DISQUS

dining chair · 2 years ago

So a competitor to Adsense. In the process, if you make money per click what is the hassle? Let us give some time to see how it works.

dining chair · 2 years ago

So a competitor to Adsense. In the process, if you make money per click what is the hassle? Let us give some time to see how it works.

Ben Cook · 2 years ago

Andy, I commend you for actually analyzing WidgetBucks rather than just mindlessly jumping on the bandwagon and promoting it like everyone else. If Darren and Yaro aren't careful they're going to lose their credibility by promoting stuff like this and BlogRush.

To me switching to 10% for the first 12 months is probably due to pressure from the big guys who want to make as much money as possible from their hoard of mindless followers.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Ben in some ways I actually "promoted" Blogrush more than most, but I did it in a way that I explored every fact I could find.

The articles that became popular on various social sites generally contained less facts, both the positive and negative perspectives were generally based around the click stats in the reporting interface.

With Widgetbucks I started off optimistically at 2am UK time yesterday. At that time I knew there was more that needed to be written than just a 5 minute overview / promotion, so I slept on it.

I almost didn't write anything at all, as I don't intend to use the widgets myself, but with so many articles promoting the widget I felt it was important to write about my concerns.

Some things can be easily fixed, such as using nofollow on the html link if it has to be there, or ensuring it is at least of benefit to the widget user by being an affiliate link, possibly blocked with robots.txt or nofollowed.

Lots of CPC programs don't pay for clicks from outside North America because they don't provide any geo-targeting.

I think personally based on the product selections I have seen, they should be displaying ads only to North America or only pay for clicks from there.

People using the widget would then be strongly advised to use Openads targeting.

For me the 10% switch should have happened before launch, and maybe multi-tier, but after launch in fact just a few hours doesn't give me a confidence signal.

Ben Cook · 2 years ago

Andy, I commend you for actually analyzing WidgetBucks rather than just mindlessly jumping on the bandwagon and promoting it like everyone else. If Darren and Yaro aren't careful they're going to lose their credibility by promoting stuff like this and BlogRush.

To me switching to 10% for the first 12 months is probably due to pressure from the big guys who want to make as much money as possible from their hoard of mindless followers.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Ben in some ways I actually "promoted" Blogrush more than most, but I did it in a way that I explored every fact I could find.

The articles that became popular on various social sites generally contained less facts, both the positive and negative perspectives were generally based around the click stats in the reporting interface.

With Widgetbucks I started off optimistically at 2am UK time yesterday. At that time I knew there was more that needed to be written than just a 5 minute overview / promotion, so I slept on it.

I almost didn't write anything at all, as I don't intend to use the widgets myself, but with so many articles promoting the widget I felt it was important to write about my concerns.

Some things can be easily fixed, such as using nofollow on the html link if it has to be there, or ensuring it is at least of benefit to the widget user by being an affiliate link, possibly blocked with robots.txt or nofollowed.

Lots of CPC programs don't pay for clicks from outside North America because they don't provide any geo-targeting.

I think personally based on the product selections I have seen, they should be displaying ads only to North America or only pay for clicks from there.

People using the widget would then be strongly advised to use Openads targeting.

For me the 10% switch should have happened before launch, and maybe multi-tier, but after launch in fact just a few hours doesn't give me a confidence signal.

Terry · 2 years ago

Ouch......almost a scathing review. It would be better for sure the backlinks were not in the Widgetbucks code.

However, for a site that has the right content it may still be a good thing.

Here are two more Widgetbucks reviews:

Darren's:

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/02/w...

Mine:

http://www.zulit(dot)com/2007/10/02/widgetbucks...

Now I have to go and put some Widgetbuck ads on my laptop site!

Terry

Terry · 2 years ago

Ouch......almost a scathing review. It would be better for sure the backlinks were not in the Widgetbucks code.

However, for a site that has the right content it may still be a good thing.

Here are two more Widgetbucks reviews:

Darren's:

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/02/w...

Mine:

http://www.zulit(dot)com/2007/10/02/widgetbucks...

Now I have to go and put some Widgetbuck ads on my laptop site!

Terry

Lincoln · 2 years ago

$1500 worth of REVIEWS??? GAH, why didn't you send them my way???? I could have paid off my bills this month! :-(

Actually I had to turn down a review offer myself, and I was all psyched because it was my very first review offer, but then I find out I already did a paid review for the company when they were doing a campaign run. Sheesh. Ca't very well do the same review twice now, can I. :-P

I hate hype by the way, which is what Blogrush was, but there's always a chance that by not jumping in early you can miss out on some decent opportunities.

Lincoln · 2 years ago

$1500 worth of REVIEWS??? GAH, why didn't you send them my way???? I could have paid off my bills this month! :-(

Actually I had to turn down a review offer myself, and I was all psyched because it was my very first review offer, but then I find out I already did a paid review for the company when they were doing a campaign run. Sheesh. Ca't very well do the same review twice now, can I. :-P

I hate hype by the way, which is what Blogrush was, but there's always a chance that by not jumping in early you can miss out on some decent opportunities.

custodio · 2 years ago

I don´t see a problem in trying in things. No one is asking you for money, and it it doesn´t give you the results you want after a month you just just remove it. No harm, no foul. I don´t make 12k a month on the internet by staying on the sidelines all the time.

custodio · 2 years ago

I don´t see a problem in trying in things. No one is asking you for money, and it it doesn´t give you the results you want after a month you just just remove it. No harm, no foul. I don´t make 12k a month on the internet by staying on the sidelines all the time.

moneymaker · 2 years ago

I dont understand that invisible code. YOu mean even if you remove the widget, the code will still be there?

moneymaker · 2 years ago

I dont understand that invisible code. YOu mean even if you remove the widget, the code will still be there?

Chris Lodge · 2 years ago

Good work Andy, I was almost tempted to try them after reading Darren's write-up, but the sneaky links and TOS have put paid to that.

Thanks :-)

Chris Lodge · 2 years ago

Good work Andy, I was almost tempted to try them after reading Darren's write-up, but the sneaky links and TOS have put paid to that.

Thanks :-)

Geschenke · 2 years ago

Thank you, just found this article over google. I thought about testing it myself but I guess you saved me a lot of time and effort. Damn there are so many programs comming out which no one seems to have tested before. I heared about problems with joomla updates and podpress updates and several more. Just strange

Geschenke · 2 years ago

Thank you, just found this article over google. I thought about testing it myself but I guess you saved me a lot of time and effort. Damn there are so many programs comming out which no one seems to have tested before. I heared about problems with joomla updates and podpress updates and several more. Just strange

Rita Wilhelm · 2 years ago

Personally, it doesn't bother me that they changed their affiliate structure. The new program offers more of an incentive.

It also says alot about big business vs. small business. Larger businesses are not as flexible to make changes based on the feedback they receive. Smaller companies can make those changes with out getting approval from a bunch of middle managers. And, if those are options that can easily be changed and don't require major programming changes, why not?

I put WidgetBucks on my PetBoogaloo site. I really like the ads it serves up, and the product comparisons it makes. It will be interesting to see how it performs in comparison to Adsense.

Rita Wilhelm

Rita Wilhelm · 2 years ago

Personally, it doesn't bother me that they changed their affiliate structure. The new program offers more of an incentive.

It also says alot about big business vs. small business. Larger businesses are not as flexible to make changes based on the feedback they receive. Smaller companies can make those changes with out getting approval from a bunch of middle managers. And, if those are options that can easily be changed and don't require major programming changes, why not?

I put WidgetBucks on my PetBoogaloo site. I really like the ads it serves up, and the product comparisons it makes. It will be interesting to see how it performs in comparison to Adsense.

Rita Wilhelm

Brian Auer · 2 years ago

I'm really not impressed with these guys. The fact that there was a link in the ad code just pushed me to the point of removing all their ads from my site.

I also noticed (and maybe others have too) that their stats don't seem to track any ad impressions unless they're at the url specified in that particular widget. I run my ads with an ad server plugin and I serve out ads to all my pages by percentage or weight. I'd been running 50/50 with AdSense and WidgetBucks for the last day or two, and my impressions stats were WAY off between the two. AdSense was showing about 1000 impressions per ad per day, while WidgetBucks was showing 50. My guess is that only those shown on my home page were counted. The method of requiring a URL sucks -- there's no way I'm going to create 500 widgets and place each one manually just so I can show the ad on my blog.

Brian Auer · 2 years ago

I'm really not impressed with these guys. The fact that there was a link in the ad code just pushed me to the point of removing all their ads from my site.

I also noticed (and maybe others have too) that their stats don't seem to track any ad impressions unless they're at the url specified in that particular widget. I run my ads with an ad server plugin and I serve out ads to all my pages by percentage or weight. I'd been running 50/50 with AdSense and WidgetBucks for the last day or two, and my impressions stats were WAY off between the two. AdSense was showing about 1000 impressions per ad per day, while WidgetBucks was showing 50. My guess is that only those shown on my home page were counted. The method of requiring a URL sucks -- there's no way I'm going to create 500 widgets and place each one manually just so I can show the ad on my blog.

whydowork · 2 years ago

Since it was pre-release with exclusive invites only, do you think crushing them on changing payment structure is premature?

I think its great you were honest about this widget. Seems that as of late responsibility has been slipping at quite a few of the major blogs.

I posted something similar today about the million$wiki's out there. I'd value your feedback:

http://www.whydowork.com/blog/wdw-insider/135/

Thanks! :)

whydowork · 2 years ago

Since it was pre-release with exclusive invites only, do you think crushing them on changing payment structure is premature?

I think its great you were honest about this widget. Seems that as of late responsibility has been slipping at quite a few of the major blogs.

I posted something similar today about the million$wiki's out there. I'd value your feedback:

http://www.whydowork.com/blog/wdw-insider/135/

Thanks! :)

moneymaker · 2 years ago

is adsense and widgetbucks allowed in one page?

moneymaker · 2 years ago

is adsense and widgetbucks allowed in one page?

Claude Gelinas · 2 years ago

I love your article, Andy!

This new "service" doesn't clearly identify the advertisers. The "sites in our network" promotional slogan (on their "home page") fails to explain what role these companies play in their "network".

When so little "valuable" information is provided to web publishers, perhaps it's smarter to stay away from this potential waste of time... and money.

Claude Gelinas · 2 years ago

I love your article, Andy!

This new "service" doesn't clearly identify the advertisers. The "sites in our network" promotional slogan (on their "home page") fails to explain what role these companies play in their "network".

When so little "valuable" information is provided to web publishers, perhaps it's smarter to stay away from this potential waste of time... and money.

Helen · 2 years ago

I am using on my blog. I don't find any problem in earnings now. However just 2-3 day before, the clicks and impression were not updating but now they are getting update.
What I m curious to know that they pay or not. I've earned around $6 till now. As they say you have 25$ as bonus so i need 19$ more to reach 50$. I am sure I will do it by this month.

I also saw they have starting advertising through Adwords also.

Helen · 2 years ago

I am using on my blog. I don't find any problem in earnings now. However just 2-3 day before, the clicks and impression were not updating but now they are getting update.
What I m curious to know that they pay or not. I've earned around $6 till now. As they say you have 25$ as bonus so i need 19$ more to reach 50$. I am sure I will do it by this month.

I also saw they have starting advertising through Adwords also.

Favorite Browser · 2 years ago

I've actually already signed up there but after you've said that they include their link decided not to install it into my site.

Thanks Andy.

Favorite Browser · 2 years ago

I've actually already signed up there but after you've said that they include their link decided not to install it into my site.

Thanks Andy.

Stephan Miller · 2 years ago

I took me a while to spot that sneaky link they put in. It now has a no-follow tag.

Stephan Miller · 2 years ago

I took me a while to spot that sneaky link they put in. It now has a no-follow tag.

DJ · 2 years ago

WidgetBucks removed the hidden link today (though you have to update your code to get rid of it).

DJ · 2 years ago

WidgetBucks removed the hidden link today (though you have to update your code to get rid of it).

teq · 2 years ago

These adverts are the most annoying thing ive ever come across. I would never trust them to purchase anything and spend five minutes trying to find where to turn the damn thing off and discover... you cant. So it sits there blocking the page that its on meaning you cant use the site.

I personally hope every one of the people behind these dies in a horrifically painful and slow manner to reflect the sheer annoyance of what they induced on internet users.

teq · 2 years ago

These adverts are the most annoying thing ive ever come across. I would never trust them to purchase anything and spend five minutes trying to find where to turn the damn thing off and discover... you cant. So it sits there blocking the page that its on meaning you cant use the site.

I personally hope every one of the people behind these dies in a horrifically painful and slow manner to reflect the sheer annoyance of what they induced on internet users.