Getting searchers attention via search engines and portals sites is not always a matter of organic search or paid banner placement. While we will always chase the #1 spot on Google with great vigor and branding via banner is important, contextual advertising does have its benefits. Contextual advertising is not just text based advertising, it can be a powerful tool in getting your message in front of a targeted group, sometimes without them even knowing it.

As consumers become increasingly blind to traditional web advertising, contextual advertising has become one of the most effective ways to generate quality traffic. Contextual advertising is not as in your face visually as banners; instead it presents itself in search results, shopping carts, product pages, etc. These are typically places that users are not going to appreciate a banner, but are reading, looking and most especially – searching for a “you.”

Contextual advertising programs are not just great because they offer affiliates an inexpensive and targeted advertising venue, but also a way to monetize their own traffic. Affiliates can place text ads on their own websites via programs like AdSense to earn extra revenue.

There are a few great contextual providers; here is main list and an overview of what they offer (it also includes a new big provider in beta that may be very good news for some affiliates):

Google – Undoubtedly the #1 search engine in the world, Google offers an aggressive contextual advertising placement in Google Adwords. Adwords allows you to place text based ads in specific Google searches, bid for placement and also be included in Adsense – Google’s distributed contextual ad network. With Adsense your text ad shows up on any number of related websites.

Yahoo! – Formally Overture, Yahoo Search Marketing Solutions offers contextual advertising and keyword bidding. Yahoo has a wonderful set of tools in which to gauge campaign effectiveness. The reach is not as great as Google, but highly effective. Your text ad will show up in Yahoo searches, as well as searches on Yahoo partner websites. Yahoo has a publisher network in beta now which works similar to Google’s Adsense program.

Miva – Formally FindWhat, Miva’s market share is not great, but highly trafficked keywords are still generally affordable. Affiliates can earn money with Miva’s AdRevenue Xpress program via the placement of targeted content, ads and 404 page monetization.

Kanoodle – Built on the platform of proving search solutions to major portals, Kanoodle’s partner websites include some of the web’s largest news and niche consumer websites. Kanoodle features impressive targeting options that are easy to use and their advertiser solution includes more than just contextual advertising but pop-under banners and cookies. Not for everyone, but certainly a consideration.

Now the exciting news…

Amazon – A new addition to the contextual advertising space, Amazon has very recently launched in beta a new ad program. For some time advertisers have been able to place text ads and Amazon has effectively used its affiliate program to distribute product information to millions of websites. The new contextual ad program will work similar to Adsense in that the ads distributed to affiliate websites will be placed by advertisers. This is great news for retail affiliates who would like to attract Amazon buyers to similar or complementary products or wish to earn additional income from traffic.

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