January 25, 2005

Are you confused about paid search results

When you use search engines you are presented with two or more search results. The main, "objective" search results and those displayed on the top or sides that are the result of purchased keywords.

Do these confuse you?

According to Internet Week A nationwide survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that only 38 percent of search-engine users were aware of the distinction between "sponsored," or paid, links and unpaid results. In addition, only 1 in 6 said they could always tell which results were paid and which were not.

At the same time, 92 percent of the respondents were confident about their searching abilities, with over half of them, 52 percent, saying they were "very confident."

I'm sure most of my audience is NOT confused by search engine listings, but just in case I hope this helps.

When searching Google, Yahoo, MSN or other search engines, the "sponsored" links,
"sponsor" results or etc are displaying the results of paid advertising. By the way, these links are NOT bad and I find often helpful and do offer the solution, product, service and information that you are looking for.

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