Google is introducing brand new Product Listing Ads for AdSense publishers that allow websites to include ads for specific products related to the webpage.
The ads appear as related products on webpages that are also displaying similar products – this is actually similar to how Amazon shows ads for “related products” on their own website.
Here is an example of the ad units in action:
They display on the left hand site of the product results page on Walmart.com.
Here is another example but with only two ads instead of 3.
It is interesting that Google is pulling specific ads from eBay as well – since they are specific ads and just generic eBay keyword ads. In this case, the link went to a specific eBay “Buy It Now” auction, although it didn’t show the auction description but instead showed links to other related auctions instead.
Walmart also has a pop up alert regarding the ads.
The advertisements are powered through Google AdWords Shopping Campaigns, formerly known as Product Listing Ads. Based on the timing of the changeover to Shopping Campaigns, it was probabably related to the new AdSense ads. For advertisers, this likely means looking at your settings if you do not want to see your product listing ads on third party sites such as Walmart.
With Amazon starting their own ad network, Google could be jumping into this area for publishers in case it was something that Amazon also wanted to offer.
The ads are run on publisher sites through the AdSense for Shopping program.
AdSense for Shopping is our latest product in site monetization for retailers and commerce-focused sites who drive product sales. It allows you to place relevant Product Listing Ads, like those you see running on google.com, onto your website. Similar to other AdSense products, you earn revenue based on the performance of those ads on your site.
AdSense for Shopping offers publishers the following benefits:
- Monetize all site traffic, including mobile: mobile is where users compare products. Since AdSense for Shopping is designed for all devices, retailers and commerce publishers can easily monetize their non-converting mobile traffic.
- Expand your product offerings: with more than one billion products available on Google Shopping, you can help users find what they want and keep them coming back to your site.
- Enhance the user experience: show rich product ads that are contextually relevant to the users visiting your site.
AdSense for Shopping is currently limited to a set of retail and commerce publishers, with the intention of opening it up to more publishers in the future. Those who are interested and submit their interest here.
Jennifer Slegg
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