MUMBAI: The world's most valuable media company Google is aggressively moving to include classifieds listings in its organic search results.

It is making the rounds of classified advertising Web sites, requesting a direct feed of listings.

 
In an alert sent to clients research firm Classified Intelligence has put substance to the rumour that's been circulating for some time and discloses ongoing discussions with possible partners.
 
 
Classified Intelligence founding principal and executive editor Peter M. Zollman says, "Anytime an online giant like Google does something of this magnitude, it's going to change the classified landscape and up the ante for everyone else in the field. It is not about threat or blessing. It's about changing online choices, about new options for consumers, and about companies competing to provide better services to buyers and sellers. That's got to be good for everyone.
"But Google will not find that the existing competitors - newspapers, Craigslist, and AOL just to name a few - are easily dissuaded from their hard-won audiences."

 
 
Making classified ads available through an organic Google search will definitely change the game, but exactly how remains to be determined. There are two schools of thought. On the one hand, search provided additional distribution of the ad. On other side of that coin ads that are freely available through search could destroy the pricing model used by print and online classifieds publishers.

Classified Intelligence works with media companies, dot-coms and service providers to develop successful interactive classified advertising services. Its Classified Intelligence Report is an intelligence tool in the industry and the Classified Intelligence workshops, consultations and research projects are conducted worldwide. Clients include The New York Times, Tribune, CareerBuilder.com, AutoTrader.com, The Washington Post, and Daily Mail group of London.