As we shared a few months ago, Skype is now an exciting part of the Microsoft Advertising portfolio. It’s been a whirlwind since Skype joined Microsoft! Right from the start, we’ve been working together to identify ad opportunities that strike the right balance between protecting the wonderful Skype consumer experience and creating meaningful opportunities that enable you to tell brand stories. Today, we’re pleased to share the first outcome from this collaboration – our Conversation Ad unit, an opportunity that allows you to be a part of the 1 billion Skype-to-Skype calls that happen every day.

We know from our research that people on Skype are more likely to discuss products, make recommendations, and decide what to buy with their close relatives and friends. Brands can now literally be at the center of those conversations - maximizing word-of-mouth and social influence within a tight-knit circle of trust. This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a meaningful impact, and allow people to discuss the brand stories they are seeing in real time.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what the Conversation Ad space looks like:

skype_conversation_ad

You’ll notice the Conversation Ads are presented on a clean, uncluttered canvas allowing your story to nicely complement the consumer interaction. The 300 x 250 unit appears during one-to-one audio calls in the Skype Windows client*, and – as might be obvious – they’ll be silent so the ad doesn’t interrupt the consumer experience. Like most of our Microsoft ad experiences, this opportunity is truly global with over 55 markets currently available for purchase…and more coming soon.

In the coming months we will continue to innovate for the consumer and for you - bringing you even more innovative ways to engage consumers in this unique environment. Until then, we can’t wait to see the stories you’ll tell in this clean canvas. Enjoy!

Best,

Jos Moore, General Manager, Advertising Incubations

*The small print: Ads appear for non-paying Skype consumers only.