http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:en&q=used+trailer The first results has extra link, is it paid position or what?
No, it is a test that Google seems to be doing. In most industries it seems to correlate to what Google views as an "Authority" site. What that actually means is pure speculation. All that I can tell you for sure is it isn't a paid feature.
Thats the thing with speculation, it doesn't have to be true. It is merely based on 1.) The strength of the sites featured 2.) When this was first introduced, all the sites also had the little blobs next to them when you did the "Authority Site" check. Again, the only thing that can be said for sure is they are not paid listings.
Was just looking at the URL for the additional links: http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=1&si=0&oi=smap&q=http://www.usedtrailers.com/repair.htm is one of them.. anychance that it is related to sitemaps in some way? (the oi=smap is what has me thinking..)
I would say it's pretty likely that this has a lot to do with the site map feature. How else could they provide such definite links to sections of the site within the listing. They would never leave that to an algorithm, methinks. What convinces me that it's sitemap more than anything is that if you click on one of the links ie. Weather & Traffic, that phrase is not located in the title or filename of the corresponding HTML page. In fact, the only place that that phrase is located is in a navigation image - and it doesn't have alt text. Sitemap, defininitely. Doesn't mean that if you have a google sitemap you get top placement and all that extra shite though The authority site thing sounds interesting - id guess at a combination of Google's rating of the site, and then if it qualifys, they check for sitemap info.
Incidentally, these things are sodding MASSIVE. Don't think they'd actually fit on a road in the UK... wouldn't like to see one of those on the A65 - caravans annoy me enough! I'll say something, when you lot in the US do something, you always do it bigger (better... well, i'll reserve judgement)
I'm reading some stuff that's claiming that it isn't anything to do with sitemaps... However, I can't find reference to the titles in the 'used trailers' search provided, so for now i'm sticking to my guns http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3528611 http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=24340
I think the site map is more likely. It would make more sense, but if I knew exactly I would be filthy rich!
I can categorically say 100% sure that these extra listings don't have anything to do with sitemaps. I know that because I am lucky to have these extra links showing on one of my own sites and it has never had a sitemap, used google sitemaps or anything.