Google is now testing the Pay-Per-Action model with their AdWords Customers. Under this model, publishers get paid for completing an action, it maybe a sale, a lead or any other advertiser defined action. It’s quite similar to the referral program which Google is using to promote their products.
According to the details released on Inside AdWords, The Pay-Per-Action campaign maybe in Text, Image or the new inline text ad format. Publishers must choose relevant ads which perform the best on their site (in other words, Pay-Per-Action ads are non-contextual).
Pay-Per-Action Beta is currently restricted to a limited number of US advertisers only. All advertisers participating in the beta must install conversion tracking script on their website. If you fulfill all these requirements, you can opt for participating in the beta by filling this form.
What does it mean to publishers?
Pay-Per-Action model works great for product related blogs. Since you get paid for action and not click, you don’t have to worry about invalid clicks or fraudulent traffic. But at the same time it’s non-contextual, you’ll have to manually experiment to determine the best performing products. Actually, my previous experience with Pay-Per-Action model has been very bad. Translating a click into conversion was extremely difficult. Anyway, let wait and see how this model works for AdSense publisher.

wrote, on March 22nd, 2007
I am definitely not a fan of pay-per-action advertising campaigns. However, I want to see if the plugin is active.
wrote, on March 23rd, 2007
It may be innovative for adwords, but frankly I am not quite interested in it. An action is usually time consuming, so I assume payment per action must be higher than clicks. But of course, nos. will be quite less
wrote, on March 23rd, 2007
I’m curious to see if this systems will increase the publishers income. Anyway at the moment it’s not available for italian users.
wrote, on March 23rd, 2007
Vijay: As a publisher myself, I guess it won’t work well for me. They boast that Pay-Per-Action will eliminate click fraud. To be honest, I just think it will turn the plates. Advertisers will start cheating
Runa: I predict that it won’t work well. Mainly because it’s non-contextual + Advertisers might cheat
wrote, on March 24th, 2007
The problem with it is that it is focused mostly on product blogs.So people who have content blogs have nothing exciting