As expected, Apple has begun showing developer ads in the iOS App Store today for U.S. users, reports The Verge. Now, searching for popular terms like "taxi", "calendar", or "to do list" returns a banner ad for promoted apps above the search results.
Apple announced plans for the ads back in June and developers have participated in a beta testing program since that time. The App Store Search Ads system finally went live on September 28, inviting developers to purchase ad spots through the program. Those ads are now viewable by the public as of this morning.
With Search Ads, developers are able to bid to have their app listed as the top result when certain keywords are used, in order to improve app discoverability. Ads are available through an auction system, with one ad displayed to customers per search result page.
Ads are clearly marked as such and the content they show is the same as that on the App Store app description pages, since they use App Store metadata and imagery.
According to Apple's Phil Schiller, Apple "thought about how to carefully" do search ads in a way that "customers will be happy with." Apple also believes the ad auction system is fair to developers, including indie developers.
As of last week, developers who signed up to offer Search Ads have been given a free $100 credit to get started with the program.
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Top Rated Comments
(View all)I pay the Apple tax so that I DON'T have to see ads everywhere.
There is no right way to do advertising , it's something born of greed and something no user wants.
Greed greed greed :(
Please innovate products and not ways to push products .
Greed greed greed. Instead of making search algorithms better, why bother? Just put ads in, that will do the trick. And improve apple wallet. Nice one Tim, nice one...
Also, not meaning to be one of those guys, but do you honestly think Steve Jobs would allow adverts in the app store?
It makes it look cheap.
This feels wrong.
The problem here is that now they are now double dipping with developers. Pay apple to get your app on the store ($99/year), give apple 30% of your revenue, and pay apple to bump your listing up and to make sure your competitors don't steal your top search result position.I pay the Apple tax so that I DON'T have to see ads everywhere.