From Tangos
Baidu is a liar.
On December 1st, 2009, Baidu closed its previous paid search ads system, and fully switched into the new Phoenix Nest system. But on December, we found that the concept of the new system is still old.
Traditionally, Baidu made its paid search listings on its search result pages, most of the users of the search engine cannot differentiate ads from organic search results. They are confused by paid and non-paid results.
In Nov 2008, China Central Television (“CCTV”), the largest state-owned television network in China, reported that Baidu took money from illegal medical companies for paid search results. The more they pay, the higher up their name appear in the search results page. The paid search results undermined the integrity of the search experience.
Immediately after that, Baidu announced that it would introduce a new ads system, i.e. Phoenix Nest, which will more clearly separates its paid links from ordinary search results. In April 2009, Baidu pilot launched its new ads system. Phonenix Nest system is a totally new system in terms of advertising management, it is very similar to Google’s Adwords system. As to the media reports on Phoenix Nest, on its new system, the sponsored results will only be listed on the right of the search results pages, and separated from organic results.
In Nov, Baidu announced that the old ads system will be totally replaced by Phoenix Nest on Dec 1st. On a report by China Daily on Nov 30, it said, “the new stem will clearly distinguish search ads from normal, or organic, search results. That means the controversial keyword advertising bidding system is going to step off the stage”.
However, on Dec 1st., I found that you can still see paid results mixed with non-paid results, just as previously. This new system still allow ads to be listed on the left, even though you need to refine the quality of your ads text to make it qualified to be listed on the left.
The new Phoenix Nest is still old in terms of its underlying paid search concept. An ordinary search users can still be confused by paid ads and non-paid search results.
January 11th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
absolutely yes