Google announced the limited release of their new Gadget Ads program, which they tout as "mini versions of your website in any AdSense ad size." The rich media ads combine "data feeds, maps, images, audio, video, Flash, HTML or JavaScript in a single creative," according to Google, and are available to select high volume AdWords clients and distributable across the entire AdSense network.
Gadget Ads are created on top of the Google gadget framework used to create widgets for their iGoogle start page property. The ads themselves are actually entered into the Google gadgets directory automatically.
Google's new ads are sold via the familiar CPC or CPM model, however, because they are self contained, interactive marketing messages, I am not sure how measurement of CPC differs from regular ad creative (is this really per interaction?). Google offers free hosting for videos for the ads via YouTube (but allows advertisers to display videos with their own, branded player), and even though advertisers host their own content, Google's caching technology means that Google will really be footing the bill for bandwidth. Support for RSS means that gadget ads can be automatically updated with new content.
The above gadget has also been served as an ad via AdWords.
Gadget ads support any Google service tie-ins that the gadget framework does. So, for example, a gadget ad for a hotel chain could tie into Google Maps to give users directions to hotels in their area.
Google's Gadget Ads can really be looked at as a massive, paid widget distribution network. Widgets have long been used by companies for marketing purposes. Google is simply monetizing that use and providing advertisers with a method of guaranteed placement of their widgets on a very large number of web sites. Paramount Pictures, Pepsi-Cola, Honda, and Six Flags were among the first companies to test out the Gadget Ads service.
Via Markeing Pilgrim.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: More Google Ad News: Gadget Ads.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.readwriteweb.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1630
Here is a summary of the week's Web Tech action on Read/WriteWeb. Note that you can subscribe to the Weekly Wrapups, either via the special RSS feed or by email. Web News Yahoo! Drops $350m on Zimbra; an Open Source,... Read More
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all Read/WriteWeb posts
so how does one with an adsense account get these?
Posted by: bob cobb | September 19, 2007 7:48 AMThis is very interesting, these gadgets are going to drive people's attention.
It is a pity thou, that they are only available for some Google AdWords clients. I wonder if this is going to be like that or it is just at the beginning.
Posted by: Alexis Brion | September 19, 2007 8:19 AMI am not sure this changes the widget distribution model. It merely alters the model for those who use widgets as marketing tools. Remember, not all widgets are used for that purpose.
Jeremy
Posted by: Jeremy | September 19, 2007 10:44 AMwww.whichhit.com
Isn't this contrary to Google's minimalist design philosophy?
Posted by: Garlin II | September 19, 2007 11:02 AM