Online sellers have to compete with rival ad-listings on ecommerce platforms, but now PayPal is offering them a way to generate revenue on their own websites by running ads for complementary products. According to the payment processor’s press release on Tuesday:
“PayPal today unveiled PayPal Ads Manager, allowing the tens of millions of small businesses that use PayPal to become their own retail media networks and generate new revenue streams. With 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S. being small businesses, PayPal Ads Manager will help small businesses create billions of new advertising impressions for brands of all sizes by utilizing a fast-growing and highly profitable segment of digital advertising.”
The following example provided in PayPal announcement of a small retailer of coffee beans using the new service to generate revenue sounds almost too good to be true, though of course, micro sellers without their own websites will not benefit:
“For example, a small coffee roaster who sells bags of beans and grinds online signs up for PayPal Ads, integrates the SDK into their storefront in minutes, and sets their advertiser preferences. They set it so other coffee shops are not allowed to advertise in their store. Immediately, PayPal starts serving ads from clothing retailers on the site and the business begins earning revenue. With profits deposited into their PayPal account, the proceeds can then be reinvested into the business through new marketing campaigns, inventory purchasing, and seasonal hiring.”
PayPal said its new PayPal Ads Manager offering will be available in early 2026, starting in the US with UK and Germany to follow.