The Text-Link-Ads crew works on their first CPC program ShoppingAds in private beta |
Loading ...Patrick Gavin leader of the crew behind ReviewMe, Text-Link-Ads and more at MediaWhiz, just sent me a private invite to their first ever cost per click (CPC) program Shoppingads. I signed up for use on our group website and we’re checking it out. Early thoughts: the UI is similar to Google Adsense code generator and uses JavaScript for the ads. You heard that right, it’s compliant with the Google God’s advertising wishes.
The signup form requires the basic information and right now the only payment option is by PayPal. Next month Patrick indicated “other payment options” will be available. Minimum amount earned before payout is $50 which is more/different than how they do ReviewMe and Text-Link-Ads.
The easy to use generator allows ad creatives in the following sizes:
728×90 leaderboard
468×60 standard banner
336×280
300×250
250×250
234×60 half banner
180×150
160×600
125×125
120×600 skyscraper
120×240 vertical banner
You can choose the keywords for the ad or use the “Automatic Popular Keywords” feature. We’re trying that to start. Seems like the ads are sort of targeted. These ads aren’t contextually generated so you can run them alongside Google Adsense.
Shoppingads offers an automatic webmaster referral affiliate program too, but none of the links in this post are using these links. Nice feature having each ad that displays carries a link that will pass along webmaster referrals as well, so if some webmaster visits your site that is displaying ads and signs up through that you’ll earn 5% of all revenue generated by that webmaster for six months. 30 day cookie on all referrals.
Consider this a preview, not a review, since I have no idea how well Shoppingads will perform. You can see the ads running in the sidebar at the group blog I participate in: VTOReality.com.
If you’d like in to Shoppingads private beta since I don’t have any invites, just drop Patrick Gavin a line. If you’re already in one of the other programs he runs you might have an invite code waiting there automatically like we did. BTW, I checked with him directly before publishing this and those of you with access are allowed to blog/Twitter about this, despite the text of the email that says: “Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.”
Related Posts- Beta invite signees beware
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- Thanks Google for introducing and popularizing invite-only elitism
- Playing for up to $10 million dollars in Moola
- Putting Google Spreadsheets to some use
- Looking for a few TypePad and MovableType bloggers
The bad news is that ShoppingAds isn´t getting any clicks.
Which is kind of “funny” since the ads look the same as the AuctionAds ones that got tons of clicks. I have an interesting post about this in my blog.
Comment by custodio — October 17, 2007 @ 9:15 pm PST
Over 6,000 impressions and 2 clicks, custodio? Not good. We never made anything with AuctionAds. I found your information abou the eBay affiliate program interesting, but I’m not a big Commission Junction fan.
Comment by TDavid — October 17, 2007 @ 9:23 pm PST
If you’re already a ShoppingAds user, or considering becoming one, you should check out emptyspaceads (a product I left my full-time job at Microsoft to build), which allows you to put ShoppingAds units in your website’s empty space. After all, when was the last time you made any money from your site’s empty space? Better yet, you don’t have to give up any existing ad units to run emptyspaceads. Keep what works!
We hope to add more ad networks soon! You can also create your own TextAds, ImageAds, and even HTMLAds that can promote your content, your products, or your services. I invite you to try it out and send your honestly brutal feedback. Thanks!
-David Parkinson, emptyspaceads founder
Comment by David Parkinson — March 10, 2008 @ 9:33 pm PST
Hi David - briefly what makes your product any better/different than OpenAds?
Comment by TDavid — March 11, 2008 @ 5:37 am PST
@ TDavid:
Basically OpenAds allows you to create ads that run in standard placements on your website (leaderboard, skyscrapers, and whichever other units and zones you want to set up). In other words, you have to setup the spaces that work for you. However, the average website consists of approximately 30% empty space which isn’t being monetized. We help you to create ads that appear in positions where no content and advertising already exists.
Does that make sense?
Comment by David Parkinson — March 11, 2008 @ 2:33 pm PST