Ad HustlerConfessions Of A Serial Internet Entrepreneur

AdEngage.com case study #1 was a complete flop.  I have to preface this by saying that it’s not really their fault.  I had a lot of problems with my offer on this particular day.  The offer server was slow, the offer server was down, pixels werent firing, it was just a huge mess.  For this reason I am scratching case study #1 being that it’s not a fair review.  Although I am not going to post results in this particular case study, let me bullet some things I learned about this traffic source since there really is not a whole lot posted about it:

• Impressions don’t really matter.  You are ordering a certain amount of clicks.  They run your ad until the order is filled regardless of how many impressions it takes.
• There is a lot of traffic here.  I would estimate it at 1,000 clicks per hour is not unrealistic.
• Many of sites on the network are one step above horrible.  It’s a lot of sites that probably used to use adsense but got their accounts banned.
• A lot of the advertisers are abusing the system and putting ad links in places that cause accidental clicks.  Places would include under videos, so that it looks like you need to click the link to play the video.
• Advertisers are trying to link your ad with half naked women to increase click through rate.
• It takes a long time to get an ad approved.
• If you have an ad that is approved and want to “renew” the exact same ad, it goes through manual review again, which takes a long time.
• My EPC’s were much lower then traffic derived from Social Media type ad networks ie: Facebook, Myspace, Cubics, SM
• Their customer support is pretty good if your name is Ad Hustler.

Although some of the above sounds negative, I am not giving up on them.  If there is a way to make money with this traffic source I will figure it out and report back.  Keep Hustlin’

Ad Hustler

Marketing is a funny business.  New ad networks often come out and are often shot down as bad quality or bot traffic right off the bat.  One guy says he tested it and it was no good and everyone else thinks it’s no good either.  I didn’t become the one and only Ad Hustler by believing what other people tell me.  For this reason I have set up a campaign over at Ad Engage to test their traffic myself.

My initial impressions are as follows:

• Setting up a campaign is a clumsy process and the whole checkout process is weird and confusing.
• There are a fair amount of targeting options.
• CPC pricing if you go run of network seems high considering the sites they place you on.
• Their approval process of ads is manual and takes entirely too long.

Other then that I am open to see what the service can do.  Keep an eye out for Ad Engage case study #1.

Ad Hustler

Ad Tech NYC was a blast.  I have never been to an advertising conference with as many exhibitors as this one.  Since so much went on in such a short period of time it’s hard to talk about it all so I’ll stick to some highlights.

• Went out to lunch with my good buddy Ian Fernando, my new buddy Max From Moneybites.com and Brittany from CPA Empire.  Brittany was going to take us to Gordon Ramsey’s London NY but they were packed and we couldn’t get a table.  Instead we went to Lindy’s.  This was a fun time and Brittany seems like a mad chill girl.
• Checked out some of Google’s Seminars.  Nothing groundbreaking but it’s always good to hear what they are up to.
• Went to the Tatto Media get together at the Penthouse of the Hilton (Courtesy of my boy Mike Cataldo).  This was a really classy party and this is a really classy affiliate network, so go join them NOW….and tell them that Ad Hustler sent you.
• Went to the Direct Agents party at some unknown location on the roof of a building.  This party was nice and also classy.  Met some cool Direct Agents people such as Kenrick, Krill The Mad Russian and Julia who looks strikingly like Sherri Moon Zombie.
• After Direct Agents, Wayne, Ian & Myself (our masterminds group) went to a small bar to catch some of the football game.
• Next was the Copeac party at Touch.  Met lots of cool people at this party including Jason Venters from CPA Empire, Samantha Brachat & Tina Chein from NeverblueAds, Luke from Wickedfire and a bunch of others.  I also found out that Ian is quite a thugged out dancer.  Videos to come later

That’s the highlights.  My main complaint about the show is that the people working the exhibitor booths know nothing about their products.  To put it lightly, many are complete idiots.  One standout of this was the AdKnowledge.com booth who couldnt answer ANY of my questions about Cubics.com (they own the damn network).

That is all for now.  Keep Hustlin’

Ad Hustler

Hello All.  I will be at Ad Tech all day on Monday November 3, 2008.  If anyone wants to try to meet up, leave a comment with your email address.  I will also be at the Azoogle and Copeac parties.  See you there.

Ad Hustler