When I did a search for a “post office in New Berlin, WI” on Google, the first result in the organic results was one from Yahoo. I thought it was so nice of Google to display a result from their #1 competitor. That is so nice… I did the same search on Yahoo thinking they would return the favor, but no results from Google on the first page, oh well. It is hard to love and not be loved in return.
So what is an organic result?
There are a few different types of results that can be displayed after a user performs a search query. One is organic or natural, two there is sponsored. The sponsored results are the results of websites which pay the search engine company to be included. In Google this program is called AdWords, in Yahoo its Yahoo Search Marketing in MSN its adCenter in Ask.com Sponsored Listings. These types of listings are also called Pay-Pay-Click or PPC.
There are other types of results which appear on top of the left section. They are called the vertical search results. For example: Local results, like in this image you will see a map with a USPS address. Other examples are stock quotes, Airline Flight Number information, image search results, special information on movies, and so on.
Try searching in Google for “Amazing Grace movie,” “American Airlines Flight 380,” “life insurance Milwaukee” or “GOOG” stock you will see this vertical search in action.
One more note on sponsored listings; they are very effective when well managed. Your ads about your products, services or information will appear for people who are already looking for those specific topics. When you watch TV or listen to the radio and you hear a commercial, rarely you are in the mood to buy at that time. People using search for products will much more likely be ready to buy when your ad is matched with their search terms.
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