Paying Google for Search Engine Results Placement

1. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   If you enter "how to pass the smog test" into Google, this shows up as number one:
   
   ----------------
       blah that "Check Engine" blah. ...
       Drive the blah at highway speeds for the two blah prior to the smog test. ...
       blag the oil, but blah if it needs it. ...
       Do blah tune-up two weeks before the blah test. ...
       Make blah the tires are blah inflated. ...
       Check blah and gas levels before the blah. ...
       blah a pre-inspection.
   
   2 more items
   How To Pass a Smog Check on Edm unds.com
   ww w.ed mun ds.co m/how- to/how-to-pass-a -smog-check .html
   Edm unds.co m
   ---------------------
   
   Needless to say, this slaughters any competing entries.
   
   And note it is NOT an ad.
   
   Is Edmunds paying google to allow Edmunds to display all that? Or is there some tech way to do it so it happens for free?

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   1. 83

      NateB11posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I noticed this awhile back, there's a name for it, it's a fairly new feature the search engine has. The only hope might be that someone is wanting more in-depth information and looks for more results. I can say that I have some articles on another account that still do well in spite of the engine delivering results with one of those quick answer things at the top. I'm not so sure for something like "how to pass the smog test", because people might be more satisfied with the brief answer they get at the top for that one.

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2. 83

   Jayne Lancerposted 10 years ago

   I've seen  a lot of that for 'how to' search queries. I don't think websites are paying, because the same website isn't always quoted, but selected ones from page one of the search results. In my niche with the search query 'how to apply lipstick', for example, it alternates between about . com, realsimple . com and beautifulmess. com. After that comes a wikihow article, then a battery of images, then a video, then finally the proper search results, usually beginning with one of the three above mentioned.

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3. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   This does not bode well... Any household name domain can pull the same stunt. This essentially wipes out the rest of us.

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4. 85

   MelRootsNWritesposted 10 years ago

   I've seen it with food related stuff, too.  Put in a query like "how to make peanut butter cookies" and it gives you the recipe at the top of the google search results. 
   
   Interestingly, it appears that the wording of the query invokes that result.  Putting in "peanut butter cookie recipes" brings up regular search results with no recipe at the top.

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5. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   Thanks for the replies, everyone. I've seen the short, easy answer stuff before, too.
   
   But now Google is picking pet websites and printing out long-answer stuff as well? We are doomed.
   
   I've also just realized that Wikipedia is one of their top pets for doing this.
   
   How the heck can our regular, little hub index entries compete with full-blown answers and links like that? In short, they can't. Big index entries versus small index entries destroys any semblance of a level playing field.
   
   Did I mention we are doomed?
   
   Picking something to write about just got 10 times harder in my book.

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6. 85

   Marisa Wrightposted 10 years ago

   I agree with Jayne - no they're not paying, it's Google's bright idea for a new feature.   I remember reading about it months ago and my heart sank, then I went into denial and accidentally-on-purpose forgot about it.  It is certainly not good news.

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