What Banner Ad Programs Are Still Worthwhile?

hafree asks: "To help defray the high bandwidth costs of running an online radio station, I chose to enroll in a banner ad affiliate program. After reading countless horror stories about affiliate programs not paying up, I was sure to check into many options before finally settling on focusIN's advertising network. Like all other programs, they have strict requirements as to what counts as a unique impression or click-thru, and their statistics on my Web site didn't quite match my Web logs. After less than 2 months, my account with them had been deactivated without any notification, no payout ever received, and they don't respond to my e-mails or return my phone calls. What is a reputable advertising program to use? In a previous article on this same subject, ValueClick.com was recommended by many users, but they still seem to have the same small print that allows them to cancel your account at any time without paying. Has anyone had any negative experiences using them, or positive experiences using other programs? I would much rather deal with an honest program with strict requirements and low payouts than have to find out after 2 months that I will not be paid because of some loophole in the fine print."

Comments

Downturn

[Aquafina]

There's a definite downturn in ad spending. 6 months ago Valueclick was more than happy to pay me month after month, but these days, with inventory still high but demand low, they're getting pickier and pickier. So a 2 months ago Valueclick suddenly terminates my account and doesn't pay me at all for my last 2 months there. Same has happened to adflight, everyone.net, etc...

ValueClick uses Open Source

[soygreen]

They run on Apache/mod_perl. That's a good enough to reason to give them a try.

Re:ValueClick uses Open Source

[babbage]

What? No it isn't. Who cares what your business associates are doing? As long as they're able to do what they're supposed to do, the software should not and in fact does not matter -- at all.

The question wasn't "which ad agency runs the coolest software", it was more like "which ad agency is most likely to deliver on their promises". I don't see what apache/mod_perl has to do with their ability or willingness to pay up for what they're offering.

This is like asking which bank is the best one to go to for a loan, and being told that $foo are good because their tellers use Linux terminals. So what? That has nothing to do with their interest rates, customer service, etc. You're answering the wrong question here.

That said, yes, it is cool that they run that, but I have no idea who would be the best ad agency. Any idea if any of the old school "atoms before bits" 5th Ave type agencies have had any impact on the web etc? Are we stuck with the likes of DoubleClick? Who runs Slashdot's banners -- are they any good?

Re:ValueClick uses Open Source

[tomblackwell]

I'd say it's more important to be paid than it is to be doing business with a company who runs your favourite software.

Geez.

a place to start: Click Quick

[Leknor]

I'm in the same boat. I've been going down the list at http://www.clickquick.com/ and seem to be getting rejected quicker then I did back in high school. :~) Best of luck to you.

Leknor

Roll your own...

[HerrNewton]

How big of a station is it? Where are your demographics? Are you catering to mostly local listeners? If so, sell ads locally and run your own banner script.

If not, I've had really good luck with Advertising.com (used to be called TeknoSurf)

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Impressions, click-thrus, and your web logs

[jmaslak]

The person asking this question mentioned that his web logs and the advertiser's web logs didn't match. As someone who has worked in the online advertising industry, I can provide a few pieces of information that may help you understand why they don't match.

First, multiple visits from the same IP or user will be aggregated into less impressions and click-throughs.

Second, one person seeing the same banner 5 times might only count as one impression.

Third, search engines and robots don't get counted.

What you will want to do is to verify that any ad network you use has a legitimate business model. In general, if someone gave them millions of $$$ to run their business, they probably won't screw you, for public opinion is everything to an ad network. Once word gets around that you shortchange sites, you'll quickly lose any hope of becoming profitable - and the ad networks know this.

In my experience, they try their best to accurately pay you what you deserve, without screwing themselves, either.

Affiliat programs for linking (not banners)

[pjrc]

Has anyone here had good/bad experience with affiliate programs based on sales generated from linking. You know, you make a link to Amazon for a book, and if someone follows the link and buys in the same session, you get a percentage of the sale.

I've been considering setting up one of these for our site. We don't have any banner ads and none are planned. I'm talking about a linking based affiliate program. Any experiences, good or bad?