Here is the note Google sent out to AdSense users. I’ll let you know more about it once it is up and running.

Hi,

We’re writing to let you know about the upcoming launch of interest-based advertising, which will require you to review and make any necessary changes to your site’s privacy policies. You’ll also see some new options on your Account Settings page.

Interest-based advertising will allow advertisers to show ads based on a user’s previous interactions with them, such as visits to advertiser website and also to reach users based on their interests (e.g. “sports enthusiast”).  To develop interest categories, we will recognize the types of web pages users visit throughout the Google content network.  As an example, if they visit a number of sports pages, we will add them to the “sports enthusiast” interest category.  To learn more about your associated account settings, please visit the AdSense Help Center at http://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/topic.py?topic=20310.

As a result of this announcement, your privacy policy will now need to reflect the use of interest-based advertising. Please review the information at https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=100557 to ensure that your site’s privacy policies are up-to-date, and make any necessary changes by April 8, 2009.  Because publisher sites and laws vary across countries, we’re unfortunately unable to suggest specific privacy policy language.

For more information about interest-based advertising, you can also visit the Inside AdSense Blog at http://adsense.blogspot.com/2009/03/driving-monetization-with-ads-that.html.

We appreciate your participation and look forward to this upcoming enhancement.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Email preferences: You have received this mandatory email service announcement to update you about important changes to your AdSense product or account.

Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

Early this week Google announced third-party display ad tags will now be possible for image ads running through AdSense/AdWords.  This should boost CPM rates for publishers as the “qualified” third-parties are likely to be more sophisticated advertisers with larger budgets; the extra volume will help put pressure on ad rates too.

Here’s the email they sent out…

 Subject: Third-party ads now available on the Google content network

Greetings from Google!

We’re happy to announce that the Google content network now accepts display ads served from qualified third-party vendors.
During this initial release, only ads in English are eligible, although we look forward to offering more options in the future.

By accepting third-party ads, we can attract a greater variety of advertising on the Google content network, which we believe will
result over time in increased revenue for publishers and more relevant advertising for end users.

If you’re currently opted in to image ads, you’re already able to  receive third-party ads. If not, you can enable image ads to start
receiving third-party ads immediately. (Learn how to enable image  ads at
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=9741.)

If you choose to allow third-party ads on your site, please update  your privacy policy to inform your visitors that third-party
vendors may serve ads on your site. Please also provide links to  these vendor websites and inform your users that they may opt out
of cookies (if the vendor offers this capability). For more  information about updating your policies, visit
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=94150.

You’ll continue to have full control over which ads appear on your site with tools like competitive ad filtering and the Ad Review
Center. Also, only advertisers with whom we have proven relationships and who’ve clearly demonstrated commitments to our
quality standards may participate in this program. Our policies governing ad content and formatting remain unchanged.

To learn more about third-party ads, please visit our blog post at
http://adsense.blogspot.com/2008/05/introducing-third-party-ads-on-google.html
and our FAQ at
https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/topic.py?topic=14535.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact us at adsense-support@google.com.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

We’re seeing some much anticipated movement by Google on the AdSense/FeedBurner front, per FeedBurner’s Burning Questions blog. You can run FeedBurner ads (FAN) first, and fill with AdSense ads. This only applies to blogs/websites, not feeds. More to come, I am sure…

A little follow up…

I haven’t tried the video units yet, but will let you know what i think when I do.

Google sent me an email today re: their video units, as they are calling them. I clicked on the link and came to the following overview/opt-in info:

Video units

Enhance your site with high quality, relevant video content from YouTube partners, and earn extra revenue along the way.

Relevant, Premium Content

Deliver high quality video content to your site. Choose categories, individual content providers, or have Google target your site’s content.

Targeted, Non-Intrusive Ads

Earn revenue from relevant, user-friendly ads targeted to your site and to the videos being played.

Enhanced User Experience

Attract and retain users with highly relevant, frequently refreshed video from popular content providers.

Customizable Players

Customize the color theme and layout of the player to best fit your site.

Ready? Get Started!

Visit the Video units section at YouTube.com by clicking the button below and start creating your player today.

Got more questions? FAQ section.

[] I understand and agree that as part of the Video units program, I will be receiving non-advertising video content in addition to advertising content, and that all content received and payments made to me through the Video units program are subject to the AdSense

AdSense publishers can now opt to place YouTube video on their site and have targeted videos appear, with ads overlaying or next to the video.

• For online publishers looking for more video content on their site, this would help fill that void while bringing in extra $$.
• Video content producers gain audience and a revenue stream.
• AdWords (I assume) advertisers now have another avenue to reach people (text, image, referrals, audio, mobile, video).

Sounds promising.

…Web sites participating in AdSense now can sign up to specify the kinds of YouTube videos they want shown on their pages. A Web site focused on automobiles, for instance, might want to display YouTube videos about cars and other vehicles.

More than 100 video providers — mostly professionals — have agreed to allow Google to distribute their content. Initial participants include TV Guide Broadband, Expert Village, Mondo Media and Extreme Elements.

Google will share the ad revenue generated by the YouTube videos with the content provider and the Web site that shows the clips.

source

I’ll try it out and follow up…