This is an Advertisement is an online ad-search environment. It is a tool serving motivated consumers seeking brand awareness and savvy advertisers seeking truly relevant audiences.
What can I expect to find at This is an Advertisement?
Advertisements. On our site, the ads are the content.
I spend a lot of time an effort trying to avoid advertisements, why would I go to a site where ads are all I get?
We're right with you on that one. It might sound a bit counterintuitive but that is exactly why we created This is an Advertisement. For us (and a lot of folks we think) it's about the right time and the right place. We believe ads are useful and even entertaining, but we also believe they tend to reach us when we are trying to focus our attention on something else. We believe that ads should be available to us when we want and/or need to see them.
Can I create a profile at This is an Advertisement?
Yes, not only is this possible, it is the best way to get the most out of the site. In the near future we will integrate Open ID and Facebook Connect to our site to make your experience not only useful, but seamless and efficient.
What are the advantages of creating a profile?
You'll be able to tag the ads in ways that make it easier for us to show you ads for the products that you might be interested in.
Will you sell my information/profile to third-parties?
In short: Never.
We may provide anonymous user analytics, but never anything beyond that.
Can I browse the site anonymously?
Yes you can. If you find the site useful, feel free to create a user profile whenever you want.
I like to contribute my comments to the sites I visit but This is an Advertisement does not allow me to make comments. Why?
We conceived This is an Advertisement as a neutral environment for advertisements. We believe that every one of our clients deserves the opportunity to let their brand tell a story. Comments, positive and negative, disrupt the neutrality of the site.
This is an Advertisement seems to have ads of its own in the form of "featured" and "sponsored results" lists. Why?
Like most websites, when you first land at This Is An Advertisement, you will see a set of ads from brands seeking premium placement. Once you begin to search and explore the site this set of ads is comprised of relevant ads even if they are sponsored.
Do advertisers pay to appear in the "similar ads" list below the ad I am looking at?
No. The ads compiled in the "similar ads" list are shown purely based on similarity to the ad being displayed. No advertiser can pay to be listed in that area.
I can have more control over my brand message with a website or a microsite. Why would I advertise on This is an Advertisement?
We are not attempting to replace your brand's website. Instead, we are filling a gap in the way a user can reach your website. Currently, visitors reach you either by finding your site as part of a search result or by referral from advertisements that reach your market when they are in a less than ideal state of mind. We are offering you a neutral space where you can reach your customer when they actually want to know about you.
What formats are available or supported on your site?
Currently we only accept ads that are 896 x 504 pixels (16:9).
What type of media do you support?
How much does it cost to place an advertisement in This is an Advertisement?
Zilch, Zero, Nada. Placing an ad is free as long as you accept our Terms of Service and once we approve your advertisement, it will be displayed for free. Additional charges apply only to ads that demand additional bandwidth. Please contact us to learn more about our pricing model and media specifications.
How will you make money then?
Our plan is to charge for premium placement. You'll notice that we have a "featured" and a "sponsored" area in a few pages. We will charge for ads to be displayed in these areas. We also plan on offering some other premium services, but what you are getting for free now, will remain free.
How much does it cost to advertise in the "sponsored" and "featured" sections of This is an Advertisement?
How is "relevance" determined?
By submitting tags for the ads you upload to our site. You are free to edit these tags at any time and submit new ones. We review every tag we receive to make sure all advertisers on our site remain true to our "relevance first" policy. For example, we would not tag a soda ad with the word "shampoo" just because an advertiser believed shampoo consumers were an important demographic for their product. If the ad pictured someone washing their hair, it might be a different story
Once my ad is on This is an Advertisement. How can I promote it?
On our site, ads are content. That means they are also destinations. This allows creative advertisers to turn the simplest online banner ad into a gateway to a rich media experience that is either a click away or easily save-able for later with ad bookmarking. By including our "bookmark ad" link on the ads you already place outside of our site, you gain another opportunity to make an impression on a motivated customer. Notifications by email, text message or other user-defined method will allow customers to retrieve the bookmarked ads they wanted to act on but were unable to at the time. These ads are also organized within their user profile page on our site.
In addition to this, you can also bid to appear in our "featured" and "sponsored" lists.
Is there a way to remove the "similar ads" from under my advertisement?
No. We believe the level-playing-field spirit gives consumers what they want.
This is an Advertisement has two types of clients. The sponsors (you) and the users. Users want to find what they are looking for quickly. The "similar ads" allow them to do so and choose from a rich pool. We believe in fostering competition. Your ad will also benefit from being listed as a "similar ad" many times and have just as much opportunity to shine as your competitors.
What happens if I place an ad, people save it for later and then I stop distributing it?
Those who saved your ad while you were distributing it will be able to see the ad until they decide to remove it from their "saved" list. The ad will not be accessible to anyone else. This is explained with more detail in our pricing model. Please contact us to learn more about it.
Are there limitations to the content of my ad?
Of course there are. In brief, you have to own or be allowed to use the content in your ad, you cannot use x-rated material and you cannot promote illegal activities. The full list of limitations is included in our Terms and Conditions that you will have to read and sign before your ad goes live.