Google TV ads service

No. Google has not set up its own TV station. Though I wouldn’t rule it out (ummm…wonder what odds I could get at Paddy Power….). No, this is another in the huge and ever escalating list of new services introduced by Google that help you (or in this case Americans) get their ads onto the TV.

My first thought was – why on earth should I want Google’s help with that? Surely I’d do the sensible thing and employ an agency to create and place my ad. Ah, yes. But this is America. Well, it isn’t but you know what I mean! In America you get more TV commercials per square inch than you do actual TV programmes. Anyone who has ever visited America and inadvertently turned on the telly will know that after about 20 minutes you begin to reassess your relationship with the BBC and start to consider hermit status as a valid and reasonable lifestyle choice. 

But – back to the job in hand. Google TV ad service. Basically, you have an ad made by an agency and then via the Google service, which looks and operates very much like AdWords, you choose a time slot on a national TV network, pick a programme, choose your budget and off you go. As with all Google services, it does satisfy a real need. It’s simple to use, cost effective and will put a few ad agency noses out of joint. But most importantly it gives you total control and you can instantly target your audience or demographic – say, men over 65 – by using Google’s target audience suggestions tool. So you can be sure you’re getting to the people you really need to watch your ad.

Watch out for its arrival in the UK. We predict interesting times ahead!!