Google is straying from its old ways and moving more toward traditional advertising methods, says the Wall Street Journal. We’re not seeing Google commercials on TV yet, but could that be on the horizon?
Apparently, Google employees had plans of slipping a Google ad in during the Olympics, but Sergey and Larry weren’t having it, because such an ad wouldn’t “fit the company’s image.” WSJ reports:
But there are signs that the internal debate is causing Google to shake-off of its reluctance to advertise. The search giant has recently held discussions with several Madison Avenue agencies, including Wieden + Kennedy and the boutique firm Taxi New York, about new efforts to promote some products, according to people familiar with the matter.
In August, Google launched an advertising effort in Japan that included outdoor and online ads created by Wieden + Kennedy, which is best known for its Nike “Just do it” campaign.
Whether Google ads make it to television or not, there does seem to be a more traditional marketing mindset coming into the picture. Google is placing ads for third parties into NBC Universal programming, so it doesn’t seem too far-fetched that a Google ad could slip in every now and then, but that is up to Sergey and Larry I guess. Perhaps with the right ad, they could be convinced to let a commercial or two roll.
Meanwhile, Google’s setting the advertising world on fire with its services for third parties with not only the aforementioned NBC Universal deal, but with the G1 phone from T-mobile, the proposed Yahoo-Google deal (set to launch this month), feed ads, and even talk with ad agencies.
