Google Launches AdSense Custom Search Ads

This type of targeting will be especially relevant for travel search engines, job search sites or product search sites.

Publishers can display ads targeted to the same search query used to return search results.

Google's Ben Lisbakken and Michael Brandell explain the added features of this new format:

In addition to great targeting, Custom Search Ads are designed to fit your existing search results' look and feel. Instead of pre-defined sizes, you can specify the precise width of each ad unit along with the number of individual ads to display, the ad layout, font size, font face, and much more.

Google has already begun testing this new AdSense format on a few sites including, LemonFree.com and eCrater.com. If you are interested in seeing how these new ads look, then check out these sites. Google expects to expand the program to more sites in the near future.

Having tested some new search ad extensions like locations, images, page links and merchant information on their result pages recently, Google has also launched two new features for the Custom Search ads. These include:

• Ad Sitelinks " which aims to increase the significance of ads by displaying up to 4 additional links to specific, relevant content within the publishers site
• Seller Ratings " ads will receive a star rating based on the reviews of the business across various sites on the web. Advertisers can benefit from Seller Ratings if their ads are being recommended by regular online buyers

Both of these new features do not require the AdSense publisher to upload any search code to their ads.

To start using Customer Search Ads for your business, you will have to sign up here and quickly! Google says it is supporting only a limited number of advertisers, but promises to extend the program to other interested applicants in the future.