Huge Banner Ads for Branded Queries in Google

[Nibor]

My colleague and I noticed a test version of this appear a few months ago:
http://searchengineland.com/google-t...ner-ads-174927

The test version was more simple, and only had the box around the brand. Importantly it only showed 5 results on the first page below the brand term. As usual, the move will help push affiliates off the first page. Although undoubtedly, the brand term is the most relevant content, so it makes sense.

What does everyone else think of this?

[Nick.RevenueJet]

Well it will obviously effect affiliates going after "brand_name"+keyword terms, but the more general queries will still be ad free. Most of the affiliates will not see any change, in my opinion.

[edgarf76]

It will take up space and knock the amount of organic search results down. For instance the 1-3 spots may be the 3-5 spots.

[TheGooner]

To be honest I'm OK with this move as a search user.

Using the example of SouthWest Airlines you showed ... if that's all I typed then I do probably want the brand.
As long as these things stay with brand names then it's an acceptable development in search results for me.


RELATED CHANGES
----------------------
I've also noticed it happen for generic terms like "Wellington weather" - a city I'm going to visit today.

When I typed wellington weather the top result was a schematic outlining the weather for today and next 10 days from the Weather Channel.
Again - I am Ok with that sort of smart interpretation.


EFFECT ON AFFILIATES
------------------------
You are correct - it will have an effect on affiliate search results and positioning - but I think that affiliates are going to have to adapt.
In this case - I think the changes are sensible and user focused - and I think that they will be popular with searchers.

[thebookiesoffers]

"Wellington weather" - a city I'm going to visit today.

I love that city, if you get the chance go in the Southern Cross bar on Abel Smith Street, quality bar. If there is an middle aged drinker at the end of the bar called Chris say hello from Aidan who was there for the cricket in March from England

[Nibor]

RELATED CHANGES
----------------------
I've also noticed it happen for generic terms like "Wellington weather" - a city I'm going to visit today.

When I typed wellington weather the top result was a schematic outlining the weather for today and next 10 days from the Weather Channel.
Again - I am Ok with that sort of smart interpretation.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that what you saw there was different. The 'Wellington weather' report is part of the Google knowledge Graph which has been around longer. You will see the same appear if you search football scores, and sometimes you will see a smaller box or boxes appear on the top right hand side of the organic search, for explanations of; brands or organisations, celebrity profiles, historic facts and more. Google sources this knowledge from other websites, like Wikipedia for example or other trusted sites, and displays that info within the Knowledge Graph.

With regards to this new form of brand search, I do agree it's a good thing. One effect it will have is to demonstrate whether Google perceives you as a brand or not, depending on whether you get the box with the banner around your brand name. Unless of course you only get the box, and the banner if you pay for it - but it isn't clear yet which it will be. Good affiliates will do fine out of it. There is less room for spamming your way onto the first page this way.

[victorrodriguez]

Well it will obviously effect affiliates going after "brand_name"+keyword terms, but the more general queries will still be ad free. Most of the affiliates will not see any change, in my opinion.

I doubt any affiliate with some brain will target branded keywords

[Anthony-Coral]

Some further info on this issue from today's Guardian website in the UK

http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...search-results

[Voids]

I do like the look of banner ads and I think it will help me as a user.

How it will work for affiliates, I'm not sure.

[Mr Live Casinos]

I think gambling affiliates shouldn't worry about this (at least for now).

Google has already introduced Image Extensions but these are not available for Gambling and i really doubt it the banner will be. The banner is probably a development of the image ads extensions. So instead of showing 3 different images, they will just be showing 1 big banner.

[LukeC]

I think it's a good move on branded queries - it's user focused. I don't think it will hurt affiliates as I expect they will only allow them to appear on the actual brand queries and not ones that include the brand but are targeted at something else (e.g. "Paddy Power" and not "Paddy Power Review"). From a quick search, I can't find any affiliates on the first page for any of the big operators anyway. It will probably hurt operators more as it'll take away from branded SEO clicks and increase ppc costs.

[thebookiesoffers]

I think it's a good move on branded queries - it's user focused. I don't think it will hurt affiliates as I expect they will only allow them to appear on the actual brand queries and not ones that include the brand but are targeted at something else (e.g. "Paddy Power" and not "Paddy Power Review"). From a quick search, I can't find any affiliates on the first page for any of the big operators anyway. It will probably hurt operators more as it'll take away from branded SEO clicks and increase ppc costs.

Basically, in the uk anyway, affiliates could do quite well targeting brand names, but when google first launched penguin then that pretty much became the end of that. I used to rank about 2,3 or 4 for 'betdaq' and that was a good traffic/revenue generator, but I'm afraid those days are long gone

[LukeC]

Basically, in the uk anyway, affiliates could do quite well targeting brand names, but when google first launched penguin then that pretty much became the end of that. I used to rank about 2,3 or 4 for 'betdaq' and that was a good traffic/revenue generator, but I'm afraid those days are long gone

Yeah, I think the damage has already been done in that regard.

[gamblerscompendium]

the one thing i dislike about google all the big names get guaranteed top rank ie affiliate wise money makes money not fair really