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13/10: Widget Bucks Performance and A Kontera Poll

Over the past ten days or so, I've been experimenting with Widget Bucks and despite reservations expressed by some about Widget Bucks' code, I have to say I'm quite pleased with the results. Ten days is hardly much time on which to base a decision, but click throughs have been surprisingly high and in monetary terms those clicks are quite valuable. The ads are served contextually or, you can specify products from a selection of categories.  Initially the skyscraper was only available on a 160 width, which broke my layout in IE6, but they are now offering a 120 skyscraper, which is fine for my narrow sidebars...........(read more by clicking below)



I've settled on the best performing widgets, one narrow skyscraper in one of my sidebars at my directory site and the placement of a 468 banner at the head of individual post pages on this blog. It's probably too early for me to endorse the widgets wholeheartedly without more time, but if you're interested and have any available space, their claims to perform better than Adsense might well be true. There's a link to their site in the sidebar if you're tempted - hint hint :-)

Do they offend your eyes though? Let me know what you think as a reader.

Moving on, regular visitors might have noticed that BlogRush has gone from my sidebar. This might be temporary, but the more I looked at it, the more it just didn't look right to me. With their new plans still in progress, I've decided to wait until they're finished and see where I go from there. Do things look better without it?

Whilst on the subject of on site advertising, Kontera ads have been served on my pages for the past five months. I know that many people have pretty strong views on Kontera and I'd like to know if they spoil your experience here at the Cayman Host. They do produce some revenue, although my traffic levels dictate that it's not  going to make me vastly richer, so I'm considering their future too. I'm letting you guys vote, but comments would be welcomed too. (If you are reading this via RSS there is a poll at the foot of this post)



tags: , , , , ,
Kontera Ads - Love or Hate Them?
  1. - 40
  2. - 5
  3. - 1
  4. - 2

Total votes: 48

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Comments

Josh Spaulding wrote:

I haven't tried WidgetBucks yet, but I've been hearing an awful lot about them. I'll have to give them a shot in the near future.

I tried Kontera ads one time with an article directory that was earning $30+/day. I figured they should bring in at least half that, increasing the revenue to at lease 45. Didn't happen. They averaged about 2 bucks a day. I felt it was taking away from the user experience for a measly $2 a day and removed them after a week. I've personally never clicked on one Kontera ad. Not because I'm against then, but because they've never been appealing to me. I'm more concentrate on controlling my mouse so they don't pop up and block my reading.
14/10 02:41:48

caymanhost wrote:

Thanks Josh, I'm beginning to feel the same way. They performed alright for a while but I think as they have become more widely used the backlash has made them more and more unpopular with readers.

Having said that, the initial votes don't seem to indicate that, but I'm sure I'll see more negative votes soon.
14/10 03:08:05

Stephen Cronin wrote:

Hi Maurice, I've got to say I really don't like the Kontera ads. I have no problem with Adsense and most other forms of adverstising, but Kontera ads pop up when I accidently hover over them, meaning they get between me and the content I'm trying to read. They really get up my nose! I've voted against them in the poll.

Having said that, they won't stop me from visiting sites that I really want to read. I won't stop reading if you keep them!
14/10 21:49:02

caymanhost wrote:

Hi Stephen

I understand why they might be annoying and that's why I'm asking, so I'm happy to hear all views. Your vote evens up the pro, anti and no preference votes exactly.

I'm glad to know they wouldn't prevent you from reading, but also that they are a negative in your view. My series of polls is an attempt to improve the blog for the folk that are kind enough to read it so all opinions are valid and important to me. Dollars are fine, but at this stage of the blog's life, readers are more important ;-)
14/10 23:20:33

Online Presence :: Make Money Online wrote:

A combination of Kontera & WidgetBucks is deadly! I've been using it on http://ypopsemail.com/ and its giving a wonderful payout on a daily basis :-)
15/10 02:33:55

caymanhost wrote:

@ Online Presence......

I'm glad to hear that both programs are working well for you and having looked at the site you mention I can see that Kontera is probably far more suited to that type of venture.

I just think that bloggers, who come mainly to read posts and articles, have grown weary of trying to avoid the ads interfering with the experience. Personally I don't find them a problem, but this is about folks who read my blog, not me, and I think it's only fair to give them a say. If they were generating larger amounts, the decision would doubtless be easier ;-) but if the people say "No" to them I think I'll respect their choice.
15/10 15:23:40

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