Google Aims to Take Over Display Ad Market

The latest plan at Google- to have a "very significant" position in the online display ad market by 2008 - 2009.

Speaking at the annual Bear Stearns Media Conference, Google's President for Advertising and Commerce in North America, Tim Armstrong said he would be "very disappointed" if Google doesn't have a significant presence in this area in the not - to - distant future, according to Dow Jones.

Display advertising currently represents about 32 percent of total US online advertising.

So how does Google expect to achieve this? Armstrong has said that YouTube is considered the "brightest light" for display ad potential within Google. The hope is that Google's automated ad system will eventually evolve to the point where, it will not distinguish between search and display advertising. Meaning you'll simply get the best advertising for your site.

Google may have a bit of competition to contend with in this market. Display advertising is dominated by ad networks and Yahoo! has made strides in this area with the acquisition of ad networks Blue Lithium and Right Media as well as growing its newspaper publisher partner group.

It will be interesting to see if Google can make any imprint into this very competitive arena.

Posted by Courtney Mills at 7:53 AM GMT