Google has started testing sponsored test results via a pilot program on Play Store. The initiative will allow developers to advertise their apps directly within the Google Play store.
“Search ads on Google Play will enable developers to drive more awareness of their apps and provide consumers new ways to discover apps that they otherwise might have missed.”
posted by Michael Siliski, Product Management Director, Google Play, on a company blog.
The sponsored program will work very similarly to how ads work on a traditional Google search, but instead of highlighting websites, developers can highlight their apps. Paid search results will be flagged on Google Play with a small “Ad” marker. A user who searches for, say, travel apps, would see paid results before all other relevant apps are displayed.
Google will start testing the program in the next several weeks and limited set of users will start seeing ads from a select group of advertisers The company will test out the ads for a few month and look at the results and feedback before deciding on an expansion plan. Google already earns a handsome amount of advertising revenue and the sponsored ads on Play Store will only multiply it further.