Anyone else notice a change in Google's 'Sponsored Ads' portion of the SERPS? Maybe this isn't brand new, but I use Google almost daily and it's the first time I've noticed it as opposed to when Google ad the extremely noticeable yellow/orange-ish background behind their ads before. This looks like it could have a major impact on all SEO'ers. I would say to the average user "uptime robot" which is the one I clicked actually looks like #4 and not #1...
Google been testing this (and other variations) for months now, whether it's been pushed live for good we're not sure as yet.
Google has been fighting spam so they can now make more money with "paid spam" at the top of the search results.
No, google not fighting spam, but fighting whoever doesn't paid to them. So you can sell/buy links safely if you have paid to google.
Yup, this is the end of all values (if any) Google stood for. Now it is almost like they are selling the top spots. What a shame! They started as the company that doesn't sell the top spots and now end up doing the same. That too, when they have made insane amount of money and still continue doing the same. What next, first page reserved for sponsored ads?