Google Checkout Logos on AdSense Ads
When Google introduced their AdSense network they not only created an ad syndication network, but also a way to syndicate the Google brand. At first it was the cute Ads by Gooooooooooooogle stuff. Then they started marketing Google Checkout heavily by offering $10 off coupons. Then they started syndicating flash and video ads for Gmail, then Google Pack, and now they are placing Google Checkout icons in the AdSense advertiser ads.
It's a nice deal for Google that they smart price some of the inventory down to virtually nothing, then buy it off themselves. Given that they have no real competition could you fault them for doing so? Even classier of them to put ads for their own products inside ads that advertisers are paying for. But their marketing is good enough that nobody cares. Who else could do that?
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I use this with a small business I run on the side and find it really cool and SO easy for people to give me $$$s.
I like the feature it also helps make the ad stand out more too.
Very smart
David
Google checkout is a great use of the network effect. They need to push it as hard as possible now, to build up enough core users that it becomes like the ebay or check out services, the only one people want to use. Google will face some stiff search engine competition eventually, even if that competition is born directly out of the anti sentiments people have when any one company becomes too large or too powerful. It's just going to take a little (maybe a long while) before users are actually ready to use a worse search engine on purpose to not give their "business" to Google.
Trust me it will happen (or don't' trust me, but it's still probably going to happen), but It personally doesn't both me and I love it when Google ads more features for easy shopping, but of course my business model isn't based on selling advertising or having people buy directly from an online store.
As usual google changes the way we see the net. They are big and can follow their marketing ideas with a really secure buffer against errors. Yet IMO it is many times better to have a small logout ad than having a big flash popup chasing you around the screen. it builds trust.
Aaron, why don't you accept google checkout on your Web site, instead of just "paypal." Google Checkout now allows payment for digital goods.
See link here: http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=30726
Not to mention: For every $1 you spend on AdWords each month, you can process $10 in sales the following month through Google Checkout for free. For example, if your AdWords spend in August is $300, you can process up to $3000 in sales for free through Google Checkout in September.
My suggestion is this:
-Get a merchant account as fees with a merchant account are less than paypal
-Accept paypal as a payment option
-Accept Google checkout as a payment option
Cheers!
Hi Aaron, I need help with your firefox seo toolbar.
My name is Ben, and I'm from israel.
When I search google Israel(http://www.google.co.il) with your seo toolbar, I get an error message :"Internal error: temp has no properties".
This only happens with your SEO toolbar for firefox.
can you help me?
I sure wish I could do that.
I agree with Soloman Google's little party should end soon.
The question is how soon.
Most people who use search engines will likely never realize that they are giving anyone business. Most casual users of the internet would have no idea that Google was making money while they are searching. So, for another SE to take any market share, they are going to have to do a better job.
Which brings me to my real point. I overheard a conversation the other day about how the results in a yahoo search are better. Just better. I was appalled and thought it impossible. But, it seems that he may have been right.
After doing a quick search for the same term on Google and Yahoo, it seems that the yahoo results were better. More interesting. More user-friendly.
The "inbound links is all that matters" approach that has taken indexing to town in the last few years has had its day and it isn't always giving the best results.
If you don't believe me, then try it yourself. Search for the same term on Google and Yahoo and see which you would prefer to be reading. Then, try it again from the prospective of a internet novice, or an older person searching at the library. What do you find?
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