2007 December

Microsoft Launches Affiliate Program

posted on December 20, 2007

Microsoft has launched a new affiliate program for paid search ads (Microsoft adCenter) and their security and PC backup service Windows Live OneCare.

There are two ways Affiliates can earn cash.
1. Each time someone signs up for a free trial of Windows Live OneCare.
2. The Microsoft adCenter program – which I can’t find details about – but you can earn cash each time someone you refer from your site signs up for paid search ads.

They are launching Microsoft adCenter with a $50 ad credit for your visitors (Andy ought to sign up Marketing Pilgrim!).

Microsoft will provide the banners to put on your blog or web site. I can’t find figures on their payouts.

by Janet Thaeler

7 Comments

by Andy Beal

1 Comment

Pilgrim’s Picks for December 20

posted on December 20, 2007

Today was a surprise news day–i.e. there was actually some decent news to report on. Here’s what else you need to know:

Twitter is dangerous for business? Michael Krigsman warns that your company secrets can be shared with thousands on Twitter.
Digg needs to hurry up and sell. Pligg is about to unleash a new service that will make it even easier to create your own Digg-clone.
Jason Shellen–instrumental in the development of Google Reader–left the company a few months back and has now re-surfaced at LiveJournal.
A privacy group wants Ask.com to make three changes to its new AskEraser privacy features.
Poor Stephan Spencer. He’s done so much to help blogger with SEO, but is being victimized by a hacker.

by Andy Beal

2 Comments

Google’s DoubleClick Deal Wins FTC Approval

posted on December 20, 2007

UPDATE: No sooner had I hit “publish,” I get an email from Google confirming the deal has been approved by the FTC. The announcement reads in part…

In its clearance opinion released today, the FTC explicitly rejected any current or potential competition concerns. Google and DoubleClick are complementary businesses and do not compete with each other. Google’s current business primarily involves the selling of text-based ads, while DoubleClick’s core business is delivering and reporting on display ads. DoubleClick does not buy ads, sell ads, or buy or sell advertising space. Rather, it provides technology to enable advertisers and publishers to deliver ads once they have agreed to terms, and to provide advertisers and publishers statistics relating to those ads.

by Andy Beal

2 Comments

Google, Yahoo & Microsoft Forfeit Pocket Change in Gambling Settlement

posted on December 20, 2007

ZDNet is reporting the big three search engines have agreed to settle accusations that they were promoting illegal internet gambling.

The deal with the US Justice Department totals $31.5 million, with the money going to public service announcements about illegal gambling…

Microsoft will pay $4.5m to the US government, $7.5m to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and provide $9m worth of public service advertising…Yahoo’s settlement of $7.5m includes forfeiting $3m to the US government and providing $4.5m worth of online ads for a public service advertising campaign. Google will pay $3m, the department said.

Now, here’s a question for you. How much money do you think Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft made off of illegal gambling ads? I suspect this settlement was as favorable to the search engines as the click fraud one.

by Andy Beal

2 Comments