If roughly 70% (as reported by Google and other sources) of the clicks on Google's SERPs are on organic links, is it crazy to think that the search giant would seek to monetize those listings in some
way? Not according to Jonathan Mendez.
Though Google has kept a very strict wall between the two, observers could argue that AdWords technically subsidizes organic search. Mendez suggests
that the giant could go farther by operating a paid inclusion model (either for just being indexed, for showing up in the results, or both).
He also notes that Google could make
money from big brands by making them pay to include a logo in-line with their organic results. Mendez' last two theories involve using natural search results to drive traffic to display and contextual
ads.
In the comments stream, readers post that some of these suggestions would violate Google's "don't be evil" mantra and move the giant further along the monopoly pole -- while
others note that the lines between Google's paid search, natural search, contextual and display offerings are already quite blurred.
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