Google’s Privacy Policy Favors Paying Adwords Customers: Free Users are Left in the Dark

 Posted on May 14,2014 in AdWords

For many in the legal industry, Google remains a constant in search engine marketing. You may rely on Adwords, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google+ just to name a few methods, but is Google’s privacy policy in everyone’s best interest?

According the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), technology gurus have familiarized themselves with Google's privacy policy revision, effective March 1, 2012. Perhaps we may ask, as a technological layman, what does it mean for legal marketing efforts?

Google consolidated over 70 individual privacy policies, covering separate services available to publishing on the Internet. It now blankets a one-size-fits-all privacy policy for Google users. It allows Google to “data mine” a user's Internet activity across the Google playing field instead of through specific service options. This policy has sparked controversy and has even been labeled as possibly illegal according to an article in The Huffington Post. So what exactly is the bone of contention for Google users?

Although the Google change may have been evoked by user request for a more secure Internet experience, Google permitted an opt-out for paid advertisers not offering the same option for non-paid users. This provided paid advertisers a clear path to remain conducting business as usual by receiving their search terms via Google Adwords, while non-paying users began facing numerous challenges and were left wondering how a prospective client came to land on their website.

There are several theories as to why Google made the change, even going as far as saying that Google wanted to thwart National Security Agency (NSA) spying. For many in the legal marketing arena, it basically comes down to increasing Google's bottom line by eliminating benefits of search terms via Adwords to the non-paying user. This possible paves the way for establishing a Google surcharge for terms that generated traffic to a website.

With so many questions raised, Google is aware of the secure privacy policy issue. How the company will actually tackle the controversy at this time is still up for debate.

A possible solution to the controversial Google privacy policy may take months or years. In the meantime, an experienced online marketing firm can assist you with any questions. Marketing professionals can help you with the Google way of business and how it may impact your website search results. Since 2008, OVC, INC. has been assisting clients with search engine marketing in the legal industry. Contact us today to discuss your options.

About the Author: Greg Wildman is the President of OVC, INC. Since 1999, Greg has developed hundreds of websites for attorneys from his company's inception as Online Video Concepts, LLC to the modern era's OVC, INC. Greg's knowledge of law firm marketing has helped many law firms establish online presences through custom website development, Search Engine Optimization, legal directory partnerships, social media marketing, content writing and more.