Keyword Tips

Rich media beta coming soon to Google AdSense

Google has apparently begun contacting some publishers about their interest in participating in a beta test for running rich media ads through their Google AdSense accounts. Extremely different from the traditional AdSense text ads, the rich media ads would be site-targeted. Additionally, the rich media ads are rumored to be similar to the "floating" ads served by EyeBlaster and PointRoll.

Jenstar of Jensense.com has a totally kick-ass post about the ramifications of this potential expansion into other facets of online advertising, including:

"... if AdSense did offer rich media to all publishers, they could easily add a new clause that would mean companies such as Fastclick and PointRoll would suddenly be competitive ads and not be permitted on the same pages as AdSense. Many AdSense publishers implement rich media ads to compliment AdSense, and as non-contextual, most of these ad products are well within the AdSense terms. But if AdSense decided to not permit rich media ads on pages also running AdSense or AdSense rich media style ads, this could mean that many publishers would drop competitor's ads and just show AdSense... as well as those advertisers flocking to AdWords to get their rich media creatives showing through the AdSense program."

If you're not visiting Jensense.com daily, you should consider doing so... them's good readings.