Free advertising

Discussion in 'Public Game Developers Forum' started by Runloop, Feb 7, 2011.

  1. NemoidStudio

    NemoidStudio Well-Known Member

    Just in case it is also in your spam folders, I have sent you an e-mail :)
     
  2. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    I'll need the ad as well.

    I hope so too. I hope it's even bigger!

    I'll check it out now.

    Got the email and added the ad.
     
  3. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    #23 Runloop, Feb 17, 2011
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2011
    I didn't realise when I started this thread but AdMob only allows a certain number of house ads and I've reached it pretty much.

    I've attached a screenshot of all the ads I included. Some are for a fitness app of mine. These figures are from the last week. You can see though that relevant house ads get a much higher CTR, I've never had a CTR that high with regular ads.

    So it turns out I can't display any more house ads in my game. But I don't want it to stop there. This is why I'm calling this the Big IDEA (Indie Developer Exchange of Ads). I think it would be awesome if more people took part in displaying the ads as well as submitting them. I've started to put together a site for all the ads (no design just yet, still busy on Blockees). People will be able to submit their ads independently, and developers can pick and choose which ads they'd like to display in their games.

    http://www.runloop.com/thebigidea/

    I'd love this to catch on. I think the Big IDEA is a great idea.

    Hopefully once Blockees is done I'll have some data that will back the idea up.


    PS. For those ads I have included don't be discourage by the low numbers and CTR at the moment. The game that's displaying them is still in development and it's just me and my beta testers clicking them.

    Screen shot 2011-02-17 at 15.51.47.png
     
  4. Zincous

    Zincous Well-Known Member

    Dec 23, 2008
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    Sacramento, CA
    Thank you Runloop! The Big IDEA sounds great, hope lots of devs get on board. As soon as I have an ads based app, I will join in. :D
     
  5. GregH

    GregH Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2009
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    Sweeet! 50% click-through for Super Juicy! Heh heh :cool:
     
  6. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    Just thought I'd let you all know what's happening with this.

    Since coming up with the idea and talking about it here I've actually decided to change my plans slightly. Now rather than using admob to deliver these ads I've built my own ad distribution platform.

    Using admob had its limitations and drawbacks. For a start as I was using house ads with web addresses rather than the app option the ads would open up the admob browser, then switch to the app store (it might have even opened safari on the way). There was also the risk that admob could change the way this worked at any point.

    So instead I've built my own web app for delivering the ads and a library to include the ads within apps. Right now it's in a very early stage and I've just submitted three of my free apps with the ad plaform in. Soon I'll be able to see how they perform.

    My intention is to open this platform up. Advertisers will be able to include their ads for free still. Publishers will be able to pick and choose which ads they wish to include in their apps. They will be able to select the ones they think will perform the best, choose the ones with the best CTR, or simply advertise their own apps.

    Publishers will make their money through their linkshare account. There will be a 75/25 split between the publishers and Runloop. In other words, 3 in 4 ads will use the publishers linkshare referral, 1 in 4 will use Runloops. This is better than the Apple 70/30 split. If this actually takes off and actually makes people money I may even reduce my share.

    Now this is all done, I can finally release my new game as well. It's been a busy few weeks.
     
  7. mr.Ugly

    mr.Ugly Well-Known Member

    Dec 1, 2009
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    Sounds a bit like playhaven http://www.playhaven.com/

    Good luck with your platform, the only well, "not indie" friendly thing i can see is the ability to actualy choose what adds you want to show based on ctr..

    it will roll over the small titles easily.. Why should someone choose ads of unknown games if they can choose the current "hot" ones and earn more money that way..

    So it ends up like most ad services

    Somehow i like the initial look that somebody hand picks what gets into the circulation.. keep an eye on quality and not let everything in.. A bit like iad and apple where there is an review process (and even ad developement) thats need to be passed.

    Yes this is always biased to some extend but still tons better than some crap that gets you served with admob&co..
     
  8. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    I fail to see the similarity with Playhaven other than both offer free ads. I've included Playhaven in one of my games and have been entirely unhappy with it. The only winners are those with already successful games and Playhaven. This is what I wanted to address.

    It'll be entirely up to developers which ads they choose to display. If they want to display the big titles they can, but personally I don't see the point of advertising games that you can almost guarantee people already have. Getting to choose which ads to display and not which games means you can literally pick the most eye catching ads.

    I'm sure it won't be perfect. What is? It's got to be better than using admob or iAd though. In my game I will surely have more click throughs if I display ads for other games, and not hotels, cars, or other somewhat irrelevant services.

    Today I'm going to add this to two more of my games and submit them to the store. Then in a few weeks I'll be able to see how successful it is.
     
  9. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    Ok, so the initial batch of apps with the ad code when live last night. These aren't particularly popular apps so don't expect to see a huge jump in sales. The best performing ads so far are getting a CTR of about 3% which is way better than I ever got on AdMob.

    I need more ads though!

    I honestly never thought it would be so hard to give away advertising. I actually thought people would bite my hand off at the chance to get more promotion of their games. This doesn't not appear to be the case though.

    If you or anybody you know wants some free advertising - no strings attached - just add a link and a banner (320x50, iAd size) to this thread or send them to [email protected] and I'll add them to the inventory.

    Edit: There will be some more apps with the ad code coming out soon which I hope will get a lot more impressions.

    What do you have to lose?

    Answer: Absolutely nothing.
     
  10. tofusoup

    tofusoup Well-Known Member

    Aug 23, 2010
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    I might take you up on that offer. We are using MobClix and they allow custom ads. I've not tested this but I can put your banner in my lite versions in exchange.

    I'll get back to you
     
  11. pixelfightersgame

    pixelfightersgame Well-Known Member

    Jan 27, 2011
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  12. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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  13. carrytheone

    carrytheone Active Member

    Oct 20, 2010
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    Free-range Game Developer
    Brisbane, Australia
    Hi Runloop,

    When I originally sent you my ad for Tank Maverick I mentioned that it wasn't live yet, so just wanted to let you know that it is now.

    Cheers!

    Pete
     
  14. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    Can you send it to me again?
     
  15. carrytheone

    carrytheone Active Member

    Oct 20, 2010
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    Free-range Game Developer
    Brisbane, Australia
  16. rizer

    rizer New Member

    Dec 4, 2010
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    Indie iOS game developer
    Norwich, UK
  17. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    Looks perfect, I'll add it now. I basically feel a bit stupid about talking about a certain standard. I'll accept anything, variety is the spice of life after all.
     
  18. robdog

    robdog Well-Known Member

    Dec 9, 2010
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    San Diego
    Oh sweet! I thought you would be bombarded too.. but ill go make my banner, if its not too much of a problem for you!

    Thanks RunLoop! Extremely kind of you!
     
  19. TinyTechnician

    TinyTechnician Well-Known Member

    Apr 21, 2010
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    Los Angeles
    I'm also wondering if you're still accepting ads. I added my banner in the first page and now I have an update that just came out for Finders Keepers.

    Not sure if my banner ever made it onto your list ;-)
     
  20. Runloop

    Runloop Well-Known Member

    Nov 16, 2009
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    Southampton, UK
    All the old banners are the wrong size now. I changed the spec at some point to be the same size as iAd. If you could resize the old ones I'll add them.
     

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