.Tel ad display protocol
*
In an effort to profit from our .Tel investments, and with the input of fellow Telsters, I designed the
TelCartel Protocol - a standardized set of display advertising guidelines that are simple, scalable, equally suitable for directories and personal and business sites.
Advertising Revenue Challenges
Telnic imposed technical limitations and traditional web-based hypertext linking methods create challenges in .Tel. Some companies are developing โclick thruโ advertising systems whereby links embedded in .Tel sites, when clicked, take the end user to the advertised site. Unfortunately, early offerings can have long unsightly URL strings that clutter the site, improper placement of ad links, ad links that have unrelated connection to the domain and severe keyword overkill.
Is There a Better Way?
For many of us that donโt have the time, money and technical expertise to design software solutions, we have to make the best use of the tools that come packaged with all .Tel domains. Iโm almost embarrassed to say that those tools have been there from the beginning and that I am only just now seeing them for what they are and the power they enable.
So What Are These Power Tools?
โข
Creative use of text, and;
โข
Select placement of contact links packaged with every .Tel domain
The TelCartel Protocol includes self-defined text strings, select placement of contact links, combinations of text and contact links and strategic use of keyword customized text (made possible with the
promoting.tel Quick-update tool).
The concept is demonstrated on our first directory โ
condos.tel. Directories are prime candidates for widespread adoption and over time, potentially significant profit centers.
TelCartel Protocol (ver.1):
โข Home page headers are designed to welcome the user and reinforce/ confirm the sites content. Header โtagsโ are never placed on the home page
โข Maximum of 20 directory links on the home page
โข Maximum of 2 custom text units on the home page
โข Maximum of 1 header tag in any sub-folder
โข First 2 contact links in any sub-folder are reserved for the advertiser that purchased the header tag โ โTagteamโ
โข Maximum of 20 directory links (or 12 contact links in sub-folder 1 as reqโd)
โข Maximum of 12 contact links in sub-folder 2 (hierarchical pricing)
โข Maximum of 3 contact links per person in sub-folder 1 (or 2 as reqโd)
โข Sub-folder 1 or 2 โown-the-pageโ exclusives are available on a select basis
โข 3 or more sub-folders triggers reconfiguration (.Tel a/or Tel.com)
โข Administrator review of all text prior to placement
โข
ad units shall be totally and contextually relevant to the domain or subfolder
Ad Units and Placement Rules
Header โtagsโ: Header tags are text strings positioned at the lower portion of header separated by at least 1 open line (new paragraph) from the introductory text above.
Directory links: are created by the Administrator in concert with the .Tel domain subject and target audience.
Contact links: are the native contact options (phone, web, email, fax etc.) available in the contact information section in the Telhost control panel.
Custom text units:
โข includes a descriptor label and up to 255 characters of text
โข positioned in the keyword section
โข Telnic induced ad-hoc rotation
Here are 2 example sites, our display advertising and another providerโs click thru version. Be sure to test both of them on your computer and on your mobile phone.
Our site: Condo.tel example:
condos.tel >> Toronto >>> downtown
NOT our site: Cosmeticdentist.tel: cosmeticdentist >> kims-cosmetic-dental-studio675-to-n-m-plastic-surgery764 >> lynn-duncan-permanent-cosmetic720
Profits from .Tel display advertising will only be realized if:
โข Substantial traffic is generated and;
โข Advertisers can measure and verify traffic statistics.
In order to be taken seriously as a bona fide advertising vehicle, the TelCartel Protocol must incorporate professional tracking and reporting systems. Weโll continue to test several products to find the one that best extrapolates information from .Tel domains.
Summary:
As part of the TelCartel Protocol, I created an advertising spreadsheet that describes the condos.tel site elements and the number of ad units available to be sold to advertisers broken down by page and sub-folder. If youโd like a copy hit me up at sercom at gmail dot com.
We are still very early in the game. Only time and mass end user uptake will dictate which systems work best and ultimately generate profits. It is my understanding that Telnic and others are looking at this as well. It would be great if they all dove-tailed into a best protocol solution (or variations) for all Telsters.
All questions, comments, constructive criticisms and rants and raves are invited.
