In the latest in Google cuts, the search leader will shutter its Print Ads service on February 28. More than 800 US newspapers, including The New York Times and Chicago Sun-Times, use the service, which launched in November 2006.
With the service, advertisers could create ads, bid on unsold space placement and choose which publications to run the ad in. Papers will continue to place ads for advertisers who have already booked campaigns through March 31.
Google announced the news Monday in a blog post by Spencer Spinnell, director of Google Print Ads.
“While we hoped that Print Ads would create a new revenue stream for newspapers and produce more relevant advertising for consumers, the product has not created the impact that we — or our partners — wanted,” he wrote.
“We will continue to devote a team of people to look at how we can help newspaper companies,” he wrote. “It is clear that the current Print Ads product is not the right solution, so we are freeing up those resources to try to come up with new and innovative online solutions that will have a meaningful impact for users, advertisers and publishers.”
