One of Google’s proudest recent introductions is the launch of Google Gadget Ads, Listed as customized “mini-sites” that run as ads. Google intends them to be interactive, and engaging, keeping them on the site and providing good advertiser returns. This view runs counter to most thinking among successful Adsense publishers, who advise that you should allow only Adsense text ads to appear on your web pages, for a higher clickthrough rate.

According to Google the new ads have several advantages:

• Dynamic and Creative Advertising
  Truly useful applications incorporating data feeds, maps, images, audio, video, Flash, HTML or JavaScript in a single creative.
• Largest Global Advertising Network
  Reach over 75% of unique Internet users in more than 20 languages and over 100 countries with no serving or hosting costs.
• Community of Engaged Users Around Your Brand
  Users can post and share your gadget ads anywhere.
• Full Interaction Reporting
  Receive site-by-site interaction reports tracking dozens of actions

Advertisers on the Google Gadet ad format will be drawn from the big players, as this format requires require a high level of technical resources to create the ads, and generally also require a high level of support from the AdWords support team. At present Google is offering the format to a limited number of AdWords advertisers who have created content-rich ads in the past. You can have a look at example of Gadget ads here and see what you think: