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WidgetBucks Joins comScore Media Metrix Ranks, Expands Ad Widgets Beyond Shopping

Posted on: Monday, 14 April 2008, 09:00 CDT

WidgetBucks is one of the Internet's leading ad networks, according to the March 2008 comScore Media Metrix U.S. Ad Network report. Ranked No. 33, WidgetBucks is the first-ever ad widget network to enter this advertising-focused report. Widgets, in particular ad widgets, are expected to be a hot topic at next week's ad:tech San Francisco digital marketing conference.

"Ad networks are grabbing a lot of headlines right now, and the addition of WidgetBucks in our March 2008 report underscores the growth of niche ad networks and the role widgets are beginning to play in online advertising," said Jeff Hackett, Vice President Sales at comScore, Inc.

Inclusion in the March 2008 report comes as WidgetBucks, which has gone from zero to three billion widget impressions in its first six months, dramatically expands its network:

-- Beyond Shopping - Interactive travel, pay-per-call and local ad widgets (currently in beta) are being added to the existing stable of shopping trend widgets, and later this quarter, real estate, auto and text link ad widgets are also coming.

-- Brand Distribution Platform - Top companies, such as the Wall Street Journal, HP, Dell and Verizon, are now using WidgetBucks ad widgets as a brand distribution platform. Through relationships with AdOn Network, ContextWeb, DemandMedia, Ingenio, Kowabunga, Tribal Fusion, Yahoo! Shopping and several other advertisers, WidgetBucks is placing advertising from top brands into its new "hybrid" ad widgets.

-- "YieldSense"(TM) - WidgetBucks' YieldSense(TM) patent-pending technology is enabling "hybrid" ad widgets, which give Web publishers the ability to now earn two types of revenue -- CPM (cost-per-thousand impressions) and CPC (cost-per-click) -- from a single widget instance. For example, a six-second CPM Verizon ad appears prior to a widget showing the top 10 most popular cell phones, based on eBay market data. The CPM/CPC ads are contextual, and targeted by geography and category.

-- API and Skinning - Following requests for open platform access, WidgetBucks is opening an API to give TechCrunch40 winner PubMatic, the leading optimization service, direct access to WidgetBucks' high-value ad placements and seamless integration with widget creative and reporting. WidgetBucks will soon be offering affinity and topic-based widget skins (i.e. iPhones, sports, fashion, electronics).

"After just six months, WidgetBucks is hitting its first full-year projections -- and inclusion in the comScore Media Metrix report validates our rapid growth," said Matt Hulett, CEO and Chairman of WidgetBucks. "The year is quickly blossoming into the 'Year of the Ad Widget,' and as pressure mounts on widget providers to make money, WidgetBucks is one of the few that can claim early success."

About WidgetBucks

WidgetBucks is a global, award-winning ad widget network that helps publishers, bloggers and affiliates make money through online advertising. WidgetBucks features contextual and self-optimizing ad widgets that track the online buying trends of 100 million shoppers. The parent company of WidgetBucks is Mpire Corporation, whose shopping expertise, market data relationships and proprietary technology serve as the backbone for the network. Mpire continues to offer its core shopping functionality that brings together the Web's most popular shopping sites, such as eBay, Amazon, Shopping.com, Wal-Mart, Target, Gap, Craigslist, and others, to help buyers find the best deals online. Founded in 2005, Mpire and WidgetBucks are backed by Ignition Partners and former eBay executive and Pay Pal angel investor Richard Rock.

 Media Contact Dean Jutilla Marketing Director WidgetBucks Email: Email Contact Phone:  (928) 284-3100  

SOURCE: WidgetBucks

Source: MARKET WIRE

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