Where are you located as it only appears to be happening in the US. What is weird is that sometimes there are results listed above them in the top 3 positions that appear above the organic results. When I first search for 'saas' there are three results above the organic results and Google is the 4th which puts it at the top of the right side ads. Then when I click on the 'search' button above the listings to refresh my results many or all of the top 3 ads move below the Google ad on the right hand side and no ads appear above the organic listings making Google the top ad, but appearing on the right side. So while all these ads around Google bounce around in position every time I refresh the results by click again on the 'search' button, Google's ad NEVER moves - which is why it stood out to me as very weird. It appears permanently locked into a certain position. Where are you located?
It's their own website, and IMHO they can do what ever the want to do.. even though it's not fair for other PPC advertisers while paying/bidding much to rank first above other advertisers and Google simply rank above
You are correct, but when you have a near monopoly on something it is expected that you might be more transparent about your efforts.
Yeah, shows the same for me. All results bounce around showing sometimes and sometimes not, but Google's is always at the top right. On the initial search there was a result above the organic that then showed up #2 under Google on the right. Then yet another search, 3 results were at the top above organic while Google was still top right. Google is a rich, untouchable company that dominates it's industry and makes the rules. Think of the things done we DON'T notice lol.
IMO it's understandable as a giant company, Google handle their search engine and as a user, sorry, we can do nothing.
Im getting to where I dont care to advertise on google. You can use adwords, start of with some keywords for a few cents, the next day google adwords rejects your keywords unless you pay 3 or 4 times more than your original keyword bid. I dont understand how they let you start off using a keyword for x amount, and then a few hours later they say you cant use that keyword unless you pay xx amount.
Yeah i see it also, they are locked in the #1 sponsored result during 50 queries and all others change. That's disgusting, and no it doesn't matter that Google own it the bidding system is required to be fair to all advertisers and what Google is doing is flat out fraudulent.
Who is google paying to have ads on there own pages? Themselves? In that case they can spend a billion dollars and it all goes back to them. Or they can just place themselves there
I think Google does transfer pricing. It sells ads to its acquisitions arm, then offsets the cost from its sales as a profit to its advertising service. Net result? Google wins.
You are correct, but they always claim that they do not manipulate the paid search results in any way shape or form. It is all done automatically within their system. So, do I care they do it - No, do I care that they do it and say they are not doing it - Yeah. If they manipulate their results that is fine, just admit it as to not think they are pulling the wool over our eyes.