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I am shocked to see this! Google seems to be testing part of SearchWiki, Google's way of promoting and removing results, to be spotted in the AdWords or sponsored ads section of the Google search results. Some people are noticing the X icon, which allows searchers to delete results from Google, in the sponsored listings.
Here is a picture from Rehan via WebmasterWorld:
Why am I surprised to see this on the AdWords results? Well, one, I was surprised to see them on the main results for all Google users. Second reason, these are paid ads. But I guess they can use the feedback as part of the overall quality score.
Got that? Quality score metric. A new way to perform competitive sabotage on the Google ads. Well, not yet at least.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Update: Here is a statement I received from a Google spokesperson:
As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation, we are currently running an experiment in which users can customize the ads that appear in the "Sponsored Links" section of the search results page by deleting ad results. This experimental feature is only visible to a small number of users, and we have no news to announce at this time regarding developments in our AdWords product offering.
Comments:
Rob Abdul
02/15/2009 12:40 pm
First off, I love the valentines theme, Bravo for the designer. If we do hypothesise that deleting results from Google is used as a Quality score metric. Then it is flawed and subject to abuse. There is nothing to stop an individual to target and delete rival ads on a mass scale.
Evan
02/15/2009 02:31 pm
Cool. Thanks for pointing that out. Veru interesting...Google testing SearchWiki...
SLight
02/16/2009 10:22 am
Good spot! What this tells me is that searchwiki on organic results is yielding good results, so they're rolling it out across paid as well. Google rolling out Ajax as well says to me to expect more search customisation features in the future. Competitors taking advantage of this, deleting ads on mass can be guarded against by monitering account activity, also Google monolithic size means that any such action would need to be by massize volume to have effect and so would be easily detectable.
No Name
02/16/2009 11:53 am
I don't know what country are you from, but here in Romania I don't see at sponsored links that 'X' removing tools in searching http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=adwords
Barrie Adams
02/16/2009 02:04 pm
Where can I find more info on the implication of this function?
Barry Schwartz
02/16/2009 02:34 pm
Barrie, there is not official information on this yet. I am working with Google to get more information for you all.