Thursday, August 28, 2008

VYPE, High School Sports Mag Reaches One Millionth Reader!

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VYPE announces that with its recent addition of four new franchises, it now reaches an audience of over one million readers in major cities across the U.S., including Dallas, Houston, Raleigh, Indianapolis and Louisville. This is the latest milestone for the franchisor that has grown exponentially over the past three years. This achievement represents the hard work and dedication of VYPE franchisees across the country, as well as the quality and accessibility of the print and online content they deliver.

Were continuing to expand and will soon add several additional markets to our network of franchisee partners, said Kevin Hern, CEO of VYPE. Our success is based on a unique and compelling vehicle for advertisers to reach target audiences, a platform that is solidly supported by our dedication to delivering the most comprehensive and highly relevant coverage of high school sports.

VYPE, a national syndicate of print and online properties, delivers complete high school sports coverage and commentary on everything that matters to todays young athletes. The magazines focus on the athletes, coaches and teams that support the spirit and purity of sports at a level where they are still played out of a love for the game. This month, VYPEs circulation soared to 265,000 issues per month, reaching over 1.1 million people. VYPE has grown from just one franchise in 2005 to 14 today, having added five new franchises in 2008 alone for a 55% growth rate in just one year.

The syndicate has quickly become attractive for franchisees as it provides unprecedented access to high school athletes and their families, enabling advertisers to connect with these highly desirable market demographics that influence and shape the majority of household purchase decisions. VYPE addresses a growing trend with national advertisers seeking direct access to buyers in local markets and connects leading companies and brands directly with local sports communities. Because VYPE is produced locally and covers local high school sports, potential advertisers have the opportunity to either advertise nationally, throughout all publications, or choose specific regions/areas to advertise in based on their target markets.

In addition to print editions that include features, Q&As and advice columns, VYPE has a comprehensive website featuring content from each print edition as well as web-exclusive content, videos, photos and a local site for each franchisee. VYPEs social networking platform gives student-athletes across the country access to an interactive online community where they can post highlight reels, share ideas and learn from industry experts. Since VYPE is the trusted local partner for coaches, athletes, schools and families for the high school sports scene, VYPE has built-in growth potential in every metropolitan area in the country.

Revenue Sharing Social Networking Site ZENZUU Out Of Beta!

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZZPartners, Inc. (ZZP) announced today that effective at its Orlando conference on September 27, 2008 it will commence its local business online advertising program. The program will allow local businesses throughout the U.S. to be able to advertise online on the ZenZuu website. The ads may be banner, audio or video. ZZP, recently formed in April 2008 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has the exclusive U.S. license rights to the ZenZuu online social network database and advertising revenue share model. The online social network was released out of beta on August 8, 2008 and has been officially launched. Henry Fong, CEO, commented that we are very excited about the release of the website as well as the advertising program which will enable local businesses throughout the U.S. to reach a specific targeted demographic at competitive rates. Recent research reports indicate there is a growing demand for local business owners to advertise online versus the traditional methods of print advertising.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Engaging Facebook Social Ads, Where will they Go?

Caroline McCarthy at the Social has written a very nice piece about social advertising. She is talking about the "Engagement Ads," the new "experimental" advertising technology that Facebook unveiled last week.
The new advertising allows members of Facebook to leave comments on participating ads, add the brands to their list of "fan pages," and use them to send friends virtual gifts. For the social network it's a small but important trial as it continues to combat the common wisdom that sites of its ilk can't survive on ad revenue.
But she also speaks about perils of such advertising programs, like the one faced very well by GM with it's Chevy Tahoe advertising program. But I think it is a very good read as we get ready for these interactive advertisements.
Here is Caroline's piece.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Google AdWords Agency Continues Newsletter Series With A New Consumer Technology Newsletter

If you read the AdWords Agency's earlier news letter, Travel Industry Newsletter, then you can point your people towards another news letter by AdWords, this time targeting Consumer Technology.
Even though the news letter itself is targeting people who sell consumer electronics, software, hardware and other technology-related products and services, it certainly could be helpful and provide beneficial tips that you can apply to your clients' campaigns in other industries.
Also if you like to recieve this news letter in the future, let the team know by sending a note to consumertech-newsletter@google.com.

AdWords Agency Blog: New Consumer Technology Newsletter

AdSense For Feeds Are In My Feeds Now!

I have just enabled AdSense for Feeds on one of my blogs on Blogspot. Initially there was a bit of snag but with excellence support for AdSense team, my feeds are flowing forth with ease. I just was nice picture ads attached at the end of my feeds! The Google has assured that Feedburner and Google Accounts will be integrated better.
Are you wondering what feeds are then I think in this context you better read the Feedburner tutorial and burn your feeds through the Google AdSense. But if you already have burned your feeds through Feedburner, then you will need to follow a little different path, which I followed. You need to email AdSense support with your account information, (your Feedburner user name and your Google email address, never send passwords through email). You can watch this video and read the post on AdSense Blog. (Link after the jump).


Inside AdSense: I feel the need... the need for feeds

Saturday, August 16, 2008

AdSense For Feeds Is Waiting For Your Feeds.

Google AdSense has introduced AdSense For Feeds which might be in place for replacing AdSense for Referrals that will be ending going away by the end of the August. Google AdSense for Feeds will allow you to get additional revenue through your blog feeds.
You need to have all your accounts on Google.
Burning a feed is very simple from your AdSense account and is done via AdSense setup and from the link AdSense Fro Feeds.
Ads For Feeds, feed on that People!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

New DART For Advertisers From Double Click.

Double Click has launched DFA 6, the new version of DART for Advertisers, which includes a completely revamped trafficking interface. The improvements are based on feedback from agency and advertiser clients, and focused on improving the speed and simplicity of the DFA trafficking workflow.
Some of the examples are;
  • Reduced the number of webpages required to perform the most common tasks.
  • Built quick links to tasks via simple icons and menus.
  • Developed inline editing to help you move through the workflow more quickly.
  • Enabled Excel imports and exports to eliminate duplicate data entry and reduce potential errors.

If you are ready to start using the new workflow, contact your account manager to upgrade to the new DFA .

You can readmore about it here.


Geico's Cavemen Join ESPN As Fantasy-football Salesmen


Even though they seem to be backwards looking and easily intimidated by ads featuring themselves, I always look at cavemen promoting insurance on the TV. But from the news that I read today at Advertising Age, we are going to see, hear and follow more of them, as a deal between Geico and ESPN to cast the cavemen as fantasy-football salesmen has been crafted. Horizon Media, Geico's longtime media agency, helped to craft the deal.
The Geico Insurance company's cavemen has found a places on ESPN's entire media channel, functioning as 'carnival barkers' to attract people to its fantasy-football offering and to the 'SportsCenter.'

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Advertising To The World (USA) In Internet Age.

Advertising Age is carrying an article about advertising and humor that is lost when crossing borders. We also wrote about the Heinz ad involving a gay family and Advertising Age is also talking about the Snicker saga by Mars.
Both the ads were pulled from the media space but the home country where the ad was displayed did not make a big fuzz about it. It was simply due to pressure from USA and the marketeers worrying about boycotts.
T
he article is a good read.

AdSense Payments Comes To Your Door Step Through Western Union In More Countries

Since Google AdSense added Western Union as a payment delivery method last year, Many AdSense publishers were able to receive their payments without hassle. Now Western Union has expanded the service to more countries, Bulgaria, Egypt, Lithuania, Morocco, and Taiwan. So if you are in one of those countries, you will be able to get your payment in cash at one of the Western Union branches.
Please keep in mind that in order to pick up your payment, you'll need to present a government-issued ID that matches your AdSense payee name. If you need to update or correct the payee name listed in your account, please fill out our online form. In addition, we'd like to note that payments by Western Union Quick Cash are only available to individual payee names, but not to businesses.

Inside AdSense: Western Union expanded to additional countries

New Travel Industry Newsletter From Google AdWords

Google AdWords has a new newsletter from The Google AdWords Travel Team.
According to a survey done by Jupiter research, Online travel spending will represent 35 percent of all travel revenue in 2008. So the Google AdWords Travel Team is helping you to take advantage of this trend and grow your or your clients travel business.
The current edition covers the fundamentals as well as new territory to help you get the most out of your AdWords advertising. Read on for advice on strong keyword lists, landing pages, and travel industry resources. Then, learn about engaging audiences with various ad formats and Google Maps features.

AdWords Agency Blog: New Travel Industry Newsletter

Monday, August 4, 2008

AdSense Keywords Research

If you are any kind of website or blog and plan to promote it via SEO or Search Engine Optimization, you need to concentrate on keywords. Without proper keywords it will be hard to get visitors to your sites from search engines. Basically keywords are what web surfers enter into search engines to find products and services or information that they are looking for. So you need to generate keywords that are best matched to your site. Once the they are found you need to sprinkle those within your site and search engine spiders will find those easily.
Follow the link for more information.
Geemodo: AdSense Keywords Research With Google Adwords Keyword Tool


Sunday, August 3, 2008

When Is A picture Not Worth A Thousand Words? When Crawlers Come Looking For Content!

Sometimes we tend to use pictures and photos to describe something that we are trying to express to the world. We take in the old saying that a picture is worth thousand words. But the old adage does not seem to fit in with todays world, specially when it come to the Internet world. Specially when it comes to the search and advertising crawlers and your web site content. Most web crawlers are not capable of reading picture nor words in the pictures. So always use alternate text with your pictures. To improve your ad targeting, here are few other pointers given by AdSense Blog:
  • Use text in addition to images when possible. Please note that the crawler can't read text contained within images.
  • If you use images, be sure to title them appropriately and provide descriptive ALT tags.
  • Try imagining your site without pictures or dynamic content. This will give you a good idea of what our crawler reads. If you lack imagination, you can try turning the images off in your web browser.
Finally, it's important to keep in mind that the AdSense for content ads on your site are automatically determined. Though it's not possible to choose the ads that are placed on your site, including more text-based content will help make it possible for our system to target your site correctly.

Inside AdSense: A picture isn't always worth a thousand words

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Your Next Web Advertisement Request May Come From Nigeria!

Your Next Partnership Enquiry Might Come From Here (Lagos, Nigeria)
According to a post on F-Secure site regarding email messages circulating requesting for advertisements and bearing subject lines are Partnership Enquiry and Website Partnership Enquiry. The names of the senders include Richard Thompson, Edward Johnson, Daniel Lee, Jason Miller, George Nelson, et cetera.
The content of the messages are as such:

To: *deleted*.com
Subject: Partnership Enquiry

Hello,

My name is Jason Miller and I am contacting you to discuss the option of purchasing a text link
or banner on your website (*deleted*.com ).

Could you please tell me what is the price of one text link:

1) on your homepage only
2) all your pages
3) banner ad 120x60, 125x125 on homepage
4) banner ad 120x60, 125x125 on all pages

Thank you in advance!
Jason Miller

There are other examples at F-Secure site and also explanation as how these people manage to scam unsuspecting people, just as in
a form of Advance fee fraud alias Nigerian 419 fraud. So Follow this link and educate yourself. You will save some money and grief.
Also another blogger had these suggestions and an active discussion at his site.

So the next time you get an email solicitation for display ads or text link ads (paid links) on your website, be cautious and do a little bit of due diligence:

1. Investigate your buyer thoroughly: do they leave an appropriate name, place of business, and phone number? Do they have an actual website that they want to advertise? Do the owners of the website *know* the alleged buyer of the advertising?

2. Wait for that check to clear: the scam only works if you don’t realize that the check doesn’t clear / it does bounce. This is a non-issue if you’re being paid via Paypal, but if you’re being mailed anything it always helps to be cautious.

3. You can always ask to send the correct amount! ;)