otc_cmnn - 5:10 pm on Aug 2, 2005 (gmt 0)

sets out to bid above the top Google AdWords bid

Ask will only show their ad if the revenue potenial is higher than showing the Google Ad.

So they are 'ask'ing you to come to them and pay a premium for their clicks! That somehow theirs are worth more...

So minimum bids are kind of irrelevent as your ad will only show if you bid higher than the Google ads. And G has bids on ten billion keywords so good luck finding an obscure one that works. ( but fyi word on the street is 5 cents)

Now I am not 100% sure of the formula. There could be a way to make this work as an advertiser. Lets say ASK gets 80% of the revenue from their ads (yes as a premium partner the numbers are at least that high) so if I bid 81% of the GOOG cost will my ad show at the top? if so than this could work, but from what I have read this may not be the case, rather you MUST bid a premuim.

So sounds like good news for Barry Diller, another great place for the big boys to throw money around, but doubtful that Joe Blow eCommerce site owner will be able to get a positive ROI.

Guess we'll have to wait until the Aug.15th official launch to really see though.