Andy Rankin

I’m sure I’m not the only person who uses Google search even though there’s a 99% chance that you could guess the right URL. For example, this morning I was trying to find the PetSmart site. Sure, it’s almost certainly www.petsmart.com but it’s almost as easy to just punch petsmart into the Google search box and then click on the result. So that’s what I did:

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But now I have a dilemma - which link should I click on? I guess it doesn’t really matter because I should end up at my intended destination either way. But on some very small level it does matter. If I click on the paid link I’ll be costing PetSmart some money but I’ll be putting some money in Google’s bank account. If I click on the natural result then nobody pays or gets paid. I like Google and even though they already have a boatload of money I figured I’d give them a few more pennies. PetSmart likely has a fixed marketing budget so me saving them a quarter probably won’t ever trickle down to the 50 pound bag of dog food I’m about to buy.

(By the way, how many people know it’s PetSmart and not Petsmart or even PetsMart? I always thought it was a play on Kmart or Walmart but I guess they’re talking about a smart pet, or that you’re smart for getting your pet supplies from them. Whatever. I think Petco is a better name. I’m still waiting for Pet Depot and Pet Shack.)