Google drop down list

[Pondlife]

When you type into the google seach field it starts to display possible seach entries. WTF is it basing the suggestions on?

Type the letter 'u' and the suggestions include 'ugg boots' and 'ultimate guitar'. Neither of which can possibly be in the top 10 most popular searches starting with a 'u', nor are they things I have ever searched for.

 

[Clippy]

When you type into the google seach field it starts to display possible seach entries. WTF is it basing the suggestions on?

Type the letter 'u' and the suggestions include 'ugg boots' and 'ultimate guitar'. Neither of which can possibly be in the top 10 most popular searches starting with a 'u', nor are they things I have ever searched for.

Perhaps they are getting paid for these entries to appear first?

Edit: When I type in 'u' I get 'utube', 'ucas', 'utorrent' so perhaps the above theory is pants - in answer to your question, dunno!

 

[Menelaus]

Paid advertising

HTH

 

[DimPrawn]

Sadly it is wot the yoof of today is searchin for, innit?

 

[Pondlife]

Paid advertising

HTH

I'm not talking about the search results but the dropdown suggested searches. They don't look like paid for entries.

 

[Beefy198]

I'd expect it's based on what is most usually search... best keywords and all that.

Must have a built in content filter though.... try doing some naughty keywords

 

[malvolio]

I'm not talking about the search results but the dropdown suggested searches. They don't look like paid for entries.

It's configurable. Look at the Google Preferences - it's the last option.

 

[Pondlife]

It's configurable. Look at the Google Preferences - it's the last option.

I'm not bothered about them appearing, just slightly amused by their complete randomness.

 

[dang65]

I'm not bothered about them appearing, just slightly amused by their complete randomness.

I suppose it's a quick way of finding out what's cool. Although typing 'a' brings up argos, amazon, autotrader, asda. Common rather than cool, perhaps.