The Biz

Have you seen the Google Audio Ads PowerPoint presentation? Get an insiders look at how Google Audio Ads will work for advertisers. Here's Google's pitch.

Earlier today, we wrote about Google Audio Ads. Here's a follow up post to show you how it works!

The following PowerPoint slides explain how Google Audio Ads work, and what you can expect from Google in the very near future.

.: How Google Brings Advertisers and Radio Stations Together

From the slide, you can see that Google has positioned the Audio Ads system to serve both top-level advertisers, as well as the advertising agencies themselves. The graphic also shows 75% of the transactions coming from the agencies, and only 25% from independent advertisers. This is likely because advertising agencies already have media planning and media buying personnel, not to mention existing relationships with local and regional radio stations.

It also appears that only the advertising agencies will have the opportunity to target specific radio stations and broadcasting networks.

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.: How Google Delivers Ads to Radio

1. Station inventory management system and studio log.

2. Google links electronically with stations to search for inventory that fits advertiser criteria.

3. Inventory is paired with Advertiser requests, to be called "Google Avails".

4. Google delivers automated order to radio station and reserves the ad inventory.

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.: Google Audio's Current Footprint

* 800+ stations
* 4200 stations targeted
* 87% US coverage
* Coverage in 19 of the top 25 markets

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.: Will Google Audio Ads Succeed?

So far, I'm a fan of Google Audio Ads. The concept is simple is should prove to be a winner in the marketplace.

However, I see a few potential stumbling blocks that may need to be overcome to for Google Audio Ads to gain mass advertiser acceptance.

Questions for Google Audio Ads Team

* Does Google buy blocks of advertising so that advertisers can choose from a variety of stations and tim slots or is the ad inventory just unwanted (unfilled) air time?
* If two advertisers want to buy the same spot ( inventory ) does that trigger a bidding war?
* What format are the ads in? MP3, WAV or AIFF?
* Since audio files are significantly larger than text files, is Google going to host the audio files too? Is there a limit on file size, or amount of storage per account?
* Where are the voices coming from and is Google going to maintain editorial control?

.: What's Next?

Subscribe to this blog via email for more info on Google Audio Ads.

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Note: PowerPoint slides courtesy of Donna Bogatin at Digital Micro-Markets

Technorati tags: google | google audio ads | audio ads | audio adsense

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There's something about radio, and Google's going to profit from it.

Reuters recently reported that web search leader Google Inc. is hiring scores of radio sales people and is spending heavily in a bid to expand its position in the $20 billion radio industry.

Google spokesperson Michael Mayzel was quoted as saying that the company will begin a public test of Google Audio Ads by the end of this year...

How will this work?

Advertisers will be able to go online and sign up for targeted radio ads using the same AdWords system they use to buy sponsored web listings.

This is no surprise to us here at Voices.com. We watch Google's movements and document them too :)

Remember when Google acquired dMarc Broadcasting Inc. in January?

dMarc connects advertisers to radio stations through an automated advertising system. Essentially, we could see this as Google's infrastructure for their new ad selling platform.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has revealed that the investment in radio advertising could grow the company personnel to include the hiring of up to 1,000 new Google employees. These employees would serve as salespeople, engineers, and operation staff.

Reuters disclosed that Google, one of the fastest growing Silicon Valley Internet companies, employed an impressive 9,378 employees in September.

While Google's aspirations to rule the world of audio ads climb, broadcast giant Clear Channel, the biggest radio station operator in the US, is rumored to be in the market to sell stakes in their company if not the company as a whole.

Remember, these are just rumors, but the fact remains that if Google wants something badly enough, the company will remove any obstacles in its way to get it.

As we've seen with their recent purchase of YouTube, money is not an object.

Why are we reporting so closely on this subject?

Simple.

Voices.com stands to be the supplier of voice-overs and audio production for the Google Audio Ads.

As the largest voice marketplace online, it makes perfect sense that when people buy audio ads through Google on the Internet that they would find their voices and have production completed over the Internet as well.

What do you think of the imminent Google Audio Ads? Would you purchase audio ads online through Google?

Leave a comment with your thoughts.

Best,

David

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Technorati tags: google | google audio ads | audio ads | audio adsense

Recently I've come across a few new start-ups that have acquired simple domain names in an effort to explain to their users what they do, while being memorable at the same time. Hearing these stories validates our investment in Voices.com as one of the best business decisions we've made to date.

While many new Internet-based companies, now known as "Web 2.0" websites, use made-up, funny and some times ridiculous names, I've noticed a trend of companies opting for the traditional single word domain names.

Choosing a dictionary word for a domain name is harder than it sounds. That's great if you can imagine the perfect word that represents your new idea or start-up, however actually obtaining that name is another task altogether.

On a recent podcast, I heard one of the founders of Like.com sharing his story. Like.com is a visual search engine. For nearly 10 years, we've been searching for pictures using words. Like's big idea is to search pictures with pictures by using a "likeness" technology. Personally, I believe it's a great idea and I'm confident it will be a hit with the marketplace, given enough time for people to discover them.

From my understanding, their team sent emails, placed calls, left voicemail messages all without any luck. They went as far as visiting the home of the then owner of Like.com and decided to leave an expensive bottle of wine as a gesture of good faith. As the story goes, they got a call the next day.

Similar to Like.com, the team at Voices.com made a conscious decision that Voices.com was the best name for a variety of reasons we have discussed before.

It shows that given the right people, ambition and the willingness of the seller, any name is ripe for the picking. Choose carefully, then proceed with caution and I'm sure you'll have great success with your next Internet venture.

Do you have a story about a "dictionary word" domain that was recently acquired?

If so, leave a comment below.

Best,

David

The principles of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Information Architecture (AI) guide industrial designers, software designers as well as web developers. But just what does it all mean, and how can you apply proven practices into your web application design?

It all boils down to the "user experience", that is, the type of experience your web application delivers to those people who use it.

The questions you'll want to ask yourself before designing your web application, and during all stages of the development are:

* Is this useful?
* Is this use-able?
* Is this fun?

With those key questions in mind, our decision on whether or not to include a feature is much easier.

If you've already launched your web application, there's always room for improvement, so let's explore a few concepts that will enhance the user experience and make your customers wanting to return again and again.

As we discuss earlier, your web application should solve a real problem. That problem presents the opportunity for an entrepreneur to offer a solution.

The difference between winning solutions comes down to execution. Execution is how the solution is delivered.

In order to execute well, you'll need to limit your feature list and focus on the core problem that you are solving. These basic features work together to create the core of your web application.

The key to a great user experience is a seamless workflow from one activity to the next.

This notion of a seamless workflow involves the outward aesthetics like the graphical user interface and the functional aesthetics that is how a person clicks from one activity to the next.

By removing any bumps in your design and anticipating what a user would want to see or do next will greatly improve the overall experience.

Great design works well in its context, works well in its culture and does good to the world by promoting human dignity and justice.

Which designs do you consider a great experience?

Leave your comments below.

David

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to pitch our business to a panel of high profile Venture Capitalists. I refined my 60 second pitch, and prepared myself to handle foreseeable objects. We didn't land the initial investment, however I'm glad at least one Web 2.0 company did. Here's their story...

The CBC's Dragon's Den is a reality-TV show here in Canada.

It originally started in the UK, and as with most successful British programming, we adopt many of their shows across the Atlantic.

Nonetheless, I'm intrigued by this show, not only because just a few months ago, I was standing in front of the same panel of Venture Capitalists, but, because as a CEO, it gives me some insight into what makes a V.C. tick.

One company, JobLoft, is a job website similar to Voices.com. The difference is that they are a career-oriented website with a focus on the retail and food services industries. The investors, I mean "Dragon's" invested $200,000 for 50% of their company, primarily because of two technologies.

The first of these technologies was the inclusion of Google Maps. JobLoft integrates Google Maps into the search results to show the distance between their residence and the place of employment for the job seeker.

The second technology was job alerts via text message.

Both of these technologies are easily replicated, and, in my opinion don't represent a true "unfair advantage". They will need to continue to work hard to capture more of the market while simultaneously developing new technologies that are of a proprietary nature.

To JobLoft's credit, the website interface and user-experience is top-notch. Additionally, they now have a team of savvy investors working closely to ensure the best possible outcome.

For those reasons, I wish JobLoft the best moving forward.

Good luck!

Tags: dragons den, jobloft, venture capitalist, web 2.0