Google Tracking Clicks

I noticed something interesting this morning. Google is tracking how people respond to their search results.

Try this: Do a Google search. It does not matter what you search for. Pick one of the search results, put your mouse on the link, and hold down the left mouse button. You'll see a Google link shown at the bottom of your browser. When you release the mouse button you'll be taken to the web site you've selected.

The links in Google search results have been set up to activate a link to Google when you push down on your mouse button and then take you to the web site you selected when you release the mouse button.

What does this mean?

This allows Google to measure which links people are actually clicking on. Using cookies they can tell when you arrive at Google, and how long you are away looking at a web site you found in a Google search. This information allows Google to identify relevent web sites based on which are getting clicked on and whether people stay at the site or return to the Google SERPs to try another web site.