cleared that one up quickly for everyone. I believe it's a good change too. Have come across a lot of people using Google Shopping in blackhat ways to make money with Amazon, which is against both companies TOS.

 

Spot on about the black hats doing stuff like that, hopefully more traffic will be driven to small businesses. Not sure how this will affect eBay, but Amazon is great with data so people using their marketplace should be safe (if Amazon adopts it). (Although, as a consumer, I would be glad to see less presence of eBay.)

 

Good explanation of the article. Thanks.

 

Thanks to Ryan to make the thing clear. My belief is also the same. It will help the consumer experience and small business as well.

 

This change will make it more difficult for individuals and part time marketers with small budgets.

Google: Do no evil

http://www.ereviewguide.com/news/2012/06/07/google-goes-pay-to-play-with-google-shopping-changes/

 

It's dangerous for any business to rely upon one source for customers and they should tap into as many as possible. There was a free ride for a while, but it was also exploited and spammed. Small retailers were doing business before Google Shopping and they can do it again.

Even big companies have profit margins, too, so it would be senseless to bid ridiculous amounts just to get the listing for a particular product. If a small company was previously using PPC, why not redirect that expense to Google Shopping?

It's a case of wait and see though, but it feels like yet again a change is being over-hyped as something negative and any benefits being ignored (as well as the bigger picture: diverse business plan).

 

If G really want to do that than I'm sure if that day is the end of Google Empire. Almost web owner will go to Bing.

 

It doesn't matter where "web owner" [sic] goes. As long as the buyers keep using Google, that's all that matters to Google.

Bing also has paid shopping results and their system is much more misleading and "unfair". The paid results are not identified and obviously this means smaller retailers who aren't paying are at a disadvantage. At least with Google's system every retailer (big or small) has the same opportunity as everyone's paying. It's all down to how relevant their results are and not just how much they bid. This might even give some smaller businesses an advantage, ones that stock things (such as spare parts) that larger ones don't (they might prefer to sell just a whole new item). Their shopping results will be less of a mess now, which will benefit retailers in general (big an small).

Everyone's quick to jump on the anti-Google bandwagon, instead of (with a level head) analysing the situation and look at the bigger picture. The grass isn't always greener on the other side (Bing), although diversity is the key and no source of traffic should be ignored.

 

Misleading news..