Yahoo Testing AdWords Lookalikes

Showing overflow ads to the right

[martinibuster]

Looks EXACTLY like adwords!

Here is a screenshot [martinibuster.com] of what I'm seeing.

[edited by: martinibuster at 7:18 pm (utc) on Sep. 3, 2003]

[jimbeetle]

Some look like adwords, others like mini billboards with a logo at the top, short head, list of links and grabber at the bottom.

Can't find any other information about 'em.

[martinibuster]

Here is a screenshot [martinibuster.com] of what I'm seeing.

[edited by: martinibuster at 7:18 pm (utc) on Sep. 3, 2003]

[cfx211]

From a legal perspective can google make any claims over the look and feel of adwords or is it too minimal a design?

[martinibuster]

My first reaction was, "Wow, they're showing AdWords!"

But then I realized that the top bidders were in the usual spot, and the ones on the right are the bidders who are pulling up the rear.

[peterdaly]

I'm seeing similar ones, but no background color or border.

They need to drop the "SPONSOR RESULTS". Having non-paid results only below the fold is what makes me not want to use the site.

-Pete

[jimbeetle]

Not seeing quite same thing here martinibuster.

Search for same term as yours comes up with one ad to the right -- "Advertisements" on grey background followed by adword-type ad in yellow box.

Adding the word 'sales' to the search term brings up same advertiser but now with logo.

Other terms I've checked come up with a mix of ads with and without logo.

without logo [sueysplace.com]

with logo [sueysplace.com]

[kanetrain]

That ad on the right isn't actually an Overture ad.... at least I dont' think it is. It must be separate Yahoo Advertising over there. Because if you go search Overture for tha term wedge software, that company (allmyofficesupplies) isn't even on the first page. They aren't even in the results for that term in Overture from what I can tell.
Interesting.

[Marcia]

Couldn't they be beta testing something with an NDA?

[martinibuster]

That ad on the right isn't actually an Overture ad.... at least I dont' think it is.

It's an Overture ad. It's the Overture low bidders- the ones who would otherwise have been listed at the bottom of the page.

I was reviewing whether my creative was being shown at the top or bottom, then noticed the others sitting off to the right. A quick check indicated that those were the bidders bidding less than me.

I just did a Yahoo search using more conventional terms, then compared the results with the Overture View Bids Tool [uv.bidtool.overture.com] and those are definitely Overture ads.

[Learning Curve]

Earlier thread
[webmasterworld.com...]

[martinibuster]

Learning Curve

Good catch, but I don't think this is the same thing. That discussion looks like it's about the Yahoo East Ads.

These ads are incorporating Overture advertising.

[Learning Curve]

Yes, I wasn't sure if they were the same but thought it worth connecting the two threads.

It seems Yahoo is just experimenting with new ideas.

<total speculation> Both tests were likely run by the same group, I would assume, Overture. Given that logos were included in both tests, I suspect they'll move forward with making logos an option for text ads. Logos would cost advertisers more, of course. They would probably generate more clicks and and overall revenue for Yahoo. And logos would certainly differentiate Overture from Adwords. </total speculation>