Yes I was appalled to see how the media were reporting this like it was a scandal. Anyone who uses Google should be able to know that the top items are paid listings on search. It's highlighted in yellow on my browser and clearly says "sponsored link". No scandal here!
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Archer" <r...@...> wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairfieldl...@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of Bhairitu > Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 11:33 AM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] BP buys oil spill related search terms > > >Will these crooks know no end to cover their butts? > http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/306996 > > >Whether it's a $50 million TV commercial blitz or BP CEO Tony Hayward > snapping to a reporter that he wanted "his life back," the company > behind the nation's worst oil disaster in history can't seem to get its > message right. > > >Now, the latest media misstep, according to media watchdogs and industry > experts: the company has been buying up the top Internet search terms > such as "oil spill" or "BP" - a move that places its corporate website > at the top of search results pages. > > You can't buy search terms or buy your way to the top of the organic search > listings. They're just buying pay-per-click ads, bidding on various > keywords, which any relevant site could do, and bidding high enough to rank > at or near the top. Can't say that I blame them for trying to tell their > side of the story, as long as it's truthful. If it isn't it'll backfire on > them. They're under a lot of scrutiny. >
