eBay goes contextual

eBay is about to start testing contextual advertising reports indicate. In a similar move to the other big boys like Google and Yahoo! (and more recently Amazon) eBay are going to offer website publishers the facility to host contextual ads that will link to live auctions on eBay. For example, if a publisher has a website relating to Nokia mobiles then the eBay contextual ads would link through to live auctions for Nokia phones.

Suggested revenue share is between 40%-70% of the commission of the sale (I’m not sure that you’ll only get paid if your referred bidder ended up winning the auction/buy-it-now or you get paid just for referring the visitor – anyone know?).

Depending upon your selected niche this could be reasonably profitable. Obviously, higher value auctions items generate more commission, motors immediately spring to mind.

Personally, I’d love to see google have a go at online auctions (as might happen some day with google base now that they’re testing payments) and attempt to give eBay a run for it’s money. I envisage a smart, ajax styled, easy-to-use, setup…rather than the somewhat clanky eBay.