eBay say "complementary" offsite ads are success

eBay have announced that the off site adverts on Australian listings have been a success and are expanding to the Sport, Electronics, Computers, Toys, Motors and Home categories over the next few weeks.

eBay have had a rough ride in Australia with the Foxtel ads being pulled by Foxtel themselves in response to complaints from eBay users.

For eBay to continue with the adverts they must be successful which means that 1) eBay are making money and 2) Advertisers are making money. If users don’t click the adverts and sign up to the offers then there would be no value to advertising partners so we can take it as a given that they’re working.

The good news for sellers is that the adverts open in a new browser window so potential buyers may be diverted but they will still have your listing open in their browser to return to.

eBay say adverts will be “complementary” for example home and contents insurance offers in the home category. The big question is how long it be before the boundaries are marred and “complementary” becomes “competing”?

If adverts are expanded in Australia (and eBay’s advertising revenues are already up 127% on this time last year) it’s almost a certainty we’ll see adverts in more categories in the UK in the near future. It’s simply too much money for eBay to turn away.