Google's Ad Empire Faces Shaky Ground as Amazon Takes the Lead

Google has always been the favorite child of the family that scores the highest position in class, has the best manners, is good at cooking and cleaning, and is obedient and punctual. But what if some other sibling tries to pass it? How would the apple of the eye react? Recently, Google's Vice President for Advertising Products, Jerry Dischler, has admitted that the search giant is losing ground to new entrants in the digital advertising arena. Someone is outshining Google, really? Well, to know the truth and complete the story, stick with us till the end and see for yourself what twists it has to unfold.

Dischler conceded during his testimony in the federal antitrust trial that Google's once-unassailable position is under attack from competitors such as TikTok and the e-commerce behemoth Amazon. But first, let's unpack this information and see how Google's advertising empire might be shaken.

To establish the stage, it's essential to know that Google, together with Meta Platforms Inc., has been the unchallenged monarch of digital advertising for years. They control more than half of all online advertising dollars, making them the dynamic pair of the digital ad world. Recent developments in the digital arena, such as Apple's privacy policy revisions, which made their ads less successful on iPhones, have changed things up.

Dischler's testimony exposed Google's vulnerability. He revealed that Google has approximately 5 million advertisers compared to Meta's 10 million, showcasing Meta's strength in the field. What's more, Dischler disclosed that retail advertisements constitute about 35% of Google's search ads, marking the company's most substantial advertising category.

Dischler's testimony dropped a shock when he claimed that certain consumer goods manufacturers have threatened to shift their entire advertising budget from Google to Amazon. Why? Because Amazon has surpassed Google in retail advertising and is growing at twice the rate. But here's the kicker: Amazon is also gathering more information on the success of its advertising. It's like if Google showed up to a data fight with a water pistol.

One of the fundamental strategies employed by Google to preserve its dominance is to modify the auctions used to sell search ads. Examples of these shifts are increased ad costs and minimum spending requirements, known as reserve pricing. Dischler casually stated that Google frequently makes similar changes without informing advertising. It's the same as changing the rules of a game without informing the players.

In a revealing email from May 2019, Dischler and his team discussed the need to find ways to meet revenue targets, or they would face severe consequences in the market. This glimpse behind the curtain suggests that Google's focus on revenue is a top priority.

However, Dischler claims that financial incentives have little effect on the quality of Google's search results. He underlined the need to keep the organic search results team apart from the advertisements team. However, revenue is still a significant motive for Google.

While Dischler confirmed that some auction changes resulted in 5% price increases for ordinary advertisers, he also admitted that specific changes may have resulted in 10% price increases for specific inquiries. He even went so far as to imply that raising pricing by 15% would be risky because advertising would flock to competitors like Meta or TikTok.

Yet, Dischler couldn't guarantee that even with a 15% price increase, Google would lose enough advertisers to prevent an overall rise in revenue. This admission hints at Google's confidence in its market power.

The RGSP (Runner-up Gets the Top position), an innovative adjustment proposed by Dischler, attempted to modify the auction dynamics so that the second-place bidder earned the top advertising position. This modification was intended to undermine the influence of major advertisers such as Amazon. Dischler acknowledged that it increased Google's revenue, illustrating the lengths to which the business is ready to go to maintain its competitive advantage.

In conclusion, Dischler's testimony paints a picture of a digital advertising landscape in flux. Google, once the unrivalled champion, is feeling the heat from competitors like Amazon, who are leveraging better data and innovative strategies. While Google's empire may have shown some chinks in its armour, it remains to be seen whether it can adapt and fend off the rising tide of competition.

The digital advertising battlefield is changing, and only time will tell if Google can maintain its throne or whether Amazon and others will transform the industry's landscape.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World