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New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

arstechnica.com

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Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#4
This seems largely the same as the item submitted just 3 hours ago, still on the front page, and discussed at considerable length:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6605312

Same story (but no real discussion) was submitted here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6604925

Call me cynical, but I suspect it will still be upvoted and discussed here because any comments on that earlier discussion will get lost in the noise of the close to 200 comments already there.

Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#5
The example they use is navigational query for "Southwest Airlines". As far as I'm concerned, the deep links to South West airlines' site such as "Flight Schedules" are actual search results.

Ignoring that, it's unfair to use one example and say that search results are 12%. Is it 12% average, 12% median, or 12% for navigational queries only?

Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#6
Someone searching for Southwest Airlines is probably looking for... Southwest Airlines. So the very first result is a useful one. With sections of the official website conveniently linked and a pretty picture on top.

This sounds to me like a complete non-issue. If you don't like ads, install AdBlock. Of course if you need clicks for your website, carry on.

Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#7
What are "actual results" for Southwest though? To me it seems like links to check-in, flight status, schedules and customer services is exactly what I'd want to see there. Is the image what you find distracting? But doesn't this give you immediate indication that you got into the right place?

Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#8
post #7

What are "actual results" for Southwest though? To me it seems like links to check-in, flight status, schedules and customer services is exactly what I'd want to see there. Is the image what you find distracting? But doesn't this give you immediate indication that you got into the right place?

I think the thing people are objecting to is less the image or its associated links, but that that whole thing is an ad. Yeah, it's probably the most relevant result, but it's giving the user (especially if that user is, you know, non-technical) little choice but to click on the thing that puts money in GOOG's pocket.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I find that a little evil.

Re: New banner ads push actual Google results to bottom 12% of the screen

#9
Most users don't even care about going to second page of search. With knowledge graph, Google gives you precise answer right away and takes full screen on mobile (nearly half of the screen on desktop). I think Google is optimizing for users rather than SEO/Websites.

As a someone who works in advertising, even I dislike banner ads. They are obtrusive, annoying and take away the attention. Google should go back to adwords and make them better rather than anything else.

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