WidgetBucks: 10 Things You Need to Know
Blogging Profits on Oct 02 2007 at 9:50 am | Filed under: Contextual Ads, Widget Bucks, Pay Per Click, Affiliate Marketing
New to WidgetBucks? Here are 10 things you need to know about.
1. WidgetBucks is compatible with Google Adsense. In fact, it is compatible with all other ad systems. Because the WB widget acts and appears very different from Adsense ads, though they may be both contextual, there is no confusing between Adsense and WidgetBucks. WidgetBucks ads are not text links.
2. Contextual Ad-serving is optional. Publishers/bloggers have the option to serve contextual ads (MerchSense — the contextual engine — crawls your page and finds relevant products to include in your widget), or serve ads within a specific category.
3. Widgets can be used anywhere on HTML. Although widgets have come to be identified with blog addons on sidebars, the WidgetBucks widget can be added on any page that allows HTML. You may use it on static pages, specific blog posts, templates, and blog sidebars.
4. WidgetBucks uses javascript. This may be an issue with publishers running on blog software or free blog-hosting sires, like WordPress.com which does not allow certain types of accounts to add Javascript. This is not an issue though in Typepad or Blogspot which allow javascript in posts.
5. You can place unlimited WB widgets on your site. However, too much animated widgets on a single page may not be too good on the eyes, and too many ads may turn off readers. Balance content with ads.
6. There are five widget sizes to choose from. These are Skyscraper 160×600, Rectangle 300×250, Leaderboard 728×90, Full Banner 468×60, and a custom 660×330. The skyscraper goes well on a blog sidebar, while the Rectangle fits nicely in a single blog post. The custom 660×330 provides more information on products and may encourage more clicks but it may be too bulky for a blog.
There are over 300 configurations, 256 color schemes and formatted for major IAB standard size.
7. Payouts are by checks or Paypal. After signup, you may change your payout option in “My Settings”. Minimum payout is $50. WB will pay Publisher Payment for the previous month’s activity within forty-five (45) days of the end of each month.
8. WidgetBucks is run by Mpire. Mpire is a meta shopping search engine that’s one of Time Magazine’s Top 50 Websites of 2007. Mpire was founded in 2005 and backed by Ignition Partners and former eBay executive and Pay Pal angel investor Richard Rock.
9. Click fraud (repeated manual or robot clicks) are “no-no”. Need I explain why?
10. You can earn money referring other publishers. When you refer a new WidgetBucks user, you will receive a 10 percent referral fee based on the commissions earned by the people you refer. You’ll receive this 10 percent for the full 12 months after the new member joins.
Here are some related info about WidgetBucks in the blogosphere:
Andy Beard - There Are 5 Big Questions Regarding WidgetBuckz
AlphaMarketer - the flashing animation may irritate some users
Andrew Wee - Who’s like to benefit from WidgetBucks
Writing Tips
You can check also this article on Widgetbucks - there are some bad and good sides mentioned as well as some questions answered: http://review-comments.blogspot.com/2007/10/some-thoughts-on-widgetbuckscom.html