Google image ads are a new type of graphical AdWords ad appearing on select content sites in the Google Network. Image ads combine two powerful approaches: graphics and proven AdWords targeting technology.Unlike traditional online graphical ads, image ads are matched to a page's content. This targeting makes image ads more attractive and relevant to anyone browsing the site. Therefore, image ads offer you yet another effective way to increase your business exposure and reach new prospects.
[adwords.google.com...]
Placement Examples [adwords.google.com]
shak
[edited by: Shak at 7:25 am (utc) on May 13, 2004]
No.. You can not force image ads only, hence if an image ad is not available, text ads will show, and you run the risk of duplicate ads which is againse adsense TOS.
Oh well. I hope this give a boost to revenue. It's almost not worthwhile to use AdSense anymore, CPC has been so low.
Many of the large corporations and media buyers would never have been interested in text ads, they go against the 'glossy' aspect of buying ads in the press - even if the text ads were more effective, they don't fit at all with the champagne lunches, the Porsches and golfing weekends.
So until now that's a revenue stream that to a large extent will have been missing.
A big bonus for Adwords advertisers who have got a simple website name or brand, that only really requires an image and an address. Press-type exposure, even when nobody clicks...
They will only show in content sites so it won't affect me too much. I turned content sites off a long time ago.
Obviously, Google are trying to get a foot in the market of current banner sellers and beat them. With so many existing AdWords advertisers they have a good start.
It's good to see that Google have the same view of targeted creative advertising as we do - that done properly it's highly complimentary to a SERP. I'm hoping that Google's move into this market will help us through rebuilding awareness for the great things graphical ads can bring - branding, creativity.
As for CTR's etc.. our partners tell us that compared to adwords our ads (which are all 125x125, max 2 per page) do better.
[edited by: Shak at 8:40 am (utc) on May 13, 2004]
[edited by: nvidium at 9:33 am (utc) on May 13, 2004]
There are sites where I do not want to use imagery for ads but it can not be chosen from the current system.
I will only use it when I can chose by channel.
[edited by: tenerifejim at 10:02 am (utc) on May 13, 2004]
That is the reason I think it is a mistake. They made a statement and started a revolution with text ads. If image ads or so good, why not show them on search result pages?
Is this change in thinking the first of many moves to go along with an IPO?
"Don't be Evil"?
They have just lost, in one swoop, all the "integrity" they had earned for promoting usability and offering an alternative to intrusive banner advertising.
A banner ad by any other name, etc.
I think this is consistent with Google's operating procedure all along. They've always tried to keep their search pages clean, plus the ad sizes may not match up well to the search pages. I think Google is wise to make images AdSense only. Still, I expect to see these on other, less scrupulous search sites fairly soon.
On another note, I've gotten all 4 types of ads up for one of my AdWords categories. I look forward to seeing how well they do. :)
It will only be evil if Google offers them as pop unders, or allows them to blink, play music or if the web page asks me to download Flash V7. to see a stupid 3rd party advertisement........
Given the poor CTR of graphical banner ads, don't you assume that most sites in the content network would opt out of this and continue showing the text ads?
This is fantastic for the advertiser. With graphic ads they can get an absolute load of almost free branding. They just make their ad featuring their logo or product but with absolutly no reason to click through. Voila, a beautiful campaign with a next to nothing cost. In fact I may go and give it a go!
From a publishers point of view its a terrible development. I can't see any reason to publish them at all.
From a publishers point of view its a terrible development. I can't see any reason to publish them at all.
I dissagree with bateman_ap. Think about it. Which if the ads do you think will be shown on a content page?
In my oppinion chances are quite high that it will be the one offering the highest CTR.
Publishers can look forward to higher CTR bids, which in turn should reflect even when text ads are displayed.
Anyhoo. My vote is "Good move for google." They get to keep the targetting, publishers can still choose text ads (in fact, the default is to text, so you don't have to worry about running off to change settings), but there's a new option for both advertisers and publishers.
My site is VERY text heavy, and my CTR isn't great (though I'm not real worried about it, the site itself isn't there to make money directly). I'm thinking the odd page with a graphic ad would be a good thing, design wise, as a free way to give some visual pizazz to pages that are essentially big mounds of text.
For advertisers: Big bonus. Visual branding is important to a lot of advertisers. CTR isn't so much the issue for them. "Banner Blindness" is over-rated, methinks. Some part of your mind still registers the image, and if its done right, branding can sit in some long forgotten part of your brain, which is what Branding type advertisers are looking for anyway.
I think google is just being wise and trying to capture a bigger slice of the advertising pie. Graphical banners combined with targetting = very desireable ad placement.
They don't hit the reader at a subconscious level in the same way that logos, slogans and colour combinations do. Even if you read a text ad, you might have forgotten the URL 24 hours later, while a distinct logo may still linger in your memory.
Every time a display advert is viewed it strengthens the brand - text ads are not nearly as effective in this regard. Branding which you only pay for when someone clicks on the image is worth an awful lot.
I think ultimately this will be of greater value to offline companies which have an online presence than to web-native companies.
Expect PPC rates to rise in no small measure.
This is fantastic for the advertiser. With graphic ads they can get an absolute load of almost free branding. They just make their ad featuring their logo or product but with absolutly no reason to click through. Voila, a beautiful campaign with a next to nothing cost.
I'm sure Google is aware of such potential abuse, and that measures are in place (or will soon be in place) to keep greedy advertisers from getting something for nothing. :-)
I can't find it either and I am in the US
Welp, this is weird. I can't get the graphics option to come up on any the computers here, but the Adwords team can on my account. I sent them print screens to show what I'm seeing. I'm just getting the same old, same old.
*sigh* Oh well. I suppose there isn't really a rush. Logging into my adsense account shows that you have to put new code on your site to have it show images. It will take awhile for adsense people to switch over, if they do it at all.
Logging into my adsense account shows that you have to put new code on your site to have it show images.
That's necessary only if you want to use the graphical ads on specific pages. If you're willing to have the ads appear on your site in general, there's no need to change any code--just check the appropriate box under AdSense Settings.
You need to create a NEW ad with text only. Then you have to CHANGE that ad again, and THEN it gives me the option to create a graphic ad. Mind that you have to FINALIZE ALL STEPS of the text-ad first. I then quickly paused it, re-edited it and then the option for graphics was displayed.
But starting a new ad by itself only gives me the option to create a text-ad!
This is fantastic for the advertiser. With graphic ads they can get an absolute load of almost free branding. They just make their ad featuring their logo or product but with absolutly no reason to click through. Voila, a beautiful campaign with a next to nothing cost.
I agree w/ europeforvisitors, this won't be possible. I would say they will use the current mechanism.
If you run multiple ads, the best ad (one w/ best CTR) will self-optimize. And if you're running ads that generate low click throughs (or no click throughs), you're keywords will wind up being disabled and the ads won't show at all.
But starting a new ad by itself only gives me the option to create a text-ad!
Not in my account. Click "New Ad" and I can either do a text ad (left column) or a graphical ad (right column).
