It depends on how you achieve it. Check out the javascript I've got here http://www.hotlikechilli.co.uk/prefill-google-adsearch and you'll see that it's possible to place something in the search box without ever touching the code that you place on the page. From what I can see, the TOS don't rule this out - as long as the code is placed untouched on the site (which it is) then you're meeting them.
For those of you concerned about the fact that this adheres to the letter of the TOS but not the spirit of them, let's just take a step back and think about what Google are trying to achieve with their TOS. In my opinion, the TOS are there to ensure that no-one is tricked in to using adsearch, or that no changes are made to the way that adsearch functions. Priming the search box with your own search terms is doing neither of these things - it's obvious to the user what is going on, and they are perfectly able to choose their own phrases. (It's just that a lot of people don't. Hey, apathy is a big a problem in this world of ours, why not make some money off it? )
I think that this is quite likely to happen - it's all about where the search box is in the visitors line of vision... For what it's worth, I agree with the 'bottom of the page' theory (or at least "end of your content"): - keep your adsense ads where they work best (you've probably all seen Google's heatmaps). Those users would normally click on your ads probably still will. - place a search box at the bottom of your content, perhaps pre-loaded with some relevant words (depending on which side of the debate you come down on...) That way you give the users that stay to read your content have somewhere to go that may well give you a $ or two...
I'm getting ready to remove the search from my site. No one is using it and it doesnt really seem to make any money.
I hate to say, But i had to remove the search box. The queries result were pathetic and EPC was 1 cent to 2 cent. Hell with that. Nuttymarketer
Adsense for search shouldn't be viewed as a major earner. It shouldn't even really be compared to the normal ad units. The Adsense search box is actually there to give added value for the customer (making it easy to find things on your site/other sites after visiting) and should be seen as a supplemental point of revenue generation. From my experience Adsense for search doesn't earn more than the normal ad units, but it does provide around 4-5% of my total revenue. The CTR and eCPM is much higher also. I'm also pretty sure that by using Adsense for search you get access to ads that won't necessarily be displayed in the content part of Adsense. A fact most people also often forget is that you can see what your visitors searched for... giving you new ideas to create content from. You won't be getting rich off of the search box, but it will make a difference even if it only gives you a few extra bucks a month.
The terms of service state that the visitor must enter the search term directly into the box... If a visitor therefore clicks a button that enters some text into the search box to search on, does this meet the TOS? (They don't seem to refer to typing anywhere) What I'm getting at, is could you display a list of 'our favourite searches' with a button next to each set of keywords that copies the text in to the google search box? Might still allow visitors to be led to search on the 'right' keywords without breaching TOS (and without requiring them to actually type them in to the search box)?
my ecpm and ctr is way higher than normal units. If i could get like 30k searches per day...man I would retire young.
I've just removed the search box from my site. I did like having a search feature but I couldnt justify the space it took up, all up Ive only earnt 80c from it in 6 months...
I dont make NOTHING on the search, Im thinking about taking it off, but since my site has just started, I do not wish to take it off as it might just because of its age