Internet Video is here to stay.

First, a quick discussion on video.  Why is video such a powerful tool?  Before video the choices were print media and radio.  Both have their benefits, but the downsides are that they only appeal to one of the human senses.  Video comes along and suddenly it isn’t just graphics, but motion graphics—so not only is it visual like print, but the motion of the video catches attention.  Additionally, the audio helps to convey the message.  So attention is grabbed, visual people see the images, and the audio confirms the images—it is very persuasive.

Video on the internet has been very exciting.  Exciting to the tune of 13.5 billion videos watched in the US alone, 92 videos watched per person on the internet in a single month–according to Comscore.  Why is internet video so popular?  You can see anything you want whenever you want it.  Crazy stuff, stupid stuff, educational stuff, funny stuff, business, etc.—you name it, you can find it. 

When it comes to incorporating video in internet advertising…well people are still trying different things and figuring out what works.  Companies have tried using the video as the advertisement.  Many times, however, they start off with a still shot that doesn’t let anyone know what they are about to watch, and if the video isn’t clicked on no form of advertisement took place.

Enter the videos in internet advertising that just automatically starts playing.  First, it is annoying and makes you not want to go back to that page.  Second, it is annoying.

What does this have to with the Ad Exchange Program with ExchangeMyAd.com?  Everything.  I haven’t written much about it, because I wanted to get people up and running with the program first—patience everyone, we are told we’ll be ready to go any day now.  However using video in internet advertising is an important topic. 

The ExchangeMyAd.com platform incorporates video in internet advertising in a different way.  There will be a thumbnail sized portion of the ad that indicates that there is a video to watch—this reserves the rest of the ad space for the ad.  The video in the thumbnail will play the first 10 second of the video over and over to draw attention.   Then when the video thumbnail is clicked in the advertisement the flash viewer expands to show the video.  This process doesn’t trigger any pop-ups.  While the video is playing the person watching can click on the video to go on to the website, just like the ad itself. 

To check it out and learn more about the Ad Exchange Program, click here.

In the next article, we’ll discuss some things to keep in mind as you incorporate video in internet advertising.

Technorati Tags: ad exchange program, exchangemyad.com, internet advertising, video

Google Search with SEO

Before launching ExchangMyAd.com, as I discussed the concept with others, one question kept popping up. I addressed it in the FAQ section of the site, but I felt like I should discuss it a bit further and since people don’t often read the FAQ section (people usually just make assumptions rather than actually look for answers). The question is, “What effect will placing the advertising module on my site have with the search engines?” People want to know, will the additional content help with my SEO? Will it hurt them?

Normally, additional content on your site has an effect, positive or negative, with your SEO. And just a casual form of exchanging ads may cause an effect. However, exchanging ads, with the ExchangeMyAd.com platform, will not hurt or help with SEO. The crawlers that search engines use to look at a site won’t see our ads for a few reasons:

1. The exchanged ads aren’t actually a part of your site. Our servers serve up the ads in a completely separate action from your website. You simply provide us a “window” for our ads to appear in.

2. The code that we use to create the ad “window” on your site is in java script, which the web crawlers can’t read.

3. The same ads won’t appear in the same spot on your website over and over again, they will rotate. Because they aren’t “fixed” ads on your site, using the technologies explained in reasons #1 and #2, they will not be seen.

4. To verify this, we have actually pulled up the last picture that the web crawler used on several sites that our ads appear on. In the space where our ads would normally appear, there was just a blank “window”.

So for good and bad, the ads that are shown on your site, that come from ExchangeMyAd.com will not have an effect with your SEO strategy. The real benefit to having more people see your ads is an increase in traffic and/or sales. That is our intention.

Technorati Tags: exchangemyad.com, search engine rankings, search engines, search rankings, seo, web crawlers

ExchangeMyAd.com unveils Ad Exchange Program!

ExchangeMyAd.com is helping businesses join together to form a free online ad sharing network using RealVu Technology’s patented online advertising tracking system to manage the Ad Exchange Program.

The owners of ExchangeMyAd.com have long been involved in the marketing and advertising worlds both online and off-line.  Both have a passion for working with small businesses and entrepreneurs and felt that this would be a great way to help them—especially with the current economic uncertainty.  Business owners have been cutting back on their advertising budgets, but want to remain visible to their customer bases.  ExchangeMyAd.com knows how difficult it can be, and found a way to help out.

The Ad Exchange Program is set up such that businesses place our advertising module (ad “window”) on their website.  As the ads are seen by people visiting that business’ website, that business earns ad credits that it can use to advertise its business on other non-competing sites that are participating in the Ad Exchange Program. 

Technorati Tags: Ad Exchange, ad exchange program, exchangemyad.com, Online Advertising, Tough Times

The Ad Exchange Program at ExchangeMyAd.com is set up so that business owners around the world can help to provide relevant advertising space to each other and keep businesses running in a difficult and uncertain time.  I am a business owner and understand how difficult it can be to adapt to a changing environment.  Advertising, in particular, is a sore spot.  Try as I might to watch the ROI on various campaigns for different businesses and make prudent decisions in good times, I am extra careful, cautious, and analytical during difficult times.  Advertising mistakes just seem extra costly when the margins are thinner; on the other hand, I know that to keep the business going I have to keep in front of my customers!

Some conversations with friends and associates led me to help create ExchangeMyAd.com where we can do our part to help the business community.  There are some challenges in making an exchange of advertising fair and effective.  First, online advertising that is based on “impressions” is begging to be wrought with fraud (especially in tough times).  Second, “clicks” aren’t a fair way to exchange–one “click” to one company may be worth a lot more, and the percentage of clicks varies on so many factors.  Third, you have to be able reach your target audience.

The first and second issues were dealt with through an arrangement with RealVu Technologies, www.realvu.net.  They have a patented technology that tracks when an ad comes into view on a person’s browser.  Tracking “views” facilitates a fair method to allow an exchange of advertising.  In addition, the reporting tool allows you to to actually compare impressions, views, clicks, videos watched, along with a whole host of other information that is useful for honing in your campaigns.

The third issue will be dealt with in time, which is why we are currently in beta.  The more websites that are exchanging ads, the better for everyone.  Even tiny sites are great, ones that wouldn’t normally be able to get advertisers, because when they are all aggregated it creates volume in even very niche markets.  Additionally, there are plans for local businesses to be able to target local customers (geotargeting). 

The greatest thing about the Ad Exchange Program is that I test out new messages, promotions, graphics, and videos until I find something that works.  I know the ROI, before I spend any money on additional advertising!  Crazy.  I will spend money on advertising all day long under those circumstances!

I am excited to have launched this platform for exchanging advertising, and for the future planned developments.  I am sure that there will be bumps along the way, and I thank you for your patience as we deal with them.  I appreciate your participation in the Ad Exchange Program and welcome feedback.

Technorati Tags: ad exchange program, business community, exchangemyad.com, impressions, patented technology