ValueClick Media

Benefit to using with AdSense?

[bgd2006]

I did a search for posts on ValueClick and it looks like it's been a while since there were any good discussions on using ValueClick with AdSense. VC appears to have more ad formats so just curious if they are compatible with Google TOS and if anyone has experience with them.

The two ad formats in particular that I'm asking about are there "InVue" and "Expandable" banners.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

[tebrino]

I use them on one of my sites and although their CPM rates are acceptable, fill rate is usually quite low. Good thing about them is they pay by wire transfer to all countries. InVue is basically floating popup and most users find it very annoying

[alika]

Loads of low quality ads with bottom scraping CPMs. BurstMedia is slightly better in terms of ad quality, or even Tribal Fusion

[alika]

(double post)

[fearlessrick]

I have used ValueClick since they were Fastclick (2005) and have been very happy with the results. Fine to use with AdSense, never an issue. They always pay prior to Google and the extra dough is excellent.

As far as CPM rates, while they're low, I'm not concerned. Use enough of their ads and your bottom line will improve. For me, VC has been a true winner.

[bgd2006]

Their User Interface takes a little while to get used to but I have found CPM rate to be acceptable. I rate their Customer Service as above average as well mainly because you can communicate directly with an account manager. I believe only very large accounts that has ability with Google but I could be mistaken.

[surfer67]

but I have found CPM rate to be acceptable

0.02 cpm is unacceptable.

[bgd2006]

@surfer67...yes I agree: 0.02 CPM is unacceptable.

[alika]

Loads and loads of World of Warcraft ads (ok if you're running a gaming site, not ok for a financial site), Ripped Abs, all the flashing banners, and yes, 0.02 CPM ads.

But if your site generates huge, huge amounts of traffic that even a 0.02 CPM can turn to thousands of dollars a month, then it may be worthwhile to pursue.

Just never make the mistake of using autoselect for all the ads :o)

[darkmage]

Valueclick is bottom of the barrel. I found removing their ads made my site look better and increased my income on adsense. There is so much garbage on thier network from 'You're a winner' to screensavers and other crap mentioned above.

Alika, you can't turn 0.02 CPM into thousands per month. That would require over 1-2 billion impressions per year, putting the site in the top 100 worldwide. There are so many many better ways at et 0.02 ecpm - even the most basic amazon ads could do it.

What I don't get is that even a second ad block or link units from google would do better. So why use Valueclick at all? Also, keep in mind that Valueclick's fill rate is not that great for any of the quality ads paying over 0.10-0.20 ecpm.

[IanCP]

Valueclick is bottom of the barrel.

I've no personal experience there but I nearly a year ago gave Kontera a go and was disappointed after a time.

I persevered for no other reason than to receive the minimum payout and get paid via PayPal.

While in no way spectacular, the EPC steadily improved to the point I am now finding it further "money for nothing". Possibly an EPC greater than a great many here see with AdSense.

CTR isn't shabby either, not AdSense but I'll persevere with anything which continues to show improvement.

As a gauge, it alone, covers every cent I pay in hosting costs for two sites plus all my internet access.

FWIW YMMV

[alika]

Try Chitika as well. Their ads show only when a person comes from search engines, so referrals and direct traffic don't see anything. We have way better payouts from them simply by using their mega unit at the bottom of each page

[fearlessrick]

As a gauge, it alone, covers every cent I pay in hosting costs for two sites plus all my internet access.

I do even better than that, covering hosting (1 site), access and beer money for the month, and I've been known to quaff quite a few on good days, and good stuff, craft brews and the higher end stuff.

A long time ago I decided that the only way to make VC pay was to jam three sizes onto each page (banner, large rec and skyscraper). All told, the combined eCPM is OK and pays a little more than 1/2 of what adsense produces. I've struck a balance and never get complaints about spammy ads. It's just freaking business, isn't it?

Thinking about Chitika for another site I'm developing.

[super70s]

I can echo fearlessrick's first post, nowhere near my Adsense revenue but I have them stuck at the bottom of my pages. Very reliable payment. I seriously doubt if I removed them it would "increase my income from Adsense" as someone else claimed.

I tried Chitika a little while ago, it worked fine for a couple days then I started getting some same untargeted iPod ad on all the pages. I just took it down because it wasn't performing that well anyway.

Reminds me of when I tried ClickBank and started getting "Service Temporarily Unavailable" in huge letters as often as not. I just don't fool with unreliable stuff.

[MsHuggys]

I have used Value Click since it was Fast Click as well. Only on some of my sites. On other sites I use Casale Media. My rule of thumb is this.

If I am getting high paying ads, nice CPC and CTR from adsense, I only use ONE pop-under from Value Click. Banner ads have reduced my Adsense CTR, and I earned MUCH less. The pop-under does not reduce Adsense CTR.

If I am getting very low Adsense CPC (under $.20) plus CTR (less than 1%), I pulled Adsense and am using Value Click Banners and ONE pop-under instead. It is shame to have a site that gets millions of hits but Adsense ads won't result in clicks. Some topics, no matter how targeted the ads, people just won't click.

If I can't pull targeted ads at all with Adsense, then I pulled Adsense, and I use Casale Media. Casale pays 5% more than Value Click AND I select the ads I want before they are shown. This enables me to prevent ads some might find targeted from showing on my site.

For example, I own a site that is a victim advocacy site. Adsense shows ads targeted to those who commit the crimes, enables those who commmit the crimes or glorifies the crime. Not a good match. I need to carefully select my ads to ensure they do not offend or attack my visitors.

Of the two, I like Casale the best. But, oddly, Value Click will approve some of my sites, not others and Casale will approve the ones Value Click rejected. (Value Click doesn't like my victim advocacy site, likely because it exposes blame on a major internet advertising nitch).