Widget Bucks: A new ad network

I just came across a new program called Widget Bucks as I was surfing around the interet. It’s a new program but it looks promising. Here’s a few quick details before we get into the “meat” of it.

Higher eCPM

Some early adapters are claiming earnings of $3 to $6 CPM (cost per thousand impressions). Most ad networks are paying out $1 to $2 CPM. Of course only time will tell if the $3 to $6 CPM carries over for everyone, but it’s worth a shot to see what happens.

$25.00 signup bonus

You need $50.00 for a payout and the $25.00 bonus puts you halfway there. The only “condition” is that the bonus only hits your account after you have made another $25.00 in clicks. Not a big deal.

Referrals

For every new referral you send to the Widget Bucks network you earn $5.00 ONCE THEY HAVE EARNED THEIR FIRST $50.00 payout.

Update - The above is incorrect. That is what the website said when I wrote this article. Currently it states: With WidgetBucks’ Referral program, affiliates can earn a 10 percent referral fee based on the commissions earned by the people they refer. Affiliates receive this 10 percent for the full 12 months after the new member joins. Payouts to affiliates are monthly, along with their commission checks. - Source

What makes Widget Bucks different than all the rest?

First and foremost it’s a widget that goes in the sidebar so it obviously has application for blogging. Oh and if you don’t like a traditional widget you have an assortment to choose from. I went with a traditional 468×60 banner. Also you can either choose the catergories it displays, or you can let MerchSense handle it for you automatically.

MerchSenseâ„¢ is Mpire’s patent-pending contextual algorithm engine. It detects and analyzes the content of your website or blog to determine what product offers are most relevant to your audience. If you choose the MerchSense option when creating a new widget, simply place the code on your site and let MerchSense automatically provide the most appropriate ad content. MerchSense evaluates your editorial information daily, so, as your content changes, WidgetBucks will dynamically offer the highest-yielding products.

Beyond those things the reported CPM of $3 to $6 is neary twice the industry average. Not bad at all.

What other features and benefits are there?

Taken directly from the Widget Bucks “about us” page.

• Self-service, scalable and relevant content that’s free and easy to publish
• Dynamic, contextual widgets act as content (vs. ads) that more effectively targets your users, not the masses
• Dynamic Ad Yield Management matches the best merchant for each product while offering consumers the best price
• MerchSense (patent pending) contextual algorithm automatically targets the right products for your site
• Proprietary analytics, pricing and relevancy engines display buying trends of 100 million shoppers
• Extensive reporting tools and daily updates; Payouts are monthly
• Complements existing programs, such as Google AdSense
• Over 300 configurations, 256 color schemes and formatted for major IAB standard sizes
• Manual configuration also available by category
• Product listings from 30,000 merchants including trusted leading brands

What are YOU waiting for?

I know you’re interested so why not just sign up for Widget Bucks and give it a shot? For $3 to $6 CPM, and an instant $25.00 signup bonus what have you got to lose?