Google allows an AdSense advertiser to block specific ads from being displayed on their websites (usually you would block a competitor). So at one point Google decided preventing certain ads from showing on your website is good.

So why does Google allow Microsoft to run ads on their web properties? I am always seeing ads for Live.com on Youtube. I think Microsoft may be the biggest advertiser on YouTube (I may have just answered my question). The Google mind set on this one may be, we believe in our Google search product and we will take Microsoft ad dollars because we think anyone that sees the Microsoft ads and tries Live.com is coming back to Google (if the person typically uses Google search). Microsoft is probably thinking we want more search share and we want it from Google. Lets advertise on Google web properties (they let us) and try to gain some search share. Google users may like the fact that they allow Microsoft to advertise on their sites and remain loyal to Google and think less of Microsoft and Live.com (Microsoft’s strategy has then backfired). However, inevitably some people that see the ads visit Live.com and they are coming from a Google web property.

Who is winning with this one? We will watch search share stats and ad spends by the search engines and see. I would like to see how many advertising dollars Microsoft gives to Google and if it is worth while.

As of May 2007 Live.com has seen a lift in search share. Danny Sullivan states this is probably resulting from the Live Search Club.

To answer the search question in the ad - the weather in Chicago is warm and windy (at one point in my life I moved to California for the endless summer, in a few years it may be everywhere - that sounds good I will burn some extra coal tonight - joking).

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