That is a good point about real estate and a great POV but I think this is not Google's value proposition.
Google is saying, use our search engine and you find what you want better and faster. We save you time. (Do no evil?) Google doesn't aim to be a "distraction" that ultimately saves you time, they want to save you time period. If they could, they would give you exactly what you wanted each and every time. But their algorithm can't tell when you're browsing for pleasure or looking for something in particular. It can come close, and in the end some people will be distracted by them whereas others will have exactly what they needed.
Google wants to make profit in the opportunity costs involved in searching for something. Searching for a product has all sorts of pains associated (analysis paralysis, getting lost, etc etc)... google wants to make profit between this consumer cost and the amount of ineffective money spent to reach consumers.
It also seems like you are focusing a lot on banner ads. I think one interesting statistic (sorry can't find a more recent one right now). Is that banner ads are about 20% of ad spend whereas search is 52%. I think Search is a even higher percentage now. Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12991408/Internet-Advertising-Tren...
Comments
That is a good point about real estate and a great POV but I think this is not Google's value proposition.
Google is saying, use our search engine and you find what you want better and faster. We save you time. (Do no evil?) Google doesn't aim to be a "distraction" that ultimately saves you time, they want to save you time period. If they could, they would give you exactly what you wanted each and every time. But their algorithm can't tell when you're browsing for pleasure or looking for something in particular. It can come close, and in the end some people will be distracted by them whereas others will have exactly what they needed.
Google wants to make profit in the opportunity costs involved in searching for something. Searching for a product has all sorts of pains associated (analysis paralysis, getting lost, etc etc)... google wants to make profit between this consumer cost and the amount of ineffective money spent to reach consumers.
It also seems like you are focusing a lot on banner ads. I think one interesting statistic (sorry can't find a more recent one right now). Is that banner ads are about 20% of ad spend whereas search is 52%. I think Search is a even higher percentage now. Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12991408/Internet-Advertising-Tren...