AOL Makes Users Targetable with Google Ads
AOL and Google will announce today a deal to let advertisers place Google AdWords pay-per-click ads only on the AOL network.
Titled AOL Search Marketplace, the service, which has been in beta test since January, will include the capacity to deliver a number of different display ad formats in addition to text ads, and to target only sites within the AOL Web network.
Google currently powers search functions and serves sponsored ads on AOL. In December 2005, the company paid $1 billion for a 5% stake in AOL. At that time, it was suggested that marketers would eventually be able to target AOL visitors through Google AdWords, but up to now, marketers who wanted to run pay-per-click ads on AOL had to accept placement on other publisher sites in the Google network as well.
In addition to the ad network, on Monday AOL will reportedly publicize two new search services launched recently: AOL Local, which uses MapQuest technology and local content from AOL CityGuide, and AOL Shopping, an e-commerce site with product data from Pricegrabber.com.
