Google to display image ads on its own pages
According to the New York Times (reported via CNet) and other sources, Google is going to experiment with image-based ads on its search results pages. This is something very new that is stirring up some controversy, of course, since Google made its mark in online advertising by using text ads exclusively on the righthand side of a results page. According to the article:
One format being discussed is a box, which may include a photograph and a logo, that would appear on the main search results pages toward the bottom of the advertisements in the right-hand column. Traditional banner ads may appear on Google Image Search and the Froogle shopping site, which already include many photographs, an executive involved said. No advertising is contemplated for the Google home page.
Of course, Google has been in the business of selling image ads for a while now, though it's not clear to me how many people outside the AdSense/AdWords community know this. But the ads have been restricted to partner sites until now. The ad format they're mentioning above appears to be a new one, but in line with what Google is already doing. Don't be surprised to see it show up as a new AdSense format, too, if it really is something different.
The Google-AOL deal precipitated this, but I'm sure integration of image-based advertising with search results has long been on Google's radar. After all, they keep experimenting with different ways to present information related to what you're searching for, this is really just another set of experiements for them. Provided they weather the controversy well.
Eric Giguere is the AdSense expert who wrote Make Easy Money with Google. Subscribe to his AdSense newsletter for more tips and advice on AdSense and content monetization.
 |
Enjoyed this post? Get free updates by mail or by RSS! |