The Online Advertising Discussion List Archives

==================================================================== Online Advertising Discussion List ==================================================================== List Moderator: Supported by: Kevin Fadden InterEdge kfad_at_interedge.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- April 16, 1996 Digest#0018 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ******************************************************************** This week's sponsor: InterEdge For more information on this fertile advertising ground, check out our rate card at: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [THIS SPACE FOR RENT] For information on sponsoring Online-Ads, see: ******************************************************************** In this Digest... NEW ------- "Moderator Comments" ~ Kevin Fadden "Digital Stater Feedback" ~ PJ Hruschak CONTINUING ------- "Re: Online-Ads Update" ~ Bob Novick ~ Hank Heath ~ Bill Gallagher "Meta tags" ~ Joe McWilliams ~ Christopher Bain REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ------- "Needing Statistics" ~ PJ Hruschak BANNER SWAP MEET ------- Look here for a *short* listing of sites that are looking to swap ad banners with each other, you, and everyone else. ***************** NEW ***************** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kevin Fadden Subject: Moderator Comments Howdy folks! Well, we *do* have a digest today. I'd like to first of all thank those of you who have responded to my request for feedback as to why traffic had died down so much in recent days. For the benefit of the group, I have included many of the postings in this digest. I will be ammending my own comments to some of these posts, which are down in the "Continuing" section. I think one big reason that *I* did not think of was that this past weekend was Tax Weekend for those of us here in the States. So, my apologies (and sympathies; condolences, if applicable) to anyone who was stuck doing their taxes this weekend. I would also like to briefly apologize to the group for my lambasting of the online ad rep agencies and networks, whom I may have offended with my remarks. Sometimes, not just here, but in everyday life, as well, I feel like putting on the coach's cap and whistle. I would liken my message to the list yesterday to a half-time locker room speech. If nothing else, this was the spirit in which it was intended. Sometimes I think we all tend to forget just how tricky of a beast email is -- once you hit "send", it's gone and you can't take it back. I'm not trying to do that, but I would like to own up to having had a momentary let-down in this regard. NOW, onto brighter and lighter topics. We can welcome about 40 new subscribers to our group (now at 521, we have had some people leave). For their benefit, I'd like to point out a few things: 1) Frequently Asked Questions: 2) Archived Digests are avialable as a link off the FAQ page. 3) The list is available for Sponsorship. Details for this are also available on the FAQ page. 4) IF any of our newer subscribers are online ad buyers, please contact me directly at . I do have something to offer you, and also, as I believe this constituency makes up the *smallest* percentage of our group, I'd be curious to know just how many of you are out there. (this goes for existing subscribers, as well.) I assure you, you're disclosure will be kept confidential. Enjoy the digest and keep those posts coming, Kevin -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: phruscha_at_arcrs1.saed.kent.edu (PJ Hruschak) Subject: Digital Stater Feedback I am a journalism graduate student at Kent State. For my masters project I created an online (Web) version of the student newspaper at Kent, The Daily Kent Stater..."The Digital Kent Stater" (http://www.saed.kent.edu/Stater/). For my project I need people to critique/comment on the site. I know there are a few bugs, but suggestions, comments, criticisms and praises are needed for my final project paper. If you would please look at the site and email comments to me (phruscha_at_saed.kent.edu). This is not an attempt to get an increase in traffic...although we (myself, the grad assistant, and the ads manager) are having problems setting advertising rates since this is a college site and very few colelge sites actually sell online ad "space." We've had several offers from companies who want to purchase onlinea d space, but we've been waiting to get a better sense of what to charge (we have some pro. figures from magazines and from some of my research...hopefully with info. from people on this listserv...hint, hint...see my last posting...) PJ Hruschak EMAIL: phruscha_at_saed.kent.edu Digital Kent Stater WWW: http://www.saed.kent.edu/Stater/ OFFICE: (330) 672-3250 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ***************** CONTINUING ***************** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bob Novick Subject: Re: Online-Ads Update Speaking for myself, I hate the digest-only format. When I'm very busy, as I have been the past couple of weeks, I find it too much trouble to read the digests, though I scan all the non-digest articles of the Internet-Marketing list. Bob Novick Impulse Research *** Moderator: I would welcome the feedback of the group on this particular point. Personally, because *I too* am *extremely* busy, I only subscribe to digest versions of the lists to which I belong. As they trickle in throughout the day, I simply open them up and save them. Then, when I do have the time to invest, usually toward the end of my day, I read them. For me, this ensures that I'm in the right frame of mind to read, learn, investigate and/or respond to anything pertinent I may find. Now, as I mentioned, I would be curious to know just how many people in the group would prefer to have the list in single message format. However, this will basically do away with the "moderation" of the group. (Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing, but....) Also, there is a technical consideration: My mail server and my Web server are the same machine. This is primarily why I send the digests out late at night -- when my Web server isn't so busy. I would love to have these two servers on dedicated machines, however, financial considerations make that impossible at the present. (Yes, this is a hint for sponsorships 8-). So, for posterity's sake, I'd like to know how many peole would be interested in this, but I can make no gaurantees that it will happen, even *if* there is an overwhelming majority in favor of it. I will most definitely keep it in mind for the future, though, as hopefully I'll be adding machines right and left before too long. Sorry, Bob. -- KF *** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: HankHeath_at_aol.com that the response has gone down. I think your list has been really cooking. My personal excuse for not contributing is - well - I been busy, boss. But do not take it as a sign of disinterest. Hank Heath -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bill Gallagher Subject: Re: Online-Ads Update Feedback. . . . The sales, marketing and ad lists seem to wander on topic and are often a little "marketing newbie." My impression is that there are way too many tech types and too few marketing/advertising/selling types posting. For sure there needs to be both types of readers/posters but it's a little lite on the traditional ad and media perspective. It seems like so many are learning what a CPM is for the first time and that makes it less involving for others. Bill Gallagher, Bill_at_ipub.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | iPUB (sm) interactive publishing | publishers of: | ----------------------------------|------------------------------------- | | http://www.ipub.com/ipub | Guerrilla Marketing Online Magazine | | 1519 Mountain Boulevard | http://www.gmarketing.com | | Oakland, CA 94611 | | | 510/658-xxxx Fax:510/658-xxxx | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ temporary phone 510/658-9685 *** Moderator: I think Bill raises a good point here. We've had more talk about Meta Tags than about advertising. Nobody can twist anybody's arm into posting, but we all, I think, would like to see a bit more from those people who are actually selling the ads. And what of ad buyers? Could you folks please clue us all in to what it is you are looking for and/or expect from a site or sites you'd consider advertising on? -- KF *** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: jmcwill_at_hoovers.com (Joe McWilliams) Subject: More on Meta tags Thanks for your help with the meta tags. Our test was a success. However, I'm most concerned if I use these tags my click through rate will plummet. Who else is using these tags to record impressions? Is this a standard? Thanks again for your valued advice. Joe McWilliams ************************************************** Joe McWilliams, Advertising Manager The Reference Press 6448 Highway 290 E-104 Austin, TX 78723 (512) 454-7778 (voice) (512) 454-9401 (fax) Come check out Hoover's Online (http://www.hoovers.com) The ultimate source for company information. ************************************************** *** Moderator: I do just want to clarify one thing on these meta tags: While it is a nice (?) benefit that this tag does increase your hit counts (barely -- it actually gives you a truer representation of how many times each pages is really "hit", IMHO), the primary purpose of this particular tag is to prevent proxy servers, such as AOL's, from serving outdated files to users who can't tell the difference. I've heard of people receiving mailto: forms that were replaced or modified two-three months ago. This is a big problem, until you start using these tags, that is. (Refer to DIGEST #0017 for details) -- KF *** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Christopher Bain <70242.661_at_CompuServe.COM> Subject: more META info I received many replies after my recent posting explaining some META tag basics, so in light of the interest, I thought I would share some info that recently came my way from one of the premier search engines, InfoSeek . It has some important implications as far as their own indexing system goes, and may well be useful for the dozens.scores.hundreds of other search services out there (if any other search engine folks are listening, and want to share this type of tidbit, or correct any of this post, please feel free). By default, InfoSeek uses the first 250 characters from your Web page for the description that appears in their search results. The usefulness of this information alone is evident with almost any basic search you might try......many sites give you no substantial information about the site, very little description (if any), and/or no enticement to "Pick Me!". Since most searches yield hundreds or thousands of hits, the searcher makes a quick decision as to which sites most closely match his/her search criteria. So make those first 250 words count. I wrote to them asking what happens when your entire home page is an image map, or series of graphics, but haven't heard back from them yet. I'll report back when I hear. If you don't want to use the first 250 characters as the description, you can specify a different description by including the META tag in the element of your page (which I described in my earlier post, and covered elsewhere in print and on the web. This is where the META Name="description" Content="your description goes here"> part comes in. Same goes for META Name="keywords" Content="your keywords go here" It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the importance of carefully wording both the META tags AND the first 250 characters of your home page. If you routinely submit information about multiple pages to the search engines (a time consuming task I'll admit) then you'd have to do this for each page/subject area. For instance, since our site currently features our line of 38 different thematic music books packaged with audio CDs, I'm currently submitting several of the more popular titles to the search engines. This way, someone searching for Big Bands, or Mozart, or Dixieland, or The Blues, or Women of Country, or Hollywood Musicals, etc. stand a better chance of finding our specific pages, regardless of how the resulting information is displayed or how the search is performed. Since the various search engines also weight their searches differently, it may also help weight our pages more heavily so that they end up higher on the resulting search list. InfoSeek adds: Note to sites using frames: If your site uses Netscape frames and if the site's main HTML file (the file with the tags) does not contain an adequate description, use the tags to include a description of your site. Without paying attention to such simple devices and techniques, your website might be akin to a billboard along route 25 in Suffolk County. "Where's that?" you might ask. Exactly! Chris Bain (70242.661_at_compuserve.com) Director of Photography & New Media Friedman/Fairfax "...among the best book/CD combination sets I've ever seen." as reviewed in Baby Boomer Collectibles, January 1996, and found at http://www.webcom.com/friedman -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kevin Fadden Subject: Re: Impression monitoring >I read somewhere about a company that does monitoring of Web site >impressions. Up to 100,000 impressions were free,after that there would be a >charge. I cant find where it was.Does anybody know which company it is? I believe it is NetCount which offers this service with the first 100,000 per month free. It's pretty cool, but unfortunately for *me*, they don't support the MacOS yet. For their sake, I hope they get that in gear. Enough preaching -- - Kevin Fadden -------------------------------------------------------------------- ***************** REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ***************** -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: phruscha_at_arcrs1.saed.kent.edu (PJ Hruschak) Subject: Needing Statistics I am a freelance writer/journalism grad student looking for accuarte statistics about hit-trafficing/counting ("hits") on the Web, i.e, which sites are the big hits. I's prefer to avoid stats which have already been printed (on a pulp- based medium) since I am trying to sell my story to pro off-line publications. Also, I am looking for some people who can talk to me about online marketing strategies and/or hit-counting technology. I have a "long" email questionaire that I can email to anyone, but people ususally put the minimun answers (and I need quotes and additional info that people don't usually take the time type). So far this listserv has been extremely helpful in assiting me with my project. If anyone can direct me to online stats, I would be most grateful (I will make my story vast email list of online advertising agencies, online advertisers and numerous links available to this listserv when my story is finished). Thank you for your time... PJ Hruschak EMAIL: phruscha_at_saed.kent.edu Digital Kent Stater WWW: http://www.saed.kent.edu/Stater/ OFFICE: (330) 672-3250 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ***************** BANNER SWAP MEET ***************** -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ American Individual Magazine and Coffeehouse http://aimc.com/aimc "The gathering place for entrepreneurs and individuals following their own paths." Chuck Locurto, aimc_at_ultranet.com -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ AAutoFleet Discounted Auto FLEET PRICING To Public E-mail -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Volition to get FREE STUFF! http://www.volition.com/ Ray Sola Highest Rated Free-Stuff Site in Point's "Top 5% of the Web" catalog. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Eric DePrano - President, Net Discount - PHONE (310)558-4234 http://net.discnt.com----eric_at_net2.discnt.com FAX (310)558-4233 [525,000 Visitors/month][5.3 million hits][$25 per page/mnth] Web page design & service, Market Consulting & Research, Web Site Promotion -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Catalog Site: The Original Resource Guide of Great Catalog Companies. Gary Baker, http://www.catalogsite.com -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Multimakers Alaska's Best: Alaska's Premier Online Magazine. http://www.alaskasbest.com -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Webling's Cafe mvassist_at_embratel.net.br (Tom Venetianer) http://mvassist.pair.com/ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Pacific Coast Feather Company Ray Dornbusch http://www.pacificcoast.com/pcf/ad/partner.htm -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ EntreeNet: The premier online guide to restaurants! EntreeNet/NY Capital District: Kim Van Dyke, http://www.albany.net/~barnowl/entree.htm -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ BUY IT OnLine: Your online GUIDE to locating products and services! Mary Wolf, webmaster_at_buyitonline.com http://www.buyitonline.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================================================== Online Advertising is moderated by Kevin Fadden. Please send suggestions and comments about the list to me at: kfad_at_interedge.com Send your posts to: online_ads_at_interedge.com Read General Information, Archives and FAQ at: http://www.interedge.com/OnlineAd_FAQ.html Subscribe by sending a blank message, with the subject field set to SUBSCRIBE to: online_advertising_at_interedge.com Unsubscribe by sending a blank message, with the subject field set to UNSUBSCRIBE to: online_advertising_at_interedge.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For info on these other mailing lists: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Internet-Sales Discussion List, Moderated by John Audette http://www.mmgco.com/isales.html Internet-Marketing Discussion List, Moderated by Glenn Fleishman http://www.i-m.com/ High Tech Marketing Communications Discussion List, Moderated by Kim M. Bayne http://www.bayne.com/wolfBayne/htmarcom/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ******************************************************************** This week's sponsor: InterEdge For more information on this fertile advertising ground, check out our rate card at: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [THIS SPACE FOR RENT] For information on sponsoring Online-Ads, see: ******************************************************************** ========== End of Online Advertising Disussion Digest ==========

Visit our other web sites:
Tennis Server | Tennis Server Ticket Exchange | MyCityRocks | MyCityRocks Ticket Exchange