There has been a steady increase of distribution of Google’s Shopping ads, including to YouTube, Image search results and third-party retail sites in the Search Partners network. This extension to the Google Display Network is now here – Google has launched a pilot called Retail Shopping on Display.
AdWords API users and advertisers go an email sent to them in April, and according to Google, during the initial phase, Shopping ads of those accepted into the pilot could appear on fashion and home sites on the Google Display Network. The following is from the email:
Starting next week, some of your customers will be able to target the Google Display Network (GDN) with their Shopping campaigns as part of a pilot Google is running. This will allow them to expand the reach of their Shopping Campaigns beyond the Google Search Network. It will allow their shopping ads to be eligible to appear on a handful of select, premium fashion and home decor sites for this pilot.
On May 29th, Googl will automatically enable all Shopping campaigns on the GDN by defaul for those accounts in the pilot. But Advertisers will be able to opt out if they choose to.
For some though, the pilot could take time o get going. In the email, Google said that campaigns opted into the test may start to see traffic from GDN placements in late June.
By the looks of it, more advertisers are being added to the pilot, Joel Wollner of UpClicks Media wrote Tuesday that he had noticed that one of his clients is included in the test. A screen shot was posted by Joel of the new Display Network opt-in enabled in the account.
At this point, who knows what the ads are gong to look like on the GDN.