Consumers Cash In On Targeted Ads

by Laurie Sullivan, Aug 4, 2010, 10:45 AM

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Ad-serving metrics are getting pretty darn accurate. And the push for more precisely targeted ads raises the value of information marketers have on consumers -- which can mean consumers trading that information for perks.

Take AdGenesis, for example. The private label video platform for publishers and social networks rewards consumers who view ads and provide info on their buying patterns with points to buy virtual goods, along with other deals and incentives.

InboxDollars.com licensed the AdGenesis platform with plans to roll it out to its 10 million members later this month. Richard Smullen, co-founder and chief executive officer at AdGenesis, says the technology, "an ad network of consumers" sits on the verge of being adopted by a major unnamed publisher that should go live next month if the two companies can hash out the revenue share within the week.

The AdGenesis video platform runs on any Web site or mobile device. In tests, advertisers saw an average click-through rate of 20%.

Here's how it works. Consumers sign up to join the service, and whenever a matching brand signs on, the consumer gets notified by e-mail or SMS. Advertising videos run between 15 seconds to two minutes.

Consumers answer questions every time they sign in. For example: "Hey, Laurie, you told us about your trip to Ireland the last time you signed in. Have you bought your tickets yet?" If Laurie answers "No," a video ad from AerLingus might serve up to tell her about airfare specials. Watching that video earns her points redeemable for virtual currency, Facebook credits, concert drawings and more.

Smullen calls AdGenesis "the eHarmony of consumption" because the technology matches the consumer need with the brand. The cookie- and tag-free platform builds a detailed profile with information the consumer provides.

At the end of a video, before AdGenesis hands out the reward, coupon or offer, the consumer must answer a multiple choice question that gets passed to the advertiser.

"The more information consumers tell us, the more relevant video ads they will see," Smullen says, noting that many deals with other companies are in the works for the next few months.

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0 comments on "Consumers Cash In On Targeted Ads".

1. Jeff Einstein from The Brothers Einstein
   

   commented on: August 4, 2010 at 10:59 a.m.

   Can you imagine how valuable this data will be when we stop talking about ourselves and start talking about our neighbors?

2. Elizabeth Kulin from ZEDO
   

   commented on: August 9, 2010 at 11:12 a.m.

   Great piece. I work for ZEDO, Inc. and my colleagues agree that targeting ads improves the user experience. However, internet users should be provided with information on what is being collected from them, how it is being used, and steps on how to opt-out of the process if they choose.

   See my blog post on this topic:
   http://blog.zedo.com/wordpress/blog/2010/02/16/cookies-can-be-good-for-you/

   Liz
   www.zedo.com

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