Google Makes Move Into TV

Google really is ready to take over the world. They are now making a move into tracking television advertising. Apparently it has been getting rave reviews from media buyers during their beta testing with the DISH network.

Dubbed Google TV, this is a partnership between Google and Nielsen, that is shaking up Madison Avenue. Google's strategy involves having a better way to measure audiences for ads on television, and then finding better ways to direct particular ads to particular viewers.

This future means you will (someday) see ads that are more relevant for you. By knowing what demographic your family falls into, advertisers will be able to target ads to you, which you will be more willing to view (and NOT skip with TIVO-like devices), AND it will make the ad inventory more valuable, not to mention a better return on investment for the advertiser.

For example, if you are male, married and over 50, with kids that have left the house, ads that pertain to vacations, financial planning, erectile dysfunction ;-), and retirement are probably more relevant than ads about cereal, pampers or bras.

The type of TV show used to be the indicator for ads before, but shows like Survivor or Dancing with the Stars, appeal to a wide range of audiences. Anyway, I'm sure you get the 'picture'.

What's even more interesting is how 'Googl-sen' will shake up the TV advertising world. Madison Ave in NY meets west coast Googleplex geeks. Suits vs Sandals.

What an idea for a reality show!

30% Increase in Online Ad Spend Expected from Local Search and Online Video

According to a forecast from ZenithOptimedia, marketers should expect to see a 30% increase in online ad spend in local search and video. This will help online advertising go over $33 billion next year. And by 2009 online ad spending will account for almost 10% of total ad spend worldwide.

While this is going on, they predict that newspaper ad spend will decline by 29%, with magazines and radio declining as well. Only TV and outdoor advertising will have small increases in the traditional marketing side.

This doesn't go near as far as what Steve Ballmer at Microsoft was quoted recently as saying. He stated that sometime in the next decade, all advertising will be digital. He's predicting that as much as 25% of Microsoft's revenue will come from advertising, and likely with ad-supported Microsoft products.

30% per year is a big number. That means, the spending will double every 2.1 years, which means maybe Microsoft isn't so crazy after all. We use online ads, in addition to helping people use it, and we can honestly say it is by far the lowest cost, most effective medium that our clients use. If you haven't tried it, you'd better, or you might be using a horse and buggy when everyone else is using a new fangled horseless carriage known as the automobile.