New York — YouTube has just begun moving its muscle as real moneymaker. Google owned, world’s most popular video sharing site, today announced that it will now basically offer AdSense-styled sponsored videos, allowing marketers to post promoted videos in the related videos categories beside the main video player, described as AdSense for videos.
Last year, YouTube introduced “Promoted Videos,” and today they have extended putting those on watch pages in the “related videos” section. The move is part of its ongoing pursuit to deliver ads on more video pages, and it seems to be working.
YouTube had earlier permitted marketers to sponsor videos in the website’s search results, a system similar to Google’s massive AdSense program for monetizing web pages with cost-per-click text ads sold on a keyword auction basis, but instead monetizes video pages with video thumbnails linking to cost-per-click advertiser videos.
The website said because of high demand, promoted videos will now be placed next to partner videos, which are contextually targeted based on the video and content of the page and suited to the audience’s interests — much like Google’s AdSense.
“If you think of the initial launch of Promoted Videos as similar to AdWords — a search advertising opportunity for marketers on YouTube — this new feature is a lot like AdSense,” says a post from a couple of YouTube product managers.
Jay Akkad, product manager for YouTube, said: “Since introducing promoted videos late last year, we have been persistently working to build an advertising platform that allows anyone to easily and efficiently find a larger audience for their videos on YouTube.”
“For example, while Promoted Videos appearing next to search results are keyword targeted, those appearing on watch pages are contextually targeted based on the video and content of the page, so they are suited to your audience’s interests.”
Also, as is Google’s policy with AdSense, YouTube will share revenue from the ads with the video page’s content owner. The company said it is another way it can help partners make money on YouTube, in addition to the display ads it serves in and alongside the videos themselves.
“We have made good progress, with thousands of advertisers currently running promoted video campaigns every day, and today we are announcing a highly requested change to the product that we think will benefit our entire community.”
YouTube has recently began taking a special interest in news content. Of late, they invited publishers to become YouTube partners and rolled out the YouTube Reporters’ Center for citizen reporters. And, earlier this week, they have started including a “News Near You” section for local news. The emphasis is, they are expanding on the types of content they offer, and this will be good for a AdSense-like program.