Adobe to launch ads in PDF files

A new ad platform is currently in Beta testing by Adobe and Yahoo which could change the way PDF publishers earn revenue. The platform would allow advertisements to be shown in Adobe's PDF file format. The opt-in service would host contextually targeted ads within the documents.

by Kristina Knight

Adobe has asked Yahoo to power the ads.

"We are creating opportunities for publishers to build new businesses around unique content that previously was just given away or not available to a mass online audience,” said Rob Tarkoff, senior vice president, Corporate Development at Adobe. “As advertisers look to touch new audiences, readers can look forward to some exciting Adobe PDF content coming their way.”

Here is how the platform would work: publishers register with the service and then upload their PDF content. The content will then be ad-enabled and distributed to users. The ads will be displayed in panels adjacent to the content in Acrobat and Reader platforms. Ads are contextually matched to the PDF content each time the file is opened.

The ads will be text-based and targeted contextually according to the content in the PDF document, allowing publishers to monetize content which previously was not monetized. PDF publishers also have the ability to track how ads perform.