Facebook is working with developers and agencies to offer premium ad inventory in a more automated way — through its API and desktop Power Editor campaign management software, a company spokesperson confirms. And ClickZ is reporting that it’s the first step toward making these ad types — previously only available via a relationship with a Facebook salesperson — available on its self-service interface.

Currently, self-service (read: smaller) advertisers can buy certain types of ads and sponsored stories, but others are limited to larger advertisers and agencies, who work directly with salespeople. Premium ad types include: ads on the right-hand side homepage (including those featuring video, apps or questions), in the news feed on desktop and mobile, and on the log-out page.

The report about the expansion of these ad types comes the week after Facebook’s botched initial public offering, as questions abound about the company’s revenues and its ability to expand. Opening up more ad types to more advertisers would, presumably, result in more revenue for Facebook.

The company recently began rolling out Promoted Posts to businesses that are using its Pages.

Related Topics: Channel: Social Media | Facebook | Facebook: Advertising | Social Media Marketing

About The Author: Pamela Parker is executive features editor of Marketing Land and a contributing editor for Search Engine Land. She’s a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since 1998, including a stint as managing editor of ClickZ. She’s also worked to help monetize independent publishers’ sites at Federated Media Publishing. She blogs about media and marketing at The River and about cooking, gardening and parenthood at Free Range. See more articles by Pamela Parker

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