Offers Online Writers Access to Big Publisher Economics
SAN FRANCISCO – Changing the long-held equation between advertisers and individual online writers, HubPages is launching its HubPages Ad Program that will give its writers access to the premium ad rates that so far have been restricted to giant publishers. This offering is the first time that any online writer will be able to access significant advertising revenues, as available via premium advertising networks and direct sales, while retaining all rights to their own content.
The HubPages Ad Program will also give digital advertisers and brands access to over a million pages of content via ad networks and exchanges and through the direct sales team that HubPages is currently building on behalf of its writers.
“This is a terrific opportunity for brands that want to reach pre-qualified, intent driven audiences at significant scale,” says Chris Little, HubPages, Director of Media Sales. “For example we have over 60,000 articles on home repair. A home services retailer or brand could ‘own’ those article pages. Similarly, food brands might want to associate with the nearly 40,000 articles we have on cooking, or choose only those that include that brand’s ingredients. We know readers want our content because they find it through searches for specific kinds of information. Brands can associate with the search terms themselves and deliver display ads or video on the first impressions of our pages.”
“Historically, the premium ad networks only work with the largest online publishers – individual writers are too small to be worth advertiser attention. By leveraging our status as a top 50 website, HubPages will enable an individual online writer to associate his or her writing with one of the largest websites and claim a share of the premium ad economics,” says Paul Edmondson, CEO of HubPages. “We want our writers to have all the benefits of online publishing at scale, and, from the perspective of the writer, significant online advertising revenue is a critical benefit that has had limited options until now. This program will change this status-quo.”
HubPages will continue its 60 percent impression share policy with its 220,000 writers who have crafted over 1.2 million magazine-like, original articles on topics of their choice on the site. The writers will continue to own their articles and will be able to edit or delete the articles as they wish. HubPages runs ads on the articles created by the writers, and shares the revenue with the writer. With the new program launch, HubPages will offer premium ad rates over and above the AdSense revenue that the writers currently receive.
This week, hundreds of HubPages’ most prolific writers will sign on to the HubPages Ad Program via an invitation. By June, all HubPages writers are expected to be able to participate in the program.
HubPages (www.HubPages.com) is a social content community where everyday experts communicate their knowledge to information seekers through online articles while earning an income. For users, HubPages is the most rewarding place to contribute knowledge while interacting with a like-minded community, making money, and retaining the ownership of their content. HubPages provides users with turn-key technology, a Google-enabled platform and an easy way to be recognized for their expertise and knowledge.
Publication of HubPages articles doubled in 2010, growing from 600,000 in early January, to 1,100,000 at the end of December. The number of published writers increased 64 percent to 205,000, as did their engagement within the site, with 86 percent more forum posts by users and many more questions and answers posted within HubPages’ community pages.
Started in 2006, the company has raised $8 million in funding in two rounds from Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Storm Ventures.
