Andy Beard - Internet Business Systems Discussion - Latest Comments in Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Sean — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:36:44 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Sean — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:36:44 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Mike — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:04:21 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Mike — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:04:21 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Maki — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:24:34 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Maki — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:24:34 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Dave — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:02:22 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Dave — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:02:22 -0000

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Amish Furniture — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:56:02 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Amish Furniture — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:56:02 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:50:21 -0000

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)

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:50:21 -0000

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)

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Maki — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:42:37 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Maki — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:42:37 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:03:11 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:03:11 -0000

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.

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Josh Spaulding — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:56:15 -0000

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 :)

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Josh Spaulding — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:56:15 -0000

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 :)

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Greg Harrison, CTO & Widge — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:50:43 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Greg Harrison, CTO & Widge — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:50:43 -0000

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:05:00 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

AndyBeard — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:05:00 -0000

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

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Terry Reeves — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:44:56 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Terry Reeves — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:44:56 -0000

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.

Re: Exclusive: WidgetBucks Now Safe To Use

Vlad — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:42:18 -0000

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.