3 Key Features Every Ad Network Should Have

Finding an ad network online that works for your business isn't easy. There are so many to consider, each offering its own spin on online marketing. How will you know which advertising network will bring long term results?  For starters, you'll want an advertising service that focuses on three key areas of online marketing - targeting, tracking and fraud prevention.  Why these three areas?  All three are crucial to success when marketing on the Internet.  All three help you to reach a ready-to-buy audience, keep up with the results, and make sure no click fraud or spamming is involved in your promotions.  Let's explore these three key features a little further.

1.  Targeting Your Audience

If you simply create and promote ads to a general audience, you are less likely to see results.  Targeting in an ad network helps you reach a specific audience that's either interested in your products or services, or in a specific geographic area.  Some sites enable you to target by keywords, location (country, region, etc.), or by the device that web surfers are using to find website.  Targeting your audience simply means that the people you are trying to reach through banner ads, interstitial ads, text ads, etc. are indeed prospects of your products and services.

2.  Tracking Features 

While you might be targeting a specific group of people, it's still smart to track your results with any advertising network. Tracking features such as visitor statistics, traffic sources, traffic audits, etc. can help you know exactly if your ads are working or not.  You'll be able to test your ads as well as the audience you're trying to reach so you can hone your ad network results!

3.  Fraud Prevention

With fraud prevention and detection, the advertising service will offer proxy detection, click ring detection, and macro/bot prevention and detection.  These anti-fraud measures will help ensure that every ad dollar you spend goes toward your own campaigns.  There are many "ad thieves" that want to steal the traffic that's rightfully yours, so fraud prevention should be a priority with any ad network.

Once you know for certain that the advertising service offers all three of the features above, you should take time to compare pricing, testimonials from other customers, and the company's guarantee policy.  Make sure the advertising network is owned by a reputable marketing company that's been in business for a while.  Many newcomers in the marketing arena make big claims, but never deliver the visitors or profits that are promised.  Use these three features as criteria to choose the ad network that's right for your business. 

Short URLs Can Enhance Your Twitter Posts

Have you wondered if there's a way to squeeze more information into those limited Twitter posts or Tweets?  Short URLs make it possible. These are URLs or web addresses that have been shortened to fit into tight spaces, such as the "limited character" Twitter posts and other similar social posts.  Short URLs enable you to type more for your ad or update, so space won't be wasted on longer web addresses.

You can create shorter URLs for Twitter posts using a number of services online.  With these services, you'll merely copy and paste a longer URL into a field, and click a button to shorten it.  With all services, the shorter URL is a redirected domain name.  When someone clicks the short URL or types it in, it will redirect back to the exact web page that you entered when shortening it.

Your Benefits

Shorter URLs give you more space to type your message in social posts for Twitter and/or Facebook, email ads, on banners, etc.  They can be used for various campaigns to test ads or email messages.  Short URLs can also be used to earn extra income.  Some services such as Ity.im give you the ability to create a short URL that directs the visitor to interstitial ads. There are earnings each time the interstitial ad is viewed as well as earnings for any clicks or impressions received on the ads.  This is a great way to get a shorter URL and earn extra cash!

Another benefit is you can use short URLs in press releases and other types of announcements.  Shortening the web address makes it more attractive in the writing and helps your users find your site much easier.

Considerations with Shortening a URL

When considering a short URL, make sure you are using a legitimate service.  Like everything else that hits the news online, scammers have already jumped on the bandwagon to try and exploit the use of shortening web addresses.  So only use those services that have a good track record with other web users.

Don't shorten every URL just because you can.  There are still times to use your longer web addresses for promotional purposes.  It's good for branding when users can see your actual domain name, so use the shorter URLs discreetly.  If you're not sure which to use, check out other posts to find what successful social marketers are doing in similar ads or Tweets.