Contextual advertising is a type of online advertising commonly used for content-based websites. With contextual advertising, targeted ads appear based on the actual content of the page.
First, a contextual advertising system scans the text of a web page for key phrases. The system then returns specific, targeted ads based on the content people are viewing.
If a person is looking at an art supplies page, the ads on those pages would be from art suppliers, paint vendors, online art museums, etc.
Contextual ads appear as:
- Separate ads that are placed in specific areas of the page
- Contextual ads online or in text
Sponsored Link Ads
Generally, these ads are text ads with links to the related websites. The website owner can choose the location on his website where he would like to place contextual ads. Your ad will come in a box labeled sponsored links. You must use the services of pay-per-click search engines for contextual advertising. This format is popularized by Google AdWords and Adsense.
online ads
Online advertisements appear in the form of links to text phrases in the content of the website. When the mouse hovers over that phrase, a short description will appear in a box that looks like a tooltip. If the reader wants to know more, they can simply click on the link.
Advantages of contextual advertising
- You can reach only those people who are already looking for that information or related information
- You only pay if someone clicks on your link
- These links don’t bother people.
- If the information you provide is good, the user is delighted
Disadvantages of contextual advertising
- It distracts people from the content they want to read.
- If your ad placement is in between your content, people might get upset.
- Such ads have become so common that web users have started ignoring them.
- Your competitors’ ads may be placed alongside your ads
- Serious users who are looking for information usually do not click on the ads.