It's time to put on those 3-D glasses, Google
Now Big G has unleashed the broad rollout of Google Gadget Ads, which is angling to make Google a champ in interactive spots. Rich-media ads that you can play with aren't new. Companies like ValueClick
The real draw with Gadget is that the ads allow you to do more than just trigger sound effects. You can stream an assortment of videos, open up miniature web pages, or submit mailing list signups, all without having to leave the ad itself.
Google's multimedia example is a recent Honda
Advertisers can gauge how consumers are responding to the ads throughout the marketing campaign, and the spots can be changed on the fly. Google introduced the concept back in February during an automaker conference, but clearly, this is the kind of entertainment-driven marketing application that must have movie studios, concert promoters, and video game publishers doing celebratory dances that would make Chad Johnson blush.
Since the beta-testing has been going on for months, it shouldn't take ad rivals like Yahoo!
Gadget Ads raise the stakes, going to places that print, radio, and television spots only dream of. The ads also run independently of Google's other marketing forays, so it's not as if the search giant's losing any skin in the local-search game by going after the rich, nationally-based media sponsors.
Making ads fun, stimulating, and rewarding? What a concept!