Here are the main contextual advertising networks. Contextual advertising scours each page for topic and then displays relevant ads. Installation usually involves embedding javascript snippets into places on your templates where you want ads served. (If you want the process of optimization, from ad network selection to formatting, placement, color and other visual characteristics, optimized automatically, be sure to check out YieldBuild.)

Google AdSense

Google’s the big guy in this space. Payment is on a per-click basis (CPC). Acceptance into the program occurs within a few days of first applying, and accepts publishers in most countries of the world. Payout occurs once clearing $100, and can even be converted to local currency in 42 countries. More highlights:

• Can allow advertisers to target your site (run-of-site), and specific publisher-set ad channels on your site
• Can block competitors’ ads by setting up competitive ad filters
• Allows you to choose your ads’ size, format, color, and border style
• Allows the setup of up to 200 channels to allow deeper performance analytics
• Can automatically serve up display (image) and video ad in appropriately-sized ad units, in addition to standard text ads

http://www.google.com/adsense/

Yahoo Publisher Network

YPN is the second-largest contextual ad network, but is limited to US-based publishers only at this time. Similar to AdSense, publishers are paid by click (CPC). Payout occurs at $100.

• Allows publishers to specify their site’s category (from over 100) to allow better advertiser targeting
• Can filter out up to 50 competitors from appearing on publisher’s site
• Can tailor color and size for ad units
• Can set up up to 50 channels for performance tracking

http://publisher.yahoo.com/

Vibrant Media

Vibrant Media hyperlinks keywords in a page’s text with its signature green double-line, and upon mouseover, displays a relevant text, image or video ad.

• To be accepted, a site must achieve a minimum of 500,000 monthly pageviews, and adhere to other quality standards.
• VM ads are rolled out on pages with a minimum of 50 words, and must adhere to quality guidelines.

http://www.vibrantmedia.com/webpublishers/index.asp

Kontera

Similar to Vibrant Media, Kontera’s ContentLink provides pop-up advertising modules upon user mouseover on its blue double-lined links.

• recently added a WordPress plugin, and Blogger support
• payout happens once a publisher’s account exceeds $100
• can make basic format changes to make the ads match publishers’ site aesthetics

http://www.kontera.com/ads-for-site/publishers-overview/

LookSmart

LookSmart provides advertising to approximately

• counts approximately 3,500 Websites among its publisher base, with CNET, Wikia and InfoSpace among its most prominent.
• manages its own ads, along with third-party ad networks publishers might be using

http://www.looksmart.com/publisher-adcenter.html

Chitika

Chitika’s eMiniMalls deliver contextually-relevant Shopping.com offers. Publishers are paid on a per-click basis (CPC).

http://chitika.com/mm_overview.php

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 9:40 pm and is filed under Online Advertising. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.