Is 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):
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.”
Tags: adsense, Facebook, Google15 Comments
-
Noah B said:
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)…
-
Jonathan C. said:
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.
-
Vinny Lingham said:
Good to know that Google reads my blog (http://www.vinnylingham.com/facebook-platform-goojan-trojan-horse.html)
I wrote about this Trojan horse two months ago :-)
-
Rex Dixon said:
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 -
batteries said:
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).
-
webdesign said:
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
-
webdesign said:
Google Sneaky Google Sneaky Google Sneaky :) 2 words 1 and the same thing
-
Jonathan said:
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 said:
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.
-
Profitizer said:
I thought that it was illegal to show adsense ads on frames… i think that google broke one of their law ;)
-
W3studio | Webdesign | Flash | Lichtenvoorde said:
I think its still illegal.
-
Q5 Grafisch Webdesign said:
Google has responded with the usual “no comment.”
hmmm it’s hard to get google “talking” I guess. -
Tweend Webdesign said:
Nice artikel.
-
facial said:
let them make money , then make alot of great online appz and make me happy :) circle of life
-
GamesEarth said:
good article! ……
39 Trackbacks
1:31 pm
Google Adsense Network Taking Over Facebook Apps? said:
[...] this new network will let advertisers run their ads across all participating Facebook apps, reports Venturebeat. This means that there’s more control for advertisers looking to get into Facebook for [...]
3:44 pm
» Google Adsense Network Taking Over Facebook Apps? Tech Web Daily: Just another Tech News Blog said:
[...] this new network will let advertisers run their ads across all participating Facebook apps, reports Venturebeat. This means that there’s more control for advertisers looking to get into Facebook for [...]
4:51 pm
Tag Team Interactive said:
[...] has an interesting article reviewing Google’s Sneak Attack into advertising on Facebook. Obviously, this poses a threat to some of the smaller [...]
5:50 pm
I’m in ur Facebookz, AdSensing ur widgetz - - mathewingram.com/work said:
[...] Prairie Dog” is running a close third). Still, the news from VentureBeat that Google is working on a custom AdSense platform for Facebook strikes me as a great move by the Internet [...]
8:20 pm
Google Attempts to Conquer Facebook, Not! - The Unofficial Facebook Blog said:
[...] Eric Eldon posted an article about Google recruiting third party application developers for running adsense. I’m not quite [...]
9:21 pm
YieldBuild Blog » Blog Archive » AdSense and Facebook said:
[...] Beat reported a new network for AdSense ads on Facebook today. They claim the ads can be purchased to only target Facebook. AdSense has had site targeted [...]
9:34 pm
Facebook Hackathon - Round 2 at The Gong Show by Andrew Parker said:
[...] “No one is trying something very obvious: applying remnant ad networks to Facebook Aps” [note: this anecdotal comment is contrary to this recent meme about Google’s backdoor into Facebook monetization. [...]
10:09 pm
L'attacco di Google a Facebook passa per Adsense said:
[...] Eldon su VentureBeat sostiene che Google in questo modo sta sia sondando il terreno per capire quanto siano sostenibili [...]
4:05 am
Even Facebook Can’t Escape Google - SEO Ambassador said:
[...] looks like Google is finally breaking into the world of Facebook with Adsense. VentureBeat is reporting that developers with applications on Facebook are being used so Google can put [...]
5:12 am
AdSense of Facebook said:
[...] direct approach by creating a network targeted specifically at Facebook publishers. According to this post on VentureBeat (there is also an illustration of what this looks like), Google is making efforts in getting [...]
10:10 am
Online Advertising: Google tries to back-door Facebook »TechAddress said:
[...] TV ads. Billboards. But so far, it hasn’t found a way to put its ads on Facebook. VentureBeat reports that Google is working on a AdSense program designed for the social network’s corps of [...]
12:02 am
Weekly Digest of the Social Networking Space: Oct 17, 2007 said:
[...] one of the first features to be released. Reports are surfacing that Google may use subterfuge to deploy AdSense on existing widgets, eroding Facebook’s advertising monopoly in the [...]
11:51 am
October 17, 2007 at NextMedia Update said:
[...] Google Building AdSense for Facebook VENTUREBEAT 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- 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. Source> [...]
1:03 pm
Google Ads on Facebook: Via Developers said:
[...] Venture Beat reports that: Google is actively recruiting third-party developers with applications on Facebook to run Adsense ads within applications pages, VentureBeat has learned. [...]
2:09 pm
Google Spreadsheets: de nouvelles fonctionnalités said:
[...] Google travaillerait également sur une plateforme AdSense dédiée aux applications Facebook. Lien [...]
1:17 pm
HELM, WHM/cPanel, Windows, Linux and SEO Blog » Blog Archive » SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 16, 2007 said:
[...] Google’s sneak attack? Adsense for Facebook, VentureBeat [...]
8:45 pm
Google VS Facebook or Google AND Facebook..? « noshtradamus said:
[...] the post on venturebeat here. And watch this space for [...]
10:09 am
Google advertises on Facebook - so what? said:
[...] advertises on Facebook - so what? There’s a piece on VentureBeat about how Google is doing “an end-run” around Microsoft’s advertising deal with [...]
10:50 pm
links for 2007-10-20 | notes from across the pond said:
[...] Google’s sneak attack? Adsense for Facebook (tags: google facebook advertising microsoft apps) Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
6:30 am
Google insere Adsense no Facebook said:
[...] Fonte: Venturebeat [...]
9:02 pm
Microsoft do Facebooku investoval nakonec “jen” 240 milionů dolarů said:
[...] Google pravděpodobně o Facebook ztratil zájem (místo toho motivuje developery, aby umisťovali AdSense do svých Facebook aplikací), Zuckerbergova snaha o prodej [...]
1:01 pm
Adsense Keywords Gold » Revenus Adsense: quelle strat?gie ? - BVWG said:
[...] VentureBeat ? Google?s sneak attack? Adsense for FacebookIs Google-the-Goliath sneaking into the Facebook building — via the basement? Google is actively recruiting third-party developers with applications on … For details on the highest-paying adsense keywords, visit our main site, Adsense-Keywords-Gold.com and find out the Top 10 highest rates and the average rates, not just the highest, over-inflated priceShare and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
7:26 pm
Google Is Courting Facebook Developers In More Ways Than One said:
[...] there’s another, albeit speculative, scenario. According to VentureBeat, Google may try to sneak AdSense ads into Facebook itself. This is a stretch, but bear with us. Google would have to do so through a back door, by [...]
7:50 pm
The Funnel begins - Google taking on Facebook, bigger than you think | socialwrite.com said:
[...] Techcrunch and VentureBeat are now covering this. [...]
6:45 am
Basic Thinking Blog | Open Social Doku live, na und? said:
[...] developers with an invitation to its pay-per-action beta program (Quelle: Techcrunch, siehe auch VentureBeat). Und über die OpenSocial-Initiative kann man dieses Verfahren auch auf alle SNs anwenden, die [...]
3:49 pm
VentureBeat » Social networking roundup: Myspace ads, Facebook data, and more said:
[...] way to access user data across social networks. We’ve written about Google’s nascent efforts to advertise within applications on Facebook — Google may be tailoring its own advertising [...]
3:01 pm
Adsense Keywords Gold » Adwords and Adsense tools directory said:
[...] VentureBeat ? Google?s sneak attack? Adsense for FacebookIs Google-the-Goliath sneaking into the Facebook building — via the basement? Google is actively recruiting third-party developers with applications on … [...]
3:42 pm
VentureBeat » More about the Google ads that run inside Facebook said:
[...] broke the story about Google’s advertising efforts in Facebook a month ago, but the company has yet to [...]
1:38 pm
VentureBeat » Google confirms Adsense ads, security problems with Facebook applications said:
[...] Since last month, we’ve been following Google’s efforts to tailor its Adsense ads to run in third-party applications on Facebook. [...]
10:54 am
gabber » Blog Archive » 15 billion dollars worth of 0’s and 1’s said:
[...] See how Google’s recent acquisition adsense works. Reports are now appearing that allow adsense fed adverts to be embeded within Face book applications! If this is correct, it’s a very neat counter [...]
10:20 am
AdSense on Facebook? said:
[...] Eric points out on VentureBeat.com, Google is trying to be sneaky and get a piece of the action [...]
1:55 pm
Hot links at Charl Norman dot com - CSO Blueworld Communities said:
[...] Google’s sneak attack? Adsense for Facebook [...]
4:50 pm
links for 2007-12-01 said:
[...] VentureBeat » Google’s sneak attack? Adsense for Facebook “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.” (tags: facebook advertising google adsense) [...]
3:50 am
Google adsense : Learn, practice and share said:
[...] VentureBeat
12:36 pm
Google adsense : Learn, practice and share said:
[...] VentureBeat
10:48 am
Web 3.0: Facebook o la visión social de Google — www.pablosamano.com said:
[...] puede analizar cómo se comportan los usuarios desde las páginas de Facebook. Además, algunos aseguran que Google está reclutando a programadores para que creen aplicaciones para Facebook e inserten en [...]
5:52 am
New facebook - Young Entrepreneur Forums said:
[...] may be wrong but I think Google has started working with Facebook on some new features VentureBeat
6:25 am
77Lab » Blog Archive » Advertising war on Facebook said:
[...] VentureBeat points out that Google has found a backdoor into advertising space on Facebook. It is apparently [...]
1:02 am
On searching and finding « On Technology said:
[...] Venturebeat has observed that Google is trying to do an end run around the MS/facebook deal by serving ads up inside widgets. The reason so much money is pouring into widgets is that they command eyeballs and eyeballs are worth money. I suspect the reason facebok is encouraging developers is so they can see if any of them start to make cash then start to tax thier revenue for access to the facebook platform. [...]