DISQUS

Vlad · 2 years ago

Well at least they have listened in part! :)

Yes the #5 is another one. I have not problem with no disclosing earnings, I never disclose (except IRS) my earnings anyway.

Thanks for banana (link)! lol

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Yesterday you probably got a fair amount of "Vlad" links, so I opted for something new today

Vlad · 2 years ago

I will not be surprised that yesterdays round "cements" me in the top 10 in the SERPS, of course we do not know what is going to happen with the G..... Hmmm I have and idea they should replace Matt Cutts with you.

Vlad · 2 years ago

Well at least they have listened in part! :)

Yes the #5 is another one. I have not problem with no disclosing earnings, I never disclose (except IRS) my earnings anyway.

Thanks for banana (link)! lol

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Yesterday you probably got a fair amount of "Vlad" links, so I opted for something new today

Vlad · 2 years ago

I will not be surprised that yesterdays round "cements" me in the top 10 in the SERPS, of course we do not know what is going to happen with the G..... Hmmm I have and idea they should replace Matt Cutts with you.

Vlad · 2 years ago

lol Yes I got plenty, still behind the other Vlad though. Thanks.

Vlad · 2 years ago

lol Yes I got plenty, still behind the other Vlad though. Thanks.

Terry Reeves · 2 years ago

Aside from the issues you and others have brought up with this Widget, I have only found one blog that states the application is actually making any money for the site.

I see it everywhere, where are the posts declaring the greatness of this money maker? I would be interested in seeing some hints at it's profitability if there are hints to offer.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Terry that is the point, they are not allowed to under the Terms of Service.

I know bloggers itching to reveal their stats, either positive or negative because it would be great linkbait, and if positive will likely enhance referrals, but they can't.

It is a missed opportunity

Mike · 2 years ago

I saw a couple of statistics on DP. People are claiming they have decent CPC (0.3$) and good CTR. Thus, many are thinking about replacing the old Adsense with this new Widgetbucks thingy. The truth is that Widgebucks might be suitable for some kind of sites (e-commerce mostly i might add), but i'm wondering if they are ever going to pay their publishers... We'll just have to wait and see...

PS: I tried Widgetbucks together with Adsense on one of my sites and i had trouble displaying channel statistics in Adsense... As soon as i took the widget down, statistics came right back... Weird

Terry Reeves · 2 years ago

Aside from the issues you and others have brought up with this Widget, I have only found one blog that states the application is actually making any money for the site.

I see it everywhere, where are the posts declaring the greatness of this money maker? I would be interested in seeing some hints at it's profitability if there are hints to offer.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Terry that is the point, they are not allowed to under the Terms of Service.

I know bloggers itching to reveal their stats, either positive or negative because it would be great linkbait, and if positive will likely enhance referrals, but they can't.

It is a missed opportunity

Mike · 2 years ago

I saw a couple of statistics on DP. People are claiming they have decent CPC (0.3$) and good CTR. Thus, many are thinking about replacing the old Adsense with this new Widgetbucks thingy. The truth is that Widgebucks might be suitable for some kind of sites (e-commerce mostly i might add), but i'm wondering if they are ever going to pay their publishers... We'll just have to wait and see...

PS: I tried Widgetbucks together with Adsense on one of my sites and i had trouble displaying channel statistics in Adsense... As soon as i took the widget down, statistics came right back... Weird

Greg Harrison, CTO & Widge · 2 years ago

Update: We are (painfully) aware of the redirect config issue - hope to have that sorted out ASAP, as it is keeping us out of the SERPs - I actually submitted the bug report as "Dodgy redirects/SEO issue - thought you would get a kick out of that Andy.

The removal of the back-link was simply based on publisher feedback about not being allowed to modify the HTML to place a "no-follow" for SEO purposes - rather than grant permission to modify the HTML we provide, we simply removed the backlink. That back-link, by the way, was never maliciously placed there - if you do not have the Flash Player installed, then we wanted to show a link to WidgetBucks, plain and simple. Hope this clarifies.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

The quick solution 2 weeks ago would have been just to stick a nofollow on it.

Unlike the claims from other quarters, you wouldn't have got a ban for that unnatural linking so quickly.

Other monetization companies include a link, actually it is not bad practice, especially if you make it an affiliate link in noscript tags, which just happens to also pass pagerank, or goes through to some kind of search page based on the keywords.

I know I have given you guys a bit of a rough ride so far, but I really love promoting stuff in an ethical manner and being able to write an in depth but positive review.

Now all you need to do is find a way to allow publishers to track clicks with 3rd party tracking such as thy can do with other widgets, and allow them to report earnings.

Greg Harrison, CTO & Widge · 2 years ago

Update: We are (painfully) aware of the redirect config issue - hope to have that sorted out ASAP, as it is keeping us out of the SERPs - I actually submitted the bug report as "Dodgy redirects/SEO issue - thought you would get a kick out of that Andy.

The removal of the back-link was simply based on publisher feedback about not being allowed to modify the HTML to place a "no-follow" for SEO purposes - rather than grant permission to modify the HTML we provide, we simply removed the backlink. That back-link, by the way, was never maliciously placed there - if you do not have the Flash Player installed, then we wanted to show a link to WidgetBucks, plain and simple. Hope this clarifies.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

The quick solution 2 weeks ago would have been just to stick a nofollow on it.

Unlike the claims from other quarters, you wouldn't have got a ban for that unnatural linking so quickly.

Other monetization companies include a link, actually it is not bad practice, especially if you make it an affiliate link in noscript tags, which just happens to also pass pagerank, or goes through to some kind of search page based on the keywords.

I know I have given you guys a bit of a rough ride so far, but I really love promoting stuff in an ethical manner and being able to write an in depth but positive review.

Now all you need to do is find a way to allow publishers to track clicks with 3rd party tracking such as thy can do with other widgets, and allow them to report earnings.

Josh Spaulding · 2 years ago

I haven't even looked into WidgetBucks much at all yet. After hearing about the shading tactics they were using I wasn't really interested.

Vlad, you're at #9 for "vlad" here. We'll get you there :)

Josh Spaulding · 2 years ago

I haven't even looked into WidgetBucks much at all yet. After hearing about the shading tactics they were using I wasn't really interested.

Vlad, you're at #9 for "vlad" here. We'll get you there :)

Maki · 2 years ago

A little offtopic rant: What was very annoying to me was that I didn't sign up for Widget Bucks and yet my email is somehow placed on their mailing list. I didn't opt-in or agree to any newsletter/notification and I'm getting the emails sent to their publishers.

I had to opt-out a few hours ago and hmmmm... that definitely didn't score any points with me.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Maki that might be Jim's doing.

With the JV partners who were notified before release, Jim arranged for them to have accounts already created, which would also mean that they would have the email address attached.

I think that is something I am not going to complain about too loudly, as I like having a little advanced notice occasionally.

As long as they don't claim I am a user unless I am (I currently haven't included WB on any niche sites)

Maki · 2 years ago

I know its a JV thing but its just done in a completely wrong way. First of all, I didn't agree to any JV, but was simply emailed an account and some generic email template sent out to probably a dozen other bloggers.

I ain't complaining too loudly. I could have written a nasty blog post about it but I didn't.

I wouldn't have minded writing about WidgetBucks when it was launched but seriously, put some effort in pre-selling or pitching me.

Maki · 2 years ago

A little offtopic rant: What was very annoying to me was that I didn't sign up for Widget Bucks and yet my email is somehow placed on their mailing list. I didn't opt-in or agree to any newsletter/notification and I'm getting the emails sent to their publishers.

I had to opt-out a few hours ago and hmmmm... that definitely didn't score any points with me.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Maki that might be Jim's doing.

With the JV partners who were notified before release, Jim arranged for them to have accounts already created, which would also mean that they would have the email address attached.

I think that is something I am not going to complain about too loudly, as I like having a little advanced notice occasionally.

As long as they don't claim I am a user unless I am (I currently haven't included WB on any niche sites)

Maki · 2 years ago

I know its a JV thing but its just done in a completely wrong way. First of all, I didn't agree to any JV, but was simply emailed an account and some generic email template sent out to probably a dozen other bloggers.

I ain't complaining too loudly. I could have written a nasty blog post about it but I didn't.

I wouldn't have minded writing about WidgetBucks when it was launched but seriously, put some effort in pre-selling or pitching me.

Amish Furniture · 2 years ago

What a contrast! These guys are listening, responding and doing something about the problem.

Amish Furniture · 2 years ago

What a contrast! These guys are listening, responding and doing something about the problem.

Dave · 2 years ago

Has anyone tested out the new widget? My main problem with the original one was that it was slow loading (my other main problem is my lack of earnings!). I'm thinking about getting rid of the widget, but if it is loading a lot faster I might want to utilize it.

Dave · 2 years ago

Has anyone tested out the new widget? My main problem with the original one was that it was slow loading (my other main problem is my lack of earnings!). I'm thinking about getting rid of the widget, but if it is loading a lot faster I might want to utilize it.

Roughy · 2 years ago

Hi guys,
I have written to WidgetBucks support about the referral stats and the benefits for us (and them) if they make the stats available in real time or at least without a month of delay and they've answered they've put that on their "requested features" list. I hope we will see it implemented soon.

@ Dave
The new widget seems really faster but still it is not the fastest possible.

Roughy · 2 years ago

Hi guys,
I have written to WidgetBucks support about the referral stats and the benefits for us (and them) if they make the stats available in real time or at least without a month of delay and they've answered they've put that on their "requested features" list. I hope we will see it implemented soon.

@ Dave
The new widget seems really faster but still it is not the fastest possible.

Sean · 2 years ago

One thing is for sure, Widgetbucks have had hundreds of thousands of pounds of free exposure. Agreed its not all been positive but as they say "all PR is good PR".

Personally, I like the widgets they are lot better than most "banner" ads.

Sean.

Sean · 2 years ago

One thing is for sure, Widgetbucks have had hundreds of thousands of pounds of free exposure. Agreed its not all been positive but as they say "all PR is good PR".

Personally, I like the widgets they are lot better than most "banner" ads.

Sean.