Google’s sneak attack? Adsense for Facebook

October 15, 2007 | Eric Eldon | Comments |
|

google-adsense-logo12.pngIs Google-the-Goliath sneaking into the Facebook building — via the basement?

Google is actively recruiting third-party developers with applications on Facebook to run Adsense ads within applications pages, VentureBeat has learned.

These aren’t just any old Adsense ads, according to our sources — developers have been inserting plain-vanilla Adsense into Facebook applications since the developer platform launched in May. Now, Google is specifically building this network for advertisers who want to be on Facebook, and will let advertisers run their ads across all Facebook apps that sign up for it.

Facebook has been clear about letting third-party developers sell ads on their own “canvas” pages on the site and keep all the revenue — a loophole that the Google seems to fit through just fine. See sample screenshots of what the Google ads will look like, taken here from Fantasy Stock Exchange and South Park Character Creator (and no, I don’t regularly use either app):

fantasy-stock-exchange-1.png

south-park-characters-1.png

Microsoft has already inked an exclusive deal with Facebook to sell ads on Facebook pages within the US. By selling ads on third-party applications, Google is doing an end-run around this deal.

When it comes to Facebook and social networking, Google is apparently firing on all fronts.

Building relationships with Facebook advertisers also allows Google to test how to successfully monetize third party applications before it introduces its own developer platform. Google is apparently set to make an announcement on November 5 that it will give third party developers access to user data in Orkut, its own social network which is popular in Brazil and India but not in most other countries. To this end, it is also actively recruiting third-party developers on Facebook to develop on Orkut, we are told.

Google is also rumored to be in a three-way competition with Microsoft and Yahoo to sell ads on Facebook’s own pages outside of the US. Like its two competitors, it is also rumored to be trying to buy a chunk of Facebook.

So far, only third-party startups that have launched ad networks for applications on Facebook, including those run by RockYou, VideoEgg, Social Media, Lookery and others. Some of these networks sell contextual text and video ads within an application’s pages. Some even sell ads on popular Facebook applications for less popular applications, so the latter group can try to convince Facebook users to add their application as well. Also of note: We’ve also been hearing rumors that Facebook is working on its own ad network for applications within Facebook.

Whether anyone can make big bucks from third-party applications is another question. We’re hearing from developers that all of these ad networks work about the same. We’re hearing some — those with 50,000 active users or more – are even getting enough to pay for their servers, room and board. That’s enough to avoid taking on funding while you work out your long-term business strategy.

Google has responded with the usual “no comment.”

Next Story:
Previous Story:

Email
Print
Bookmark
Google
Delicious
Facebook
Twitter
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Digg
Live
More…

Tags: , ,

Photo of Eric Eldon

About the Author, Eric Eldon

Eric currently covers digital media technology and business news, especially what's happening on social networks and their platforms. He also writes and edits stories about venture capital, and lots of other stuff, too. He started at VentureBeat in the spring of 2007, half a year or so after Matt Marshall left his reporting job at the San Jose Mercury News to found the site. Eric previously cofounded a startup called Writewith, that was building editorial software for newspapers and other groups of writers. The startup didn't work out, but he learned a lot.

  • Noah B
    In reality the AdSense is a very bad ad network. More than 25% of the ads are spam link sites (no content - just links to other sites - using cj and other ad agency and google ad sense). You can easily be in a loop of only link spam sites. The truth is that no matter how good is your service - you are selling spam to your users. Google tries to conceal it but the more you try the google AdSense the more you see that it is truely bullshit. The real question is why people are clicking at this sites. (I for once will be glad to know the motive of those people - the sites usually are so off from the content and unless you are really bored or stupid there is no reason to click on the ads). It is time to burst the bubble of Google AdSense (and other ads agencies who are making the web a crappy place)...
  • I agree with you partly, Noah. AdSense ads aren't always the best, but you have to hand it to Google for monetizing the long-tail. Ultimately, that's why they've achieved the success they have. While I don't think their Facebook ads will do much for the giant, it won't hurt them, either. In fact, I probably think employing Google AdSense will probably do more harm to the growth of apps using the network than to anyone else, Facebook included. Time will tell.
  • Good to know that Google reads my blog (http://www.vinnylingham.com/facebook-platform-g...)

    I wrote about this Trojan horse two months ago :-)
  • Just a clarification - Lookery has two angles - Lookery for Facebook (covered above) and our new offering is - Lookery for the Web. Please see http://www.lookery.com for more information.

    Rex
    Publisher Relations, Lookery
  • In reality the AdSense is a very bad ad network. More than 25% of the ads are spam link sites (no content - just links to other sites - using cj and other ad agency and google ad sense). You can easily be in a loop of only link spam sites. The truth is that no matter how good is your service - you are selling spam to your users. Google tries to conceal it but the more you try the google AdSense the more you see that it is truely bullshit. The real question is why people are clicking at this sites. (I for once will be glad to know the motive of those people - the sites usually are so off from the content and unless you are really bored or stupid there is no reason to click on the ads).
  • Sneaky google :) but i am used to it !! let them make money , then make alot of great online appz and make me happy :) circle of life
  • Google Sneaky Google Sneaky Google Sneaky :) 2 words 1 and the same thing
  • that's a great news for Advertising industry. But who control who?Wait and see...But I can see that Google is really really smart!
  • Jen777
    Hi all! Someone can tell me how can I add Google Ads to my Facebook application? I have searched alot in the Web, but I can't find something useful.

    Thanks.
  • I thought that it was illegal to show adsense ads on frames... i think that google broke one of their law ;)
  • I think its still illegal.
  • Google has responded with the usual “no comment.”
    hmmm it's hard to get google "talking" I guess.
  • Nice artikel.
  • let them make money , then make alot of great online appz and make me happy :) circle of life
  • good article! ......
  • I think its still illegal.!!
  • good article !!
  • I don't think putting on adsense on facebook app will be as effective as the usual way, facebook users want to have fun , not look for information, people click to look for information
  • It's really not that hard to get google Ads inside a Facebook App. I even Made a guide;
    http://www.infinitepixelstudios.com/dev-tips/Go...
    Just take a Look, it's already working for many, including myself.
  • I like this article! Thanks. Google is cool!
  • HEllo hello.
  • battery4au
    I thought that it was illegal to show adsense ads on frames...
  • battery4au
    good article, i like it
  • battery4au
    good article, i like it. 3q
  • et them make money , then make alot of great online appz and make me happy :) circle of life
  • http://www.nlslimming.com
    good aticle
  • Ribbon pazarında Türkiye'nin %70' ne hakim olan firmamızda Armor markalı ribbon satışı yapılmaktadır. Armor Türkiye Distribütörü olarak sattığımız ürünlerin tam garantisini vermekteyiz. Bu markanın distribütörlüğünü yaptığını öne süren firmalardan lütfen yetki belgelerini isteyin. Her işin gerektirdiği gibi ribbon satış işi uzmanlık istemektedir yani siz ürün alırken çok fazla bilgi sahibi değilseniz kötü niyetli satıcılar tarafından zarara uğrayabilirsiniz. Bu nokta da firmamız size tamamen şeffaf koşullar sunmaktadır. Ürünlerimizin kalite, yeterlilik ve uyum belgelerini isteyebilirsiniz.
  • Hi that is a great news for all people like me....I don't know a lot about wave and thus that is very new for me...but that is a very very good news for me because collaboratively I can use their service along with twitter and many other features at a time that is nice...thanks Google and thanks web master of this site..
  • This is very useful for me,
    thank you very much,
    I think you will be successful！
  • hat's a great news for Advertising industry. But who control who?Wait and see...But I can see that Google is really really smart!
  • THANKS FOR THE INFO>
  • i do have adsense did face book can use adsense,need some feed back thanks
  • Good aticle, I thought that it was illegal to show adsense ads on frames.
  • bestnetbook
    Agree 100% with you
    Thank you for sharing this information.
blog comments powered by Disqus