Google's revenue formula is: CTR x CPC x # of Searches. If number of searches & CPCs are under pressure then they will continue to tinker with CTRs by changing ad formats & screwing with the user experience:
Agreed, but the formula is more like (CTR x CPC x # Searches) - Paid Distribution. And "yield optimization" (which is code for increasing CTR) is all about tricking the clicks.
The two negative forces this employs then is that if they bump their CTR and yet people who click don't buy, this further depresses CTRs as advertiser value the clicks less and less. And by paying to send them search traffic that money is paid if you search for "new car insurance" (very valuable) or "Pythagoras theorem" (basically worthless).
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