Any real possibility that using Adwords could hurt organic listings?

[apcorob]

I have lurked for a long time but never posted. I am not a professional just a consumer of SEO services ... but one who tries to stay up to date.

So, please excuse what can easily be regarded as both naive and possibly iinsulting. I am just a paranoid businessman who want to not screw up!

I operate several sites, one of which is number one on google and several other search engines for some pretty competitive search engine terms usng organic listings only. That site is 12 years old, has lots of continually growing content and delivers great value, all for free. That is probably why.

I made a decision a long time ago not to purchase advertising; however, I have reconsidered this. I am considering allocating some serious money toward paid advertising (assuming I can get the right folks to organize this process). Here is my worry: Google folks are businessmen. If they see a good old trusted tried and true site going for the paid stuff in a serious way could this impact my organic listings? I would think, here is a business now willing to pay for what I have been giving them for "free" for a long time. I do not want to take any risk on this.

Please help me if you will.

Thank you very much.

[projectphp]

For anyone who has ever sufferred through Rene "I thinbk therfore I am" Descartes works, anything is possible. A better question is likely.

I don't think so, but you never know!

There may come a day when Google de-dupe ads and free listings, but I am not of the opinion that day is yet here.

[AdWordsRep]

If they see a good old trusted tried and true site going for the paid stuff in a serious way could this impact my organic listings? I would think, here is a business now willing to pay for what I have been giving them for "free" for a long time. I do not want to take any risk on this. Hi, apcorob - and welcome to this Forum!

Even though you asked your question several days ago, I'm just spotting it now.

But, please rest assured - you need not be concerned. There is no connection between the unpaid search results, and AdWords advertising.

As it appears you are new to this forum, I'll just add that I have worked at Google, with the AdWords team, for the past three plus years, and make the above comment with real assurance.

In my time with AdWords I have heard maybe 6 or 7 stories that run along two basic paths:

1) I've just started advertising with AdWords, and my position in the search results plummeted... OR

2) I've just started advertising with AdWords, and my site in the search results soared to new heights...

In either case, I'd say that it is an (almost inevitable) occasional and coincidental intersection between tens of thousands of advertisers and 8 billion web pages - and not a case of cause and effect.

I hope that this will set your mind at ease, and also that, should you decide to give AdWords a try, you'll meet with every success.

AWA

[AussieWebmaster]

Welcome to the boards Rob....
You can belive what the AdWords Rep is telling you. I have been using AdWords for 3+ years and through it all my organic listings have rolled around but not for any reason related to the paid listings I also had.
There have been times when I have dropped terms when new bidders made it a waste and went to other ones without impact on my free placement. There have been other times when the PPC keywords have been disbaled and yet the organic have been solid.