Looking at the list of the highest-paying search terms on Google AdWords doesn't instantly inspire delight in the service. Who exactly is paying Google the money that pays for the cordon bleu chefs in Mountain View? Well, as far as I can tell, it's:

• Lawyers specialising in mesothelioma and personal injury claims (subtext: no-win, no-fee, AKA ambulance-chasers);
• Loan sharks targeting people needing to refinance existing debts, especially connected with mortgages and unpaid taxes;
• Insurance brokers exploiting cancer and other disease fears;
• Fly-by-night web domain registrars;
• Search engine optimisation fraudsters;
• Video conferencing services (I know something about that one!).

Not exactly what you'd call esteemed company (apart perhaps from the last one maybe). I suppose reaching people through Google ads keeps them from spamming. But the prices are jaw-dropping, no wonder click-fraud is an issue.

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Posted by webmink to WebMink at 3/27/2006 06:18:00 PM