Google Checkout icon - great for paid search optimisation?

Hi - nice idea, however their checkout is here;

http://www.ebrandz.uk.com/pay-per-click-campaign-management-services-uk.htm

Not sure I would buy this service this way, though setting up the facility to be able to do so in order to use the icon is a nice thought.

Iain

On 16:53:47 15 November 2007 Ashley wrote:

 

Earlier this year I posted an article in our blog titled Google Checkout – a paid search optimisation tactic? and I wondered whether anyone had further evidence or experience about how powerful it is to have the icon there to increase click through rates (and therefore reduce click costs / increase ROI)?

I came across an interesting variant on this approach just now when searching on 'internet marketing' on Google (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB225GB225&q=internet+marketing&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB)

Can you see the eBrandz.uk.com paid ad with the Google Checkout icon on it?

And yet if you visit their site I can't find a checkout in sight. They sell search services, not goods.

Surely this is a (cunning) misuse of the icon to drive click through (and also therefore reduce click costs)?

Are Google policing this kind of thing? If not, we might as well all have the lovely icon there...? At least we have a checkout...

Ashley Friedlein
CEO
E-consultancy.com