Oh deep, deep frown. Google is starting to go too far with its advertising. I just noticed that they're putting Sponsored Links above the search results as well as at the side. Check out this search for "web pages". Not only are there eight sponsored links in the sidebar, but there are also two sponsored links above the search results, with a light blue backgrounds. This is quite distracting, and I don't like it one bit. Until they change it back, I'm not clicking on any of the sponsored links anymore.

UPDATE 2004.10.13: Several sources have informed me that these ads have existed since the last design change early this year. I'm also suprized that I haven't noticed it. Perhaps I just haven't been searching for anything general enough or commercial enough to call up more than eight ads. Either way, I don't like that position, and I still refuse to click on any ads when ads appear up there. Advertisements should be an offer, set aside from the requested content, not something that shoves the requested content aside.

Started? Google has been placing AdWords above search results for years. Originally, thast space was devoted to pay-per-impression sponsored links. Then Google rolled back that program and made all ads on the SERP AdWords pay-per-click ads. So, on pages that trip 10 ads, the top two go above the organic listings. I don't understand how you could possibly have not noticed until now.