Google is showing "sponsored" results?

[ryannull]

When I was checking serps for the term "credit cards", I saw this:



I had to blur out my location.

I am assuming that this would be a FTC violation.

 

[lancis]

I don't see it when search for "credit cards", may be its some browser plugin on your side?

 

[themidiman]

I see it over here. Boy, what a poor user experience.

 

[steelballs]

Access from Asia as one would expect the index results are completely different to what the OP is getting

 

[ryannull]

I don't see it when search for "credit cards", may be its some browser plugin on your side?

Above was done with Firefox. I just did a search with Chrome and IE, and it's still there for me.

 

[Optic88]

Google has been doing this with Credit Cards and Mortgage for 4 months now. They seem to be split testing since it's not always showing up.

 

[ryannull]

I see it over here. Boy, what a poor user experience.

Good, it's not only me. haha

This is a direct violation of their FTC agreement. They are favoring their own services.

 

[deviatus]

Ridiculous... you need to scroll down below the fold just to start seeing the top 10.

 

[narfunk]

Showing up for me as well...Firefox...US

 

[deviatus]

We can report complaints here to the FTC, under their "Competition Issues" section:

http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm

And the FTC has taken on Google before, so you can't say they'll definitely do nothing about this.

 

[themidiman]

This is an independent comparison service provided by Google Comparison Inc. We provide this content only for informational purposes. While we strive to ensure the information we provide is correct and up-to-date, please always check with the issuer before applying for a credit card.

Are those credit card companies paying to be part of the "Google Advisor" page, or are those just aff links?

 

[ryannull]

Are those credit card companies paying to be part of the "Google Advisor" page, or are those just aff links?

It goes to the advisor section, but when you click on the "learn more", you can apply from there. I am sure Google is getting a cut. Who knows.

 

[deviatus]

Just think if any of us had a page that looked like G's results page.... half ads, half duplicate content, no non-advertisements above the fold. Panda should turn around and attack his masters!

 

[flibbertigibbet]

When I was checking serps for the term "credit cards", I saw this:

View attachment 15958

I had to blur out my location.

I am assuming that this would be a FTC violation.

Haha. Shady. Google is learning from all of the IMers and Blackhatters around here.... sponsor your own listing and then use affiliates to earn more money for your company cause no one wants to use AdWords.... messed up but brilliant at the same time.

 

[arsaltheman]

I'm too getting'em ... on every search I do!

 

[Expertpeon]

When I was checking serps for the term "credit cards", I saw this:

View attachment 15958

I had to blur out my location.

I am assuming that this would be a FTC violation.

This is a change over related to the European commission demanding Google label its own products when it artificially boosts them in its own results.

 

[ryannull]

I'm too getting'em ... on every search I do!

I'm only getting them for "credit cards". Nothing else. They are definitely doing some testing.

 

[Expertpeon]

I'm only getting them for "credit cards". Nothing else. They are definitely doing some testing.

Type in "laptops"
It's one of the worst looking searches I've ever seen thanks to recent changes of the interface.

80%+ of the total above the fold space is google owned products or advertisements from google.

 

[arsaltheman]

Don't know about u but I'm getting it on every search I do! I even get Sponsor Ads at Right Side...
View attachment 15963

 

[Italian Hawk]

YouTube is ranking better than ever since these last few penguin updates too. Google is just asking for a big investigation one of these days and it's either going to tone things down a bit or it'll crush Google. Personally, I wouldn't mind an era of Bing.