Serve Your Own Ad with Google Ad Manger

Back in March, Google announced a beta launch for an online ad manager that allowed publishers to manage their own ad serving. Beta testers could use the software to not only serve Google AdSense ads, but any other ads they want. The test prove positive and Google has now opened Ad Manager to anyone who wants to use it.

What is Google Ad Manager?

Google Ad Manager is a hosted ad management solution that can help you sell, schedule, deliver, and measure all of your directly-sold and network-based inventory. The best way to understand what it does is to take a tour. Some of the main features of Ad Manager includes:

  • Inventory management
  • Yield optimization
  • Ad targeting
  • Trafficking, ad delivery, and order booking
  • Creatives and rich media management
  • Reporting
  • User interface navigation
  • Account administration

The best thing about the Google Ad Manger is the cost – it’s absolutely free. If you have a Google Account, you can use Google Ad Manager. This is sure to put a huge dent into companies that sell ad serving software.

Google Ad Manager Vs. OIO Publisher

As nice as Google Ad Manager is, I don’t see it taking over the current best blog ad serving solution, OIO Publisher Direct. The one key advantage OIO publisher has over Ad Manger is sales and order fulfillment. Google doesn’t do it. Most bloggers can barely find enough time to run their blogs, much less do ad sales. Until OIO Publisher came along, I’ve always recommended new bloggers use ad networks instead of selling private advertising.

Google Ad Manger serves the ads after you’ve sold it and collected the money. OIO Publisher is a more complete solution. OIO Publisher takes the advertiser from the sales page to the payment page to the thank you page. The only thing you have to do is approve the ad. The main disadvantage of OIO Publisher is it cost money. However, at only $37, it’s not going to break you.

If you have tried out Google Ad Manager, I would like to hear your experience with it. Please let me know in the comments.