NEW YORK, NY – July 23, 2008 – AOL’s Platform-A announced that it will offer Goowy’s widget creation and management services as part of its widget distribution offering for advertisers. Goowy enables the creation, syndication and measurement of widget-based campaigns as a free, value-added service across Platform-A’s properties and networks. Platform-A, www.platform-a.com, is AOL’s digital advertising business. Goowy forms part of AOL’s People Networks business and was acquired by AOL in February 2008.
Advertisers can now utilize Goowy to create customized “grabbable” web widgets and distribute them across Platform-A, which includes AOL’s leading media properties and thousands of sites within Advertising.com’s third-party network. In addition, widgets may also be served as ads within Bebo and Facebook applications that are part of the Widgnet publisher network, launched by Advertising.com earlier this year. While most widget platforms charge additional CPM rates, Platform-A offers the service as a value-add for qualified advertisers.
“Platform-A is committed to expanding widget advertising services, and Goowy is one way to ensure that our customers generate value from their campaigns,” said Lynda Clarizio, President of Platform-A. “Widget-based advertising is gaining momentum in the industry, and Platform-A’s network approach allows our customers to build brands, encourage interaction, and drive site traffic – all at scale.”
Widget campaigns, powered by Goowy, will leverage Advertising.com’s AdLearn technology for full optimization across Platform-A based on clicks, installs, and other campaign objectives. By distributing widget ads across Platform-A, marketers will be able to create more compelling ad units, include more dynamic content, and build longer-term relationships with the growing number of consumers who are increasingly downloading applications to their social network pages.
Additionally, widget publishers can utilize Goowy for free by becoming part of the Widgnet publisher network and agreeing to display advertising within their widgets. Any revenue generated from these publisher widgets will then be split back with the publisher.
Goowy Media forms part of AOL’s newly created People Networks business unit, which combines social media network Bebo, the AIM and ICQ personal communications network, and social search and answer service Yedda. People Networks’ collection of community platforms reaches 80 million unduplicated users worldwide.
To see an example of a widget campaign, please visit http://www.advertising.com/advertisers-widgnet.php.
About Platform-A
Platform-A, AOL’s advertising business, is the industry’s largest digital advertising platform, offering the most comprehensive suite of marketing solutions, powered by the Web’s best advertising technologies. Platform-A includes AOL’s leading media properties – AOL.com, AIM, MapQuest, and more – and Advertising.com’s third-party networks. Platform-A also includes TACODA’s audience insights and behavioral targeting; Quigo, a site- and content-targeting solution; ADTECH, an international digital ad serving business; Third Screen Media, a mobile ad serving network; and buy.at, an affiliate marketing solution. Platform-A currently has operations in the United States, nine countries across Europe, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and Japan through a joint venture with Mitsui. Learn more at http://www.platform-a.com.
