As amazing as paid search has been -- and just pull up the numbers that Google
You don't need to guess. I can assure you that DoubleClick
There are some even bigger companies that are likely to suffer if this trend continues. One of the oldest, best run, and most prevalent affiliate marketing programs belongs to Amazon.com
While most dot-com marketers have made the transition to paid search -- even the most eclectic of searches on Google may result in an eBay sponsored link -- Amazon is different. It is deeply integrated into way too many sites, and if webmasters see that it is more cost-effective to strip out Amazon ads in favor of paid-search ad blocks, the leading online retailer is going to suffer in the process.
So, yes, what companies like Google and Yahoo! are doing is amazing. Just watch carefully those companies that stand to lose if paid search continues to blanket the Internet.
Want to read more about how text ads roughed up the graphics space?
- DoubleClick did sell itself for a historically cheap price.
- Fastclick has been a broken IPO.
- And if things weren't bad enough, even Google is now offering content publishers graphic banner ads.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz believes that contextual paid search is far more effective than banner and rich media ads -- as well as easier on the eyes. He does not own shares in any of the companies in this story. The Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.