"I’m feeling lucky" button costs Google $110 million per year

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Sphinn It!

Went Hot: Nov 23, 2007 - 08:22 am
Posted By: AndyBeard 809 Days ago
Source: http://valleywag.com
Category: Searching

I honestly can’t remember when was the last time I clicked it.

Does it show differently in referrer logs?

10 Comments

Comments

from planetc1 809 Days ago #

Votes: 0

Google seems to think that an "I’m feeling lucky" search for "I’m feeling lucky" should deliver a google help page, I was hoping for something a bit more spicy.

from baiduyou 809 Days ago #

Votes: 0

If they were really trying to make it less ’dry and corporate’ they would licence the phrase "Feelin’ lucky, punk?"

from SpostareDuro 809 Days ago #

Votes: 0

Before reading this article, I had no idea what that button’s function was! It just sort of sat there like waste. @baiduyou: I think you’re on to something! "Feelin’ lucky, punk?" would’ve made me click on it.

from Gamermk 809 Days ago #

Votes: 0

I wonder how many board meetings they’ve had debating whether to remove the button or not ;)

from kevgibbo 808 Days ago #

Votes: 3

Maybe they could change it to display the top AdWords result instead, I’m sure that would go down well!

from baiduyou 808 Days ago #

Votes: 0

Nice idea. Microsoft probably wouldn’t have even given it a second thought.

from corey 808 Days ago #

Votes: 0

the i’m feeling lucky feature is neat for searches like "html ampersand codes" when i know i’ll get the list i’m looking for, but i usually only use it on reference type searches that i’ve already done the traditional way. this feature is also called "browse by name". it works if you have the goo toolbar installed and type a query directly into the address bar on IE (version 6 here). it doesnt search for the query, but deploys the i’m feeling lucky manuever instead. you can turn it on and off in the toolbar options.

from BradleyT 808 Days ago #

Votes: 0

On a side note - I’m sure they also lose millions in revenue on toolbar users who type in a URL. For example I don’t have Sphinn bookmarked but every day at work I type Sphinn.com into my google toolbar and it takes me right here rather than showing a page of SERs that may have shown ads.

from LinkXL 808 Days ago #

Votes: 0

A few years ago back at SES NYC I was at a session and I cannot remember who, but a woman from Google and I were talking and she stated that they did a test years ago and that when they removed the "I’m Feeling Lucky" button there were a ton of complaints. Most people inquired about something that changed on the site- but could not point out what it was....

from SamFreedom 808 Days ago #

Votes: 0

I ACTUALLY HAVE a "feelin lucky, punk?" clint eastwood button on my site for serving up RANDOM posts. It’s MY blog that’s more fun and personal and not Google’s MATRIX SPY MACHINE.But anyways, I like the article. It makes me wonder, if Google removed that button, would I be getting 2-10 more visitors per day? ;-)