Fused Nation – UK SEO Blog

Some snippets popping up in “blog” related search queries on Google now plus selling Blogger.  Example:

Most SERPs relating to areas that Google have a business interest already display Adwords for the service, but this is one of the first times I’ve seen an additional snippet advertising the service.  Plus it’s also unusual for Google to include branding (blogger logo) in otherwise text based SERPs.

An interesting change – perhaps just a test, but could lead on to more commercial Google properties being advertised in SERPs outwith the Adwords model.

What strikes me is that with the recent debates about the Pay Per Post model of link building (let’s not mince about – it is link building, regardless of how the facilitating companies choose to position themselves!), and FTC requirements for disclosure, surely Google should be under some kind of requirement to disclose the fact that they own Blogger.

Keep in mind, although we (in the SEO industry) are more than aware of Google’s various acquisitions over the years, the average user may not be.  So advertising a “tip” on ALL “blog” and “weblog” related searches may seem like more of a recommendation than a promotion.  Certainly a dive into a very grey area.

What do you think?  I know a few people I chat to about these things (that aren’t instantly bored my choice of profession!) don’t really look at SERPs in the way that I do.  Most will look at the results and perceive them to be in some order or relevance and importance (and not simply as an easily manipulated set of data as I personally view them).  And as such, I would assume that these type of users would perceive any information outside normal and sponsored results as being a message from Google (or any search engine they are using).

If Windows pops up a “tip” for me, I know (as does the average user) that it is for usability purposes.  I would suspect a lot of people apply the same logic to stuff they read on websites, and I would go on to assume that for strong brands such as Google, small details such as this can and will be taken very literally.

That said, the statement, “Tip: Want to share your life online with a blog? Try Blogger” is a very common way to plus sell products and many websites use this technique.  Amazon for example will use the same offhand recommendation style to pitch related products, so why shouldn’t Google?

But then, why can’t a blogger be paid to make a post about a product?  Google, it seems, doesn’t need to label their promotions as “sponsored results” anymore.

Should Google have to disclose their relationship with Blogger?  At face value, Blogger is a free service, so technically Google aren’t selling anything – but Blogger is a huge network that allows Google to plus sell Adsense and therefore expand their product offering to Adwords advertisers, so they do profit from it.

It doesn’t really bother me – I think anyone should be able to do whatever they please with their website, regardless if you are Google or Ma n’ Pa’s e-shop.  But I do think this approach by Google is somewhat borderline grey area territory.  Considering Google’s historically “do no evil” approach to marketing and the current climate for the need for disclosure with business relationships, this otherwise innocent addition to Google SERPs could raise a few eyebrows.

MG