SEARCHENGINES
Why Google Needs To Encourage Clicks To Publishers In New Search Generative Experience
There is a lot of concern and worry around the new Google Search Generative Experience and how that might impact traffic to content creators, publishers, site owners, and the web as a whole. I get that new things are scary, but I think the concern may be overblown.
Why? It comes down to Google’s revenues and that about 80% of Google’s revenues (78.16% in Q1 2023 to be exact) come from ads.
How does Google make money on its ads? Well, most of it, not all, come from clicks on those ads. Most ads, not all, Google only gets paid when a user or searcher clicks on the ad that Google Ads serves to the user.
Last earnings report showed that paid clicks, the number of clicks on ads, were up 8%, while the cost-per-click was down 7%. It costs less for ads, especially in bad economic times, so Google needs to have more people clicking on those ads. In fact, it is a bullet point in the forward looking statements section, “fluctuations in our revenues, as well as the change in paid clicks and cost-per-click and the change in impressions and cost-per-impression, and various factors contributing to such fluctuations.”
Google needs people to click on search ads both in the classic version of Google Search and yes, in the new version of Google Search, the Search Generative Experience.
Maybe my logic is off here and if it is, comments are open below, but Google needs to have a search interface that encourages searchers not just to get the answer but also to click on links and listings within those answers.
Otherwise, if people are not going to click on listings and links in the new Google Search, then Google needs to come up with changing their business model, a business model that has made Google one of the most powerful companies in the world.
Google even showed what ads will look like on day one of this experimental launch:
Yes, the ads are there, like traditional Google Search Ads.
And guess what, the organic, free listings are there too!
Here is what Google showed in their demo, the three big listings at the top right, that have large images, titles and URLs, followed by the other results below:
Then if you toggle deeper into learning more, you are presented with more of those big website listings (or cards):
A search interface that does not encourage searchers to click on free organic listings, is a search interface that cannot encourage searchers to click on paid listings. The future Google search interface cannot cut out Google’s main source of revenue, I just don’t see how Google can do that.
Is my logic off here? Comments, as always, are open to discuss below.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 9, 2024
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
DOJ may breakup Google and worse, but the ruling won’t happen officially until next year. Google is testing what people are saying short videos. Google is testing card style knowledge panels on desktop. Google is testing most mentioned places. Google Ads cleaned up its side bar navigation. Google Business Profiles lets you reorder your menu items for your restaurant.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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DOJ May Breakup Google As Remedy To Monopoly Ruling
Late last night, the Department of Justice indicated that it was considering a possible breakup of Google as an antitrust remedy to its monopoly ruling. Of course, Google will appeal this decision, which will have this stuck in courts for years. A breakup is probably the most strict outcomes of this ruling that anyone expected. -
Google Tests What People Are Saying Short Video Search Results
Google had this feature titled “What people are saying” that led to forums, in a list and text format. Now, Google is testing this same thing but it leads to short videos on TikTok and other platforms. -
Google Tests Card Style Knowledge Panel Desktop Design
Google is testing its mobile design for knowledge panels on desktop. You can see the card formatted design for these knowledge panels on the desktop interface. -
Google Search Tests Most Mentioned Places Carousel
Google is testing a new local search carousel named “Most Mentioned Places.” It seems to bring up local retail stores that have the product you are searching for. It shows local Google Business Profile listings, with the photo, and review summaries. -
Google Drag & Drop Reorder Your Restaurant Menu Items
Google Business Profiles now lets you quickly reorder your menu items on your restaurant’s menu with drag-and-drop menus. This allows you to move menu items from section to section much faster and easier. -
Google Ads Improved Console Sidebar Navigation
Google has made a small but useful change to the Google Ads sidebar navigation. It made the background white on sub-navigational elements, which helps differentiate between main menu options and sub-menu options. -
Google Bike Window Stickup Sign
Here is a large window stick up sign or decal I found on Instagram. It looks a bit over the top but hey, that is why I am sharing it with you.
Other Great Search Threads:
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
Industry & Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
SEO
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Showing Competitor Ads Above Local Reviews
Google has done it again, it has shown ads from competitors directly above the reviews section of a Google local listing. We’ve seen Google do this before with LSA listings numerous times, with Google local listings and branded knowledge panels and LSA messaging.
Anthony Higman spotted this and posted screenshots and a video of this in action on X – I will say, I tried to replicate it and it did not come up for me. But here is what Anthony saw:
This is a screenshot from his videocast:
This is what I see – no ads:
Here is his video:
— Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) October 7, 2024
There is also this:
Recently, many clients have had a sudden influx of calls or hangup calls from paid search ads. When reviewing the calls, the consumer thinks they are calling the competitor (not bidding on them). It’s been a nightmare to navigate and negate. Plus, several brand’s name cpc went up
— Nate Louis (@N8Louis) October 8, 2024
Forum discussion at X.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Shopping Researched with AI
Google Shopping is testing a new AI Overview answer titled “Researched with AI – Experimental.” This seems to pull together reviews for specific products based on Google Gemini AI.
I am told this was displayed in the Google Shopping interface for the query [TV] – I cannot replicate this.
But Khushal Bherwani shared a couple screenshots on X – here are one of those screenshots:
Bordie Clark was then able to replicate this and post this video of it in action:
Whoa, Google is now testing out a researched with AI experiment within the Shopping tab. This was first discovered by @b4k_khushal. The experience involved an AIO-type summary appearing at the top with product suggestions included. cc @rustybrick Details: https://t.co/WupmipgeQg pic.twitter.com/VpPl9SBS0n
— SERP Alert (@SERPalerts) October 7, 2024
Here are more:
🆕 Google testing “Researched with AI · Experimental” in shopping search with big More button pic.twitter.com/CLajfEO0iM
— Khushal Bherwani (@b4k_khushal) October 7, 2024
This seems to replace the “AI Overview” with this “Researched with AI” specifically in Google Shopping. Although, it looks a lot like an AI Overview, just with a different title.
Forum discussion at X.
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