In the coming days, Google will be adding click-to-play video. These video ads will compete for placement on sites in the Google content network with other text, Flash and image ads. As with other Google AdWords products, advertisers can choose to bid on a Cost-Per-Click or Cost-Per-Impression basis.
These ads will be supported by both site and keyword-targeted campaigns. You can choose to serve your video ad on a specific site or on pages in Google’s content network that relate to your product or service. You will also have the ability to geo-target your video ads internationally, nationally, or locally.
Unlike some intrusive advertising, users will have complete control. When a page loads, only a static image will be visible; the video will not start playing until the user initiates it. He or she will be able to advance the video, pause it, adjust the volume or click through to the advertiser’s site, as you can see in the example below:
That’s great, you may say, but video is only for big branding oriented advertisers. We beg to differ. This feature makes video ads much more accessible to all advertisers. Now, an owner of a small bed & breakfast in Lake Tahoe can put a video tour of his beautiful chalet right next to an article that talks about skiing the epic slopes of Squaw Valley.