Need more readers? Advertise on the competition!
Aug 27, 2015, 5:32 pm
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Need more readers? Advertise on the competition!
I found this pretty entertaining this afternoon. I was updating some code on my tools site (http://wandr.me) and saw an unfamiliar ad:
Clicked on it and was taken through to the TPG site and a post from yesterday chock full of cc link goodness. That part wasn't the surprise. This little nugget in the URL was:
Yup...TPG is specifically targeting my website for his ads. Based on what I think the CPC payout to me is I'm somewhat inclined to leave the ad there. I think he's paying a premium for my users.
Clicked on it and was taken through to the TPG site and a post from yesterday chock full of cc link goodness. That part wasn't the surprise. This little nugget in the URL was:
Yup...TPG is specifically targeting my website for his ads. Based on what I think the CPC payout to me is I'm somewhat inclined to leave the ad there. I think he's paying a premium for my users.
Aug 27, 2015, 5:52 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Clicking on your own ads, tut tut :-)
I think TPG (in the corporate sense) is feeling the squeeze a bit. For a few weeks we had large numbers of totally random travel stories ('best hotels in Nice') which were designed purely for newbie SEO. However, the conversion was probably low and it annoyed the core readers.
I have seen a noticeable switch back to what we would loosely call 'miles and points stuff' recently.
The ad is a little weird, though, in that it doesn't actually promote the blog itself (which still likes to give the impression of being a general chat about miles and points with some cards thrown in) but goes right for the jugular!
I think TPG (in the corporate sense) is feeling the squeeze a bit. For a few weeks we had large numbers of totally random travel stories ('best hotels in Nice') which were designed purely for newbie SEO. However, the conversion was probably low and it annoyed the core readers.
I have seen a noticeable switch back to what we would loosely call 'miles and points stuff' recently.
The ad is a little weird, though, in that it doesn't actually promote the blog itself (which still likes to give the impression of being a general chat about miles and points with some cards thrown in) but goes right for the jugular!
Aug 28, 2015, 2:11 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Jeff is Deaf
Posts: 541
TPG getting hammered in the SEO as well as bow tie. Google giving the smack down on fluff content and credit card companies wising up to these games and starting to do some SEO of their own. Milevalue getting creamed, not suprisingly since his content has been lackluster.
Desperate times indeed for the titans...
Niche sites like yourselves should be able to weather the storm with a loyal fan base.
Desperate times indeed for the titans...
Niche sites like yourselves should be able to weather the storm with a loyal fan base.
Aug 28, 2015, 8:25 am
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Aug 28, 2015, 9:43 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,423
TPG getting hammered in the SEO as well as bow tie. Google giving the smack down on fluff content and credit card companies wising up to these games and starting to do some SEO of their own. Milevalue getting creamed, not suprisingly since his content has been lackluster.
Desperate times indeed for the titans...
Niche sites like yourselves should be able to weather the storm with a loyal fan base.
Desperate times indeed for the titans...
Niche sites like yourselves should be able to weather the storm with a loyal fan base.
WA is one of the few sites that are on BA that I follow. I actually go directly to his site rather then go thru BA. Maybe we are seeing the beginning of the Fall of the Titans. The cc companies and banks are changing from how they use to hand out bonuses like candy and encouraging churning. Amex is one and done for bonuses and the others are starting to limit. The banks do not need the Titans as much as they use to.
Aug 28, 2015, 1:11 pm
#7
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
I clicked all around your blog today in my totally un-ad-blocked IE explorer trying to find the ad so I could click on it several times for ya!
Alas, no dice.
Alas, no dice.
Aug 28, 2015, 1:59 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I hope you stopped to read a few bits, too.
I believe the ads are targeted to the tools site, not the blog. Such is life.
Probably more significant is that the blog isn't used to pay my mortgage. Never was. There is no "storm" to weather, really.
Sure, I'd be happier with a higher CPM and more readers, but I'm not all that worried about it. I still love doing it and it gets me more lucrative gigs elsewhere.
I believe the ads are targeted to the tools site, not the blog. Such is life.
Sure, I'd be happier with a higher CPM and more readers, but I'm not all that worried about it. I still love doing it and it gets me more lucrative gigs elsewhere.
Aug 28, 2015, 2:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,423
I hope you stopped to read a few bits, too.
I believe the ads are targeted to the tools site, not the blog. Such is life.
Probably more significant is that the blog isn't used to pay my mortgage. Never was. There is no "storm" to weather, really.
Sure, I'd be happier with a higher CPM and more readers, but I'm not all that worried about it. I still love doing it and it gets me more lucrative gigs elsewhere.
I believe the ads are targeted to the tools site, not the blog. Such is life.
Probably more significant is that the blog isn't used to pay my mortgage. Never was. There is no "storm" to weather, really.
Sure, I'd be happier with a higher CPM and more readers, but I'm not all that worried about it. I still love doing it and it gets me more lucrative gigs elsewhere.
Aug 28, 2015, 4:13 pm
#10
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
As for tools, I just downloaded the UA fare bucket extension a couple days ago. It rocks.
You are the only blogger that consistently provides real actual value. ^
Aug 29, 2015, 11:16 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 181
+1
I clicked around the tools site but alas the ad did not come up...
