Less than a year after Google introduced the DoubleClick Ad Planner Marketplace Google is shutting it down.
Google told us back then this was their "solution to help connect buyers and sellers of online advertising." Now Google is telling publishers via email that they "have found that the current beta does not fit existing market needs of our partners and we will be discontinuing any further Marketplace development."
Google said:
Over the next few weeks, your DFP Small Business inventory will no longer be viewable in DoubleClick Ad Planner, and the ability to promote your DFP Small Business inventory in Ad Planner will also be removed. To connect with new advertisers, we recommend that you enable your ad units for AdSense and then make your placements available to AdWords buyers to directly target your inventory.
Publishers are a bit upset, wanting to give this program a try to help boost their earnings and income.
A WebmasterWorld thread has one publisher saying, "too bad, I had high hopes for the marketplace becoming another way of generating more direct advertising customers."
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.