Sponsorship and Search Engines

Search Engines do a reasonably good job of finding information for us on the Internet,

but is that why they exist?

NO! The business of Search Engines is to make money.

So, how do Search Engines make money?

Search Engines enable advertisers to have their products or services appear as high on your results list as possible, for a price. 

Some Search Engines separate paid listings (often called 'sponsored links'),and some integrate the paid listings into their main search results!

Be wary of the 'sponsored' (or paid) results that often appear at the top of your results list from a Search Engine.  These Web sites have paid to be listed prominently.  They are likely to be commercial in emphasis, and will not necessarily be the best information on your topic.

5.1 Exercise - Search Engine sponsorship Search for the words 'computer printers' on the following 3 Search Engines, and note for each of them where the 'sponsored' links appear on your results page: