RSS feed is a popular data format used for serving users frequently updated content and they offer great opportunities to publishers who are looking for alternative systems to generate revenue from their original content.
An RSS (most commonly expanded as "Really Simple Syndication") document (which is called a "feed", "web feed", or "channel") includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship. Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them syndicate content automatically. They benefit readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from favored websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place.
With the growing popularity of RSS feed-based syndication, many Internet publishers became concerned that subscribers to their RSS feeds would not be exposed anymore to the advertising on their web pages, as some readers could now read all of their content inside their RSS reader. In this light, some decided to publish only a short part of their articles in their RSS feeds so that those interested would click through to their site to read the rest of the content.
While initially this approach has given good results to those using it, recently more and more online publishers have decided to provide the full content of their articles inside their RSS feed not to alienate those readers on the move or offline who were frustrated by their inability to read the full content of the articles without clicking through to the main site.
Several years ago, several companies started to offer the opportunity to automatically insert ads inside RSS feeds. These RSS feed monetization services enable publishers to place ads inside their RSS feeds and earn money when these are read or clicked upon.
The revenue models offered by these RSS feed monetization services are different ones: they span from CPC, CPM to flat rate plans; additionally, publishers can choose between contextual text-based ads, banners and interstitial ads, which are often completely customizable.
Consider the following points, while exploring the topic of RSS Feed Monetization and developing a relevant strategy:
- Type of ads: the typology of advertisement offered, whether contextual or random text links, banners, interstitial ads, etc.
- Every how many posts the ad is shown: the exact positioning of ads within the RSS feeds.
- Ability to select and approve the ads: the possibility for the publisher to choose which ads can be included and which cannot.
- Stats about ads performance: the availability of a control panel that allows the publisher to monitor the revenue and performance of ads within RSS feeds
- Rate: the method of payment offered to the publisher, whether CPC (Cost Per Click), CPM (Cost Per Mille – which estimates the cost per 1000 views of the ad) or flat rate
- Requirements: special requirements that the publisher needs to have in order to insert ads in her RSS feeds (which might correspond to a high authority, pagerank and number of RSS feeds subscribers).
Main Providers
Google AdSense for Feeds
AdSense for feeds allows web publishers to earn by placing targeted Google ads in their feeds. AdSense for feeds works the way the rest of the AdSense program works: by delivering ads that are relevant to your content and your readers.
Like other AdSense ads, feed ads can be paid in two ways: by click, or by impression. Feed ads can also be targeted in two ways.
- contextually targeted to the content in your feed
- targeted by advertisers to your specific feed when you set up an ad placement
You can control the frequency, appearance, and positioning of Google ads in your feeds. The ad size is automatically determined based on where your feed is appearing. You can get detailed instructions on how to start using the program on Google AdSense website.
Kannodle
Kanoodle is a pay-per click network which includes hundreds of thematic ad categories from which you can freely choose. Through BrightAds RSS, Kanoodle’s content-targeted sponsored links will be inserted directly into site owners’ RSS feeds within posts or as individual posts, with relevancy of the ads assured through Kanoodle’s topic-based approach. You can sign up for the partnership in the program from the company website.
Pheedo
Pheedo’s FeedPowered advertising platform converts your RSS feeds into rich, dynamically updating advertising that engages your audience. Pheedo retrieves your RSS feed several times an hour and updates your FeedPowered advertisements with any newly published items. With Pheedo FeedPowered you can also monetize your syndicated video content. Get started, signing for the Publisher section on the company website.
TextLinkAds
TextLinkAds provides a service to bloggers called Feedvertising, which allows them to run text link ads in their RSS feed. Whether the ads come from TextLinkAds, your own in-house efforts, or your affiliate links the choice is always up to you. Feedvertising is currently available only for WordPress 2.0+ users with more blogging platforms coming soon. There are no variable CPM rates or cost-per-click systems: publishers get paid according to a predictable flat rate pricing. Join the Publishers program, signing on the company website.
MediaFed
MediaFed is a service that lets you generate revenue from your feeds by inserting suitable advertising in the feed items. MediaFed ad placement system automatically inserts adverts into your feeds in one of two ways: either adverts are inserted every x number of articles where you control the value of x, or by matching keywords to your article contents to target relevant advertising. The program is mostly oriented on the European customers. You can inquire about the potential partnership, sending email, posted on the company website.
FeedShow
FeedShow is a web-based RSS feed reader and first the online aggregator to remunerate publishers theough Google AdSense. Revenues are generated by clicks on the displayed ads. FeedShow gives the publishers 50% of the revenues generated by the targeted ads. When displaying ads, both your Google AdSense codes and Feedshow codes are used, so that the number of ads displayed for the publishers account and the FeedShow account are the same. Google and the AdSense program will then pay the editors directly without any interaction with FeedShow. Sign in for the program on the company website.
AdGenta
AdGenta is a service that allows you to choose which advertisements to put onto your website or in RSS feeds by selecting specific keywords. You have total control over the advertisements your visitors see, because they are no longer bound to the content, but to your personal choice. Besides, there is no approval process or minimum traffic requirement to use AdGenta. You can join the program by signing in from the company website.
ThankYouPages
ThankYouPages is a service that allows publishers to insert advertising into the links contained within their RSS feeds. When a user clicks a link from your RSS feed, they will are shown a short, fully branded, interstitial advertisement between the click of the link, and the final destination. You have control over the look, feel, and format of the page, as well as how often offers appear to your user. If you are interesting to join a program, you need to complete first the ThankYouPages application process at http://www.thankyoupages.com/join_now/.
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