The Microsoft adCenter Code Blog

In what has to be see as a direct response to Google’s exclusive deal with MySpace Forbes has reported that Microsoft has announced a similar deal with Facebook.  Under the deal announced late Tuesday, Microsoft will sell and provide banner ads and sponsored links for Facebook using the Microsoft adCenter online advertising platform and other in-house technology and services.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is expected to run through mid-2009.

The deal is a big win for Microsoft’s MSN adCenter and should give them not only another source of quality traffic but highly targeted traffic amoung the High School and College demographic.  Microsoft has already shown it is willing to take the lead in demographic targeting one can only hope they will do the same here.  Unlike MySpace you must have an account and be logged in to view Facebook pages.  This means there is demographic data available for 100% of ad viewers.

Critics point out that Facebook has only 9 million users where as MySpace has over 100 million yet there is tremendous value in a 9 million user highly targeted captive audience.  Also ask any web marketer what he would rather have 10,000 highly targeted visitors or 100,000 totaly random ones and you will find that most will value the targeting over the raw number.

This can be a massive success for Microsoft, time will tell if they choose to make the most of it.

~ Jack

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