Ask HN: Ad networks for desktop apps? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Ad networks for desktop apps?

14 pointsgregschlom12 comments

Dear HN'ers,

I'm working on a desktop app that I plan to distribute using a freemium model:

- Free version: ad-supported

- Paid version: (small monthly amount), with no ads, and some additional features

But after searching for a while, there seem to be very few ad networks for desktop apps out there. We have ad networks for the web, for mobile apps, but nothing on desktop.

What are your thoughts on this? Any ad network to suggest? Any suggestions on my business model?

Thanks!

greg

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I know BuySellAds.com allows you to sell web, OS X and iOS ads. It does not appear that they have support for Windows apps. http://developer.buysellads.com

You could host a webbrowser view inside your app and use any webview. Most affiliations platforms should work except adsense and other technologies who need contents on pages.

You could also try to contact http://www.spointer.com/ . They are doing targeted ads embeddables in apps. They detect topics that might interest users with in-browsers addons.

Great suggestion. Thanks!

Shouldn't you be able to use a web-view inside your application where you display web-ads? Essentially your desktop-apps are web-apps anyway, as the target will (in most cases) be to open a browser-window and display a landing page.

As for your business model I think I'd prefer a free version with less features rather than an ad-supported version. Or a web-app in the first place.

I wonder if that will do anything funny with the referring URLs for the banners- but otherwise it should work I'd imagine.

Moreso, I wonder if the ad companies have any issue with it overall.

Thanks for the the tip. Google Adsense specifically forbids displaying their ads on things other than proper websites (because they want to be able to look at the page with their bots). But other ad networks may be ok.

My thought on this? This would be a step back to the dark ages of ad-infested shareware.

So, using a free web app with ads and a paid option (think flickr) is ok, using a free mobile app with ads is ok, but when it's a desktop app it's no longer ok?

This is not about doing shaddy techniques / crapware / spyware. This is not about changing user settings, installing toolbar, sniffing on user's activity, etc... It is just about displaying relevant text link ads inside a program you enjoy using.

I know many will disagree with me, but I've always had the feeling that advertising on mobile apps is there to exploit user distraction. I haven't got any source to back my theory, nor any conversion rate stats, but I would say that a big chunk of clicks come from user mistakes, rather than genuine interest in the ads, and the same would apply to desktop applications imo.

This might happen on the web too, but with a lower order of magnitude, since the average internet surfer is more likely ready to evaluate an offer/purchase.

Unfortunately your theory is mostly flawed. Industry standard click-through rates and funnel conversion data disprove this.

I was not saying those were ok.

I adblock wherever I can as I value my privacy. Ads also are an distraction. My desktop browser is blocking ads. I rooted my phone to be able to block ads. I switch channels or take a break when ads come up on TV.

I think the idea of web-ads inside your desktop app are a great idea.

You can then spend more time finding an ad network catering to your niche rather than your technology.

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